Ignore blank parameters in Excel array formula - arrays

Question

I'm using an array formula to return sums and counts on a large data set.
The array formula can have up to 3 arguments but the formula needs to accommodate when any or all of the arguments are <blank>, WITHOUT using VBA.
For example
A1 = "Australia"
B1 = "Finance"
C1 = "Female"
D1 contains the formula
D1 = {count(if((region=A1)*(sector=B1)*(gender=C1),population))}
Sometimes one of the criteria will be blank
A1 = "Australia"
B1 = <blank>
C1 = "Male"
In this case I'd like the formula to return the equivalent of:
D1 = {count(if((region=A1)*(gender=C1),population))}
In the extreme case A1, B1 and C1 could be all blank in which case the formula in D1 should return the equivalent of Count(population)
Is there a way to create an array formula that accounts for these possibilities? I originally tried to create a dynamic argument string
E1 = "(region=A1)*(sector=B1)*(gender=C1)"
and then use the string as the argument within the array formula
D1 = {count(if(E1,population))}
but I could find a way to get this to work.
I've tried a number of solutions, but there is always a key element missing. By using isblank I can determine if the cell is blank, but in order for this to be useful I'd need to turn this returned value into an array of boolean values of length count(population).
Any and all ideas are greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

Answer 1

Have you tried Nz() ? Encapsulate your current code with that and give it a try. I've had issues with blanks/nulls here and there myself.
Another option could be the IIF() statement. But that might not do what you want it to. Here are reference links:
Nz: http://www.techonthenet.com/access/functions/advanced/nz.php
IIF: http://www.techonthenet.com/access/functions/advanced/iif.php

Answer 2

You don't need VBA and you also don't even need an array formula. You can use SUMPRODUCT() with wildcards.
Say we have:
In A2 enter:
=IF(A1="","*",A1)
and copy across. This will display either an asterisk or the value above.
Then use:
=SUMPRODUCT(ISNUMBER(SEARCH(A2,G1:G10,1))*ISNUMBER(SEARCH(B2,H1:H10,1))*ISNUMBER(SEARCH(C2,I1:I10,1)))
This is a way to get SUMPRODUCT() to accept the asterisk as a wildcard: