Excel Basics:
AutoSum

Step-by-Step: AutoSum

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What you will learn:

to use AutoSum to add a column to write a SUM formula yourself to format numbers as currency with button

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Start with: trips6.xls (saved in previous lesson)

Data Entry

1. Complete the table at the bottom of the sheet by filling in the values for # of people and Total as shown here.

    # of people   Total
   9                 17000
   23               36000
   18               27000
   18               36000
   12               24000
   20               51000
   12               42000
   12               36000
    

2.   Save As  trips7.xls .

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AutoSum: Upper Table Totals

1. Select cell A25 and type  Totals: 
    
2. Select cell C25 and click the AutoSum button. Excel guesses you want to add values in range C5:C24 and surrounds that range with a blinking dashed border. The formula looks like  =SUM(C5:C24) 

   The range includes a blank cell, which Excel understands and will ignore.
    

3. Press ENTER to accept Excel's formula.
    
4. Select cell E25 and click the AutoSum button.
    
5. Press ENTER to accept the formula  =SUM(E5:E24) 
   

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Sum Formula: Lower Table Totals

1. Select cell A37 and type  Totals: 
    
2. Select cell C37 and type  =sum(c28:c36)  Notice that you did not have to use upper case letters but you must use the = and the parentheses ( ).
    
3. Press ENTER to accept your formula. This method works when Excel is confused about what to add.
    
4. Select cell D37 and type   =sum( 
    
5. Drag from cell D28 to cell D36. Excel enters the range in the formula.
    
6. Press ENTER to accept the formula  =sum(D28:D36)   

   You do not have to type the final parenthesis.

   (Check: are the totals in the lower table the same as in the upper table? They should be.)
   
   

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Format Numbers

Now that you  have your totals for rows and for the Totals columns, it would be nice to have them look like money! The toolbar button will apply the currency from the Regional Settings in the Windows Control Panel. [Start | Settings| Control Panel | Regional Settings] or [Start | Control Panel | Regional and Language Options]

1. Hold the CTRL key down and select the following: range E5:E23 , cell E25, range D28:D35; cell D37.
    
2. Click the Currency button.
    
3. Click the Decrease Decimals button twice to remove unneeded zeros.
    
4. Save [trips7.xls]
   How to handle a full disk