Counting Text when the cells have formulas that enter the text

[Tennisguuy]

I am trying to count the number of cells with text. I used this formula countif(B5:30,"*"). However in cells B5:B30 I have formulas that will enter the text based on the condition of the formula. Therefore when I use this formula countif(B5:B30,"*") regardless of how my of the cell actually contain text it returns 26. For example, in cell B5 it shows PA and B6 it shows LA. In this example I would want the formula to show a count of 2 but because the range of cells all have formulas in them it returns 26 regardless of how many of them don't have actual text.

Is there a way to count text when the cells have formulas.

 

[Joe4]

Please post the formula that you have in those cells that are returning your values.

 

[Tennisguuy]

Here's the formula I have in the cell {=IF(ROWS($V$29:V29)<=Rates!$A$6,INDEX(Rates!$B$8:$B$400,SMALL(IF(Rates!$A$8:$A$400=1,ROW(Rates!$A$8:$A$400)-ROW(Rates!$A$8)+1),ROWS($V$29:V29))),"")}

 

[Fluff]

Try
=countif(B5:B30,"?*")

 

[Tennisguuy]

Thanks Joe and Fluff for your responses really appreciate your help. Fluff adding the question marked perfectly. Thanks again

 

[Fluff]

Glad we could help & thanks for the feedback