Microsoft Excel: Use Autosum To Quickly Enter A Total Formula

Problem: You have data in Excel, as shown in Fig. 349. You need to total the rows quickly.

Strategy: Use the AutoSum button on the Standard toolbar. The Auto-Sum button looks like the Greek letter sigma, as shown in Fig. 350.

1) Place the cell pointer in cell B10. Touch the AutoSum button, as shown in Fig. 351.

2) Excel analyzes your data and predicts that you want to total the range of numbers above the cell pointer. As shown in Fig. 352, Excel enters a provisional formula of =SUM(B2:B9). Hit Enter to accept this formula.

3) The square dot in the lower right corner of the cell pointer is the AutoFill handle. With the mouse, drag the Fill handle to the right to include cells C10 through F10. Release the mouse button and the formula will be copied to all five columns.

Summary: The AutoSum button on the Standard toolbar is a powerful tool for quickly entering a total formula.

Functions Discussed: =SUM()