Automatic totals

Auto-sum is a quick method of summing values in a column, row or range.

To use auto-sum, do one of the following:

Example 1 - totaling a column of figures

Say the range A1 though A10 contains numbers you want to total. Click into cell A11 (or A12 if you prefer to leave a gap) and click the Sum button. Ability will outline the range and wait for you to press Enter or click the Confirm button.

Example 2 - totaling a column of figures

As an alternative to Example 1, again say the range A1 though A10 contains numbers you want to total. This time select A1 through A10. Click the Sum button - Ability will put the total in cell A11. If instead you select cells A1 through A12, the total will be placed in A12 (that is to say the total will always be placed in the last, or last+1, cell of the selected range).

Example 3 - including row and column totals in one go

Suppose the range A1 through D5 contains values and you want row and column totals and a grand total. First select the cells A1 through D5. Next, click the Sum button. All the totals will appear below and to the right of the range with a grand total in cell E6.

See also:

Calculating current selection