I would like to use countif across multiple month tabs for an entire column. I can use the following format for sum and it works: =sum(jan:dec!b:b)
I can use countif for one tab and a whole column: =countif(Jan!b:b,"item")
When I use countif across multiple tabs I get a #value! error message: =countif(jan:dec!b:b,"item")
Is there a way to use countif the way I am trying to use it?

No.
COUNTIF cannot handle 3D references.

There may be a (quite involved) workaround (though not for whole columns) but it would require more info.

See how this works for you...

=SUMPRODUCT(COUNTIF(INDIRECT("'"&MySheets&"'!B:B") ,"Item"))

List all your tab names and create a named range called MySheets

Thanks for the quick reply. Too bad countif has that limitation. Back to the drawing board.

Thanks for your reply. I've tried several iterations to define a named range with tab names but I can't get the thing to work. I tried =Jan!ec! and ended up with Jan!:jan:dec (which gave me all columns from dec through jan on tab Jan). I tried Jan!,Feb!, through Dec! and got an error message. Is there a trick to listing all twelve tabs (Jan through Dec) in a named range? I would definitely appreciate any help you can give me with this naming convention.
Thanks for your help.

Why not :
group the tabs (click the first tab then the last while holding the Shift key)
enter the COUNTIF function in an occupied cell on the first sheet ( it will copy automatically to all sheets in the group)
Now on you master sheet use the SUM function with a 3D reference to obtain the final result
You can ungroup whenever needed

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See if this example helps...

http://www.contextures.com/xlNames01.html

Attached Files

marconexcel.xlsx (14.5 KB, 7 views)