Countifs formula not calculating my specific data

[Derrick]

I am working with a Countifs formula, and it is not returning the correct
information when I am using the specific data I want, but if I simplify it,
it will return what I want. i.e.

=countifs(A3:A500,"1/?",B3:B500,"DAYTONA",C3:C500,"SMITH, JOHN")

^THIS IS NOT WORKING, BUT......

=COUNTIFS(A3:A500,"X",B3:B500,"Y",C3:C500,"Z") does work, why is it doing
this? Would truley appreciate any help.

 

[T. Valko]

=countifs(A3:A500,"1/?",B3:B500,"DAYTONA",C3:C500,"SMITH, JOHN")

^THIS IS NOT WORKING

What does not working mean? You get an error? An incorrect result? No
result?

What's in A3:A500?

Is "?" supposed to be a wildcard? If so, what does "1/?" respresent? Is is
supposed to represent a variable date?

 

[Derrick]

I do apologize, I should have been more clear. You'll have to excuse me I am
relatively new to this.

a3:a500 will be dates as they are filled in. This spreadsheet is going to
be used as an on going tracking system for us. What I am trying to do is
count any tows that happened in a given month by a location and person doing
the tow.

When I say it doesn't work, it is giving me a 0 in the cell when I know the
information is in the appropriate cells. Therefore confusing me! I do want
a wildcard for the date if that is possible, but not really sure how that
works.

 

[T. Valko]

Ok...

Wildcards only work on TEXT. In Excel dates are really NUMBERS formatted to
look like dates so the wildcard can't be used. Also, you'll have to use a
different function for this.

Try something like this:

=SUMPRODUCT(--(A3:A500<>""),--(MONTH(A3:A500)=n),--(B3:B500="DAYTONA"),--(C3:C500="SMITH,
JOHN"))

Where n = the month number. Jan = 1 through Dec = 12

Better if you use cells to hold the criteria.

A1 = the month name as a TEXT string = Jan
B1 = Daytona
C1 = Smith, John

Then:

=SUMPRODUCT(--(A3:500<>""),--(TEXT(A3:A500,"mmm")=A1),--(B3:B500=B1),--(C3:C500=C1))

 

[Derrick]

That works for my purposes! Thank you so much for your help and patience!
I bet it can get frustrating!

Seriously thank you!
Derrick

 

[T. Valko]

You're welcome. Thanks for the feedback!