COUNTIF question

[Slashalot]

in this, what seems simple, formula I need to find a different way to write it as the seperator ":" acts like all the column inbetween rather than just the 2 columns.

here is code

=COUNTIF((A:A):(C:C):(E:E),"1")

if i have a "1" in cells A1 and B1 the count returns "2" as opposed to the expected "1"

is there another way to write this or a different seperator?

[shg]

I think you need to add three COUNTIFS.

[Slashalot]

yeah thats what i guessed so came up with

=COUNTIF(($A:$A),Q1)+COUNTIF(($C:$C),Q1)+COUNTIF(($E:$E),Q1)

[shg]

You don't need the parens around the ranges:

=COUNTIF($A:$A, Q1) + COUNTIF($C:$C, Q1) + COUNTIF($E:$E, Q1)