Using the AutoSum Button in Excel

If you wish to perform a common calculation such as SUM on a contiguous range of data, you can use the AutoSum button (located on the Home Ribbon). Clicking on the AutoSum button automatically selects a range of cells (vertical or horizontal) and calculates the total of all cells in that range. That is to say, when the cell that contains the SUM function is at the end of a row or column, Excel always uses that entire column or row in the calculation. However, if any cell in the range contains a blank row or column, the range to be totaled stops there. If Excel does not choose the range of cells you wish to use, you can choose the range manually by clicking on the first cell of the range and dragging to the last cell of your range.

If we wanted to total the values from B3 to B18, clicking the AutoSum button while having B19 as the active cell would automatically enter the following formula in cell B19:

=SUM(B3:B18)

This tells Excel to sum the values in the B3 to B18 range.

The AutoSum feature includes other functions in addition to the SUM function. By clicking on the arrow to the right of the AutoSum button, you can choose the AVERAGE, COUNT NUMBERS, MIN, or MAX functions instead of the SUM. These functions will be discussed in more detail in tomorrow’s post.

To Calculate Totals with AutoSum

1. Click in the cell where you want to display the calculation.
2. To sum using only some of the numbers in the range, select the cells to be included in the formula.
3. Click the AutoSum button on either the Home Ribbon or the Formulas Ribbon
   Or
   Press the Alt + = keystroke combination.
4. To perform another calculation such as Average, Count, Min, or Max, click the arrow next to the AutoSum button and choose the function that you want.
5. Press Enter.

Similar Posts:

• Using the Min, Max, Count and Average Functions in Excel
• Entering in Functions Manually in Excel
• Using the Insert Function button in Excel
• Counting Blank Cells in Excel
• Using AutoCalculate in Excel 2007
• Quickly Change Case in Excel
• Counting Cells with Values in Excel

Tagged as: Excel Tips, Microsoft Office Tips