Hi JLane,
Excel, unlike Word, does not have an inbuilt character count feature.
If the data entry comprises alphanumeric text without formulae, you could
use an array formula:
=SUM(LEN(A7:F100))
Array formulae are confirmed with Ctrl-Alt-Enter rather than Enter. Change
the range to suit.
To allow for formula entries, or as an alternative approach, you could use
VBA to write a user defined function.
For example, try:
Function CountKeystrokes(rng As Range) As Long
Dim rCell As Range
Dim iCtr As Long
For Each rCell In rng
iCtr = iCtr + Len(rCell.Formula)
Next
CountKeystrokes = iCtr
End Function
This function can be used as a worksheet function, e.g.
=CountKeystrokes(A1:F100")
or called from a sub:
Sub Demo()
'Specify a range (change to suit):
MsgBox CountKeystrokes(Sheets("Sheet1").Range("A1:F100"))
'or specify the entire sheet:
MsgBox CountKeystrokes(ActiveSheet.UsedRange)
End Sub
If you are unfamiliar with macros, see David McRitchie's Getting Started
with Macros and User Defined Functions notes at:
http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/getstarted.htm