countif cell reference

[Bob]

Hello -

I'm using this formula to count the number of cells that
contain a text string:

=COUNTIF(A5:A5000,"*WAY*")

This works just fine but how can I replace the criteria
with a cell reference? Notice that I'm using wildcards.
I've tried it with many variations using INDIRECT but none
worked.

This has got to be pretty simple but I'm drawing blanks!
Any ideas?

Thanks
Bob P.

 

[Aladin Akyurek]

=COUNTIF(A5:A5000,"*"&C1&"*")

 

[Bob]

Thanks Aladin. I could swear that I had tried that syntax
and it didn't work!!!!.....but it works now!!! Thanks
again.

Bob P.