[SOLVED] Excel Formulas Question

pantherguy · 01-08-2008, 12:53 PM

I'm not sure how many Excel experts are out there, but I've got a question for you. I'm creating a worksheet for a budget (New Year's resolution) and I want to enter in a formula to add up the totals for a given category. For example, I have categories in column B (gas, clothes, groceries, etc.) and the amount in column D. What I would like to do is have a seperate column that adds up all of the totals in the category of groceries and the total in clothes. I'm assuming this would be like the IF statements, but I'm really bad at using formulas in Excel. If you know the answer or could point me to a place that would have it, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks.

**Glaswegian** · 01-08-2008, 01:12 PM

I'm not sure on your exact layout, but you could simply use SUM and click on the required cells. Excel will then add up those values.

If I've not understood perhaps you could attach a sample workbook?

JohnthePilot · 01-08-2008, 01:15 PM

If I've read you correctly, you have several entries for each category in Columns B and D and you want a single figure for each category in say Column E. Is that correct? Also, what have you got in columns A and C?

pantherguy · 01-08-2008, 01:20 PM

Thanks for the replies guys.

Glaswegian: I'm aware for the SUM formula, but this will be an ongoing worksheet. So, as I enter an amount into the gas category, I would like it to update the total for the entire category in another cell.

John:
Yes, I have numerous entries in B and D and will continue to add them as I go along. I am wanting all of the amounts for a given category to be added up and inserted into another cell. Columns A and C have the date and a description in them.

Thanks.

JohnthePilot · 01-08-2008, 01:23 PM

The SUM function will update as you go along. Do you have a fixed number of entries under each category or does the number of entries increas?

pantherguy · 01-08-2008, 01:28 PM

John: There is not a fixed number for a given category, they will continue to go up. As this worksheet is being used for a budget, I have no idea how many times a given category will come up. That's why I would like it to update the total of a given category as I go along. I know there is a =SUMIF formula, but I can't figure out what the sum_range part of the formula would be.

pantherguy · 01-08-2008, 01:50 PM

I used the =SUMIF function and thanks to the help menu, got it figured out. I guess I was using the wrong range before. Thanks for all the help.

JohnthePilot · 01-08-2008, 02:05 PM

I'm glad you got it sorted. As you worked out you can use SUMIF with the category as the criterion for summing.. However, you can just use SUM if you keep all of one category together and insert rows as necessary. The range in SUM will expand accordingly.

01-08-2008, 12:53 PM	#1 (permalink)
pantherguy Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 32 OS: XP	[SOLVED] Excel Formulas Question I'm not sure how many Excel experts are out there, but I've got a question for you. I'm creating a worksheet for a budget (New Year's resolution) and I want to enter in a formula to add up the totals for a given category. For example, I have categories in column B (gas, clothes, groceries, etc.) and the amount in column D. What I would like to do is have a seperate column that adds up all of the totals in the category of groceries and the total in clothes. I'm assuming this would be like the IF statements, but I'm really bad at using formulas in Excel. If you know the answer or could point me to a place that would have it, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks.

01-08-2008, 01:12 PM	#2 (permalink)
Glaswegian Moderator/ Rangemaster TSF Academy; Analyst, Security Team; Oor Wullie; TSF Surgeon and Resident Comic Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Glasgow Posts: 25,413 OS: Win XP Pro SP3 / Win 7 Pro My System Blog Entries: 10	Re: Excel Formulas Question I'm not sure on your exact layout, but you could simply use SUM and click on the required cells. Excel will then add up those values. If I've not understood perhaps you could attach a sample workbook? __________________ Iain - Defender of the Haggis and all things Scottish. I don't help by PM - post in the Forums. PC Safety & Security::PC running a bit slow?::Donate::Photographers Corner

01-08-2008, 01:15 PM	#3 (permalink)
JohnthePilot Manager, TSF Articles Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cheltenham, near Wales. Posts: 30,917 OS: XP Home SP3, PCLinux, Vista Home Premium SP1 My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: Excel Formulas Question If I've read you correctly, you have several entries for each category in Columns B and D and you want a single figure for each category in say Column E. Is that correct? Also, what have you got in columns A and C? __________________ Submit New Articles Here If you feel that TSF has helped you please make a donationand help to keep the forum free Cenedl heb iaith, cenedl heb galon Folding@Home - Team 85015

01-08-2008, 01:20 PM	#4 (permalink)
pantherguy Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 32 OS: XP	Re: Excel Formulas Question Thanks for the replies guys. Glaswegian: I'm aware for the SUM formula, but this will be an ongoing worksheet. So, as I enter an amount into the gas category, I would like it to update the total for the entire category in another cell. John: Yes, I have numerous entries in B and D and will continue to add them as I go along. I am wanting all of the amounts for a given category to be added up and inserted into another cell. Columns A and C have the date and a description in them. Thanks.

01-08-2008, 01:23 PM	#5 (permalink)
JohnthePilot Manager, TSF Articles Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cheltenham, near Wales. Posts: 30,917 OS: XP Home SP3, PCLinux, Vista Home Premium SP1 My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: Excel Formulas Question The SUM function will update as you go along. Do you have a fixed number of entries under each category or does the number of entries increas? __________________ Submit New Articles Here If you feel that TSF has helped you please make a donationand help to keep the forum free Cenedl heb iaith, cenedl heb galon Folding@Home - Team 85015

01-08-2008, 01:28 PM	#6 (permalink)
pantherguy Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 32 OS: XP	Re: Excel Formulas Question John: There is not a fixed number for a given category, they will continue to go up. As this worksheet is being used for a budget, I have no idea how many times a given category will come up. That's why I would like it to update the total of a given category as I go along. I know there is a =SUMIF formula, but I can't figure out what the sum_range part of the formula would be.

01-08-2008, 01:50 PM	#7 (permalink)
pantherguy Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 32 OS: XP	Re: Excel Formulas Question I used the =SUMIF function and thanks to the help menu, got it figured out. I guess I was using the wrong range before. Thanks for all the help.

01-08-2008, 02:05 PM	#8 (permalink)
JohnthePilot Manager, TSF Articles Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cheltenham, near Wales. Posts: 30,917 OS: XP Home SP3, PCLinux, Vista Home Premium SP1 My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: [SOLVED] Excel Formulas Question I'm glad you got it sorted. As you worked out you can use SUMIF with the category as the criterion for summing.. However, you can just use SUM if you keep all of one category together and insert rows as necessary. The range in SUM will expand accordingly. __________________ Submit New Articles Here If you feel that TSF has helped you please make a donationand help to keep the forum free Cenedl heb iaith, cenedl heb galon Folding@Home - Team 85015