Excel count cells in range with text

[Tprob]

I have a column of approx 500 cells containing text. I want to be abl
to count the number of cells cointaining text beginning with * fo
example. I.e. Column contains
Cell A1 = abby
Cell B1 = betty
Cell C1 = tracy
Cell D1 = *norman
Cell E1 = douglas
Cell F1 = lisa
Cell G1 = *nick

I want the formula result to be 2 as there are 2 cells with tex
beginning with *.

Can anyone assist

 

[Dave R.]

=SUMPRODUCT(--(LEFT(A1:A500,1)="*"))

 

[Peo Sjoblom]

One way

=SUMPRODUCT(--(ISNUMBER(FIND("*",A1:G1))))

 

[Aladin Akyurek]

Also...

=COUNTIF(Range,"~**")

 

[Harlan Grove]

One way

=SUMPRODUCT(--(ISNUMBER(FIND("*",A1:G1))))

...

Unless you make that

=SUMPRODUCT(--ISNUMBER(1/(FIND("*",A1:G1)=1)))

it'll count cells with an asterisk anywhere in the cell's text rather than just
at the beginning.