count consecutive non-zero fields

hamptonexcel said:

I'd like to build a formula to count consecutive non-zero cells in a row, and to have the count stop when a zero is reached

1 0 0 0 0 1 2 1 1 answer 4
1 0 0 0 4 2 3 4 1 answer 5
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 answer 1

Any thoughts?

Click to expand...

Wouldn't your third example have an answer of 7?

The spreadheet is currently laid out from the past at the left to the present at right. The goal is to count how many months back we have a non-zero number in the field, but it's easy enough for me to have the data reversed if that makes a difference to how the formula is structured.

As you can guess - I'm new to formula writing and optimal spreadheet design...

hamptonexcel said:

I'd like to build a formula to count consecutive non-zero cells in a row, and to have the count stop when a zero is reached

1 0 0 0 0 1 2 1 1 answer 4
1 0 0 0 4 2 3 4 1 answer 5
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 answer 1

Any thoughts?

Click to expand...

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K2, control+shift+enter, not just enter, and copy down:

=COUNTIF(I2:INDEX(A2:I2,MATCH(9.99999999999999E+307,IF(A2:I2=0,1,"#"))),">0")

This reads empty cells as 0's and yields #N/A if all entries are non-zero numbers. Are these assumptions OK?

Perhaps this, also entered with CTRL + SHIFT + ENTER

=COLUMNS(A2:I2)-MATCH(2,1/(A2:I2=0))

This regular formula seems to generate correct values
K1: =COLUMNS(A1:I1)-MATCH(2,INDEX(1/(A1:I1=0),0))

Copy that formula down as far as you need.

Is that something you can work with?

Thank you! I'll experiement and get back to you all - much appreciated!

Fantastic - thank you all. I'm hoping to get the point where I'm answering this kind of question rather than asking it. Where would you all start if you were just beyond simple Count Countif formulas and ready to start learning more advanced Excel mastery? While I can apply the answer, I don't understand the mechanics of what's happening, and that will be the key for me to get to proficiency. Would you start with the Mr. Excel book?