Forum Discussion
adding downward columns across an excel sheet
I"d like to encourage you to try out different things. You will learn better that way.
To get you started -- You're aware, I suspect, of the SUM function. It enables you to specify ranges of cells to sum, for example
=SUM(A1:D1) would add the numbers in the first row of columns A through D
or =SUM(A1:A34) would add the rows in column A from row 1 to row 34.
So depending on exactly what you mean by
i am trying to add columns across an excel spreadsheet.
So.. say from row 254 to 321.
is there a quick way of doing this for columns say C to P,
I think with those clues above, that I've given you enough to figure it out for yourself.
But seriously, the best way to learn things in Excel, especially at the basic level, is to give yourself permission to play around, permission to make a mistake or two (or ten). You'll learn a LOT in the process, and you aren't going to break anything. I promise.
Yes I realise I can add doing what you suggested, but I just want to go along a row and add up a section of each column, not the complete column and I wondered if there was a quick way to do it.
Your example :-Eg: =SUM(A1:D1) would add the numbers in the first row of columns A through
=SUM(A1:A34) would add the rows in column a from row 1 to row 34.
I want to =SUM columns A to M, but only rows (say) 10-30 within those columns.
Is this possible.
Thanks
Yes I realise I can add doing what you suggested, but I just want to go along a row and add up a section of each column, not the complete column and I wondered if there was a quick way to do it.
I want to =SUM columns A to M, but only rows (say) 10-30 within those columns.
Is this possible.
Virtually everything you can articulate--i.e., that you can describe in words--along such lines, is possible in Excel. It's very versatile.
And often, OFTEN, the very act of describing it in words is the key to figuring out the formula. Again, I'm very serious about this, you need to give yourself permission to experiment (another, perhaps more sophisticated, word for "play"). Instead of asking if such and such is possible, do your own experiments to find out.
A good rule of thumb to keep in mind, "If I think such and such should be possible in Excel, then it probably--HIGHLY LIKELY--is; so the challenge then becomes to find out how those clever Microsoft programmers have made it possible." Said another way, stop asking whether such and such is possible--take it as a given that it IS possible--and go look for how to do it on your own. That can involve playing with the functions (e.g., SUM) that you already know, and it might involve research through online or print materials on Excel.
There are loads of excellent resources to teach yourself, to find answers yourself. Here's a really good one. YouTube has many, an astounding number, some for beginners. There's always Amazon if you like to read. Here's one to save for later.
But with all of those resources, it still becomes essential to learn to experiment. I would consider myself "moderately advanced" as a user of Excel--been using it or its predecessors for roughly 50 years (seriously)--and I still need to play (or, if you prefer, experiment) with many of the newer functions in Excel to figure out what they do and how they do it. Giving yourself permission to do that--empowering yourself to do that--is of vital importance.
- thanks, I will try your suggestions for help and guidance.
- As advised, If you played around with the function SUM(), you can actually sum rows and columns together. i.e, =SUM(A10:M30)
