For those who have not yet understood all the positive aspects of the wonderful Excel program, I advise you to familiarize yourself with the various features of spreadsheets in more detail. Many people unreasonably think that this program provides the only opportunity - to "draw" beautiful tablets. This is far from the case, and here are some features and automatic solutions that you can make using Excel.
Automatic summation of data in cells
Let's make a simple table with several rows and columns. For example, these will be the days of the week and the store’s revenue for each day. Fill in any data. Objective: calculate the total revenue for the week.
There are several options for how to add numbers in a column in Excel:
- AutoSum function.
- Application of a simple formula of mathematical addition.
- SUM function.
In addition to these features, the program provides the ability to preview the results without entering them in any cell.
So, let’s take a closer look at all the options, how to add a column with data in Excel.
Applying Results Preview
The simplest action option in this spreadsheet processor is to simply view the results. For this, there is no need to delve into the complexity of the process of writing formulas or finding the necessary functions in the variety of possible.
We have a table with data and it’s enough to select the necessary range and the smart program itself will tell us some results.
We see the average value, we see the number of elements that are involved in the miscalculation and the sum of all the values in the selected range (column). Which is what we needed.
The disadvantage of this method is that we can only remember the result and in the future we will not be able to use it.
Application of the “AutoSum” function
We use the same table as an example. As in "Excel" add the entire column with data and write the result in a separate cell. The program offers us an automatic option of finding the sum in the selected range of cells.
To do this, we need our data table. We select, as in the previous time, the necessary range with data. We find on the top, on the Excel toolbar, in the "Editing" group, click the "AutoSum" button and get the result. The result of the calculation of the function is automatically written to a free cell below our column.
This button allows you to automatically substitute a formula in an empty cell.
If there are more than one columns for summing the data, then you can either repeat the operation described above, or use one more useful function of the Excel tables - “Autofill marker”.
AutoFill Marker
To use this function, you need to make an active cell with the formula we need (in our case, with the weekly revenue amount), move the cursor to the lower right corner of the cell, which will be converted into an autofill marker. Then, holding the left mouse button, drag the cursor onto as many cells as you need to substitute the formula.
Applying a simple Excel formula
For users who know the basics of working with this program, there will be no revelation that all mathematical formulas can be written manually in the required cell.
The main condition for writing the formula is the “=” sign before the mathematical operation.
The formula for adding numbers is no different from a conventional calculator:
= 6 + 2
By inserting this design into the cell, you will immediately see the result, i.e. the number 8.
To view the formula itself, you need to make the cell active and in the formula bar you will see the design:
Based on this, we can consider the main topic of the question - how to add a column in Excel.
For this procedure we will need:
- Define a cell for future result in our data table.
- In this cell we write the = sign.
- Next, we left-click on the first cell in the column and in our cell for the result we will see how the cell address is automatically added (in this example, cell L2).
- We write the mathematical sign of addition + and click on the second cell.
- By analogy, we add all the necessary cells in the column.
- Press Enter.
This "Excel" formula allows us to add columns without problems, but the method is quite long and not convenient. If you do such manipulations with each column individually, then work on the document will drag on indefinitely. Especially if these are large tables with accounting calculations. To save time and effort, you can use the autofill marker feature described above.
A positive aspect of this method relative to the above is the moment of the presence of manually selecting the required cell for the result.
SUM function
A more convenient and professional way, as in “Excel” to add the amount in a column, is to use the built-in functions. For our example, we need to turn to the mathematical function SUM. Unlike the previous method, the syntax for writing has a more simplified form:
= SUM (x; x1; x2; ... xN;)
A maximum of 255 elements per line is allowed: both numbers and the addresses of the cells in which these numbers are located.
How to add a column in Excel using this function:
- Select the result cell.
- Click on the "Insert Function" fx icon, which is located next to the line of formulas.
- In the “Frequently Used” or “Mathematical” section, we find the SUM.
A function window opens, in which there are usually two fields for the cell range
“ Number 1” and “Number 2”. For simple operations, a single field is sufficient. We put the cursor in the field “Number 1” and with the usual selection with the mouse we select the range of numbers in the table. Data cells are automatically added, just click the OK button in the lower right part of the function panel.
All. The required range is added to the result cell, and the selected function automatically processed it.
Similarly, we can add the summation function for the remaining ranges of numbers in our table. However, if you use the knowledge gained and combine various options for working with data tables, you can save a lot of time.
To do this, just use the familiar autofill marker.
These are the most used and simple Excel functions that allow us to no longer wonder how to add a column or row or just two different numbers in Excel.