There is a big dilemma ... if I digit 3 as the first value to be searched the CERCA.X function will not find it ... so I'm obliged to specify all values from 1 to 9 with a leading 0 ! But then the counting will not function ... since fo me the CERCA.X service is more important I'm ready to renounce to the counting function ... if for such task there is no feasible solution ... therefore thank you anyway Mr. PECOFLYER! Antonio