increase value by 1 if meets variable..

I presume from your formula that you have the letters Cas in cell D1, but you don't say which column the formula is in - I've assumed that it starts in cell R3, and that R2 does not contain text which starts with those 3 letters (though see later if it does). Put this formula in R3:

=IF(Q3>=0,"",LEFT($D$1,3)&COUNTIF(R$2:R2,$D$1&"*")+1)

and then you can copy this down as required.

If R2 does contain text which begins with the 3 letters in D1 (like "Case Studies"), then you can just omit the +1 (shown in red) from the formula, and then copy it down.

Hope this helps.

Pete

This is perfect, Thanks for your help.

Good to hear that.

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Pete

all done, thanks again.

Hi again,

sorry but ive opened up the file again and its no longer working..

=IF(Q4>=0,"",LEFT($D$1,3)&COUNTIF(A$3:A3,$D$1&"*")+1)

this is what I have in A4 and have pasted it down.. A3 is just a title saying "references" now its not counting up like it was before.

It would help if you attached a sample Excel workbook.

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Hope this helps.

Pete

Hi, sorry. just had my break, come back and realised I changed the wording in D1 from Cas and extended the word. still thinking it would only take the first 3 letters.. now ive put it back its working again.. sorry for the trouble. ill mark as finished again.

Okay, thanks for feeding back.

Pete