Excel's AutoSum tool can be used to automatically generate formulas. You will find it in two locations on the ribbon: in the Editing section of the Home Tab; and, also in the Function Library section of the Formulas Tab.
The AutoSum tool has a variety of uses. Its principal function use it to generate the total or SUM of a series of numbers. To do this, you highlight a row of cells and click once on the AutoSum tool. Excel will then place the total of the highlighted cells in the first available empty cell to the right of the selected range. You can then copy the formula using the Autofill handle. As you drag down, Excel copies the formula making the necessary changes to return the correct total for each row.
The AutoSum tool can also be used to return the total of several columns simultaneously. To do this, just select all the data in each of the columns you wish to total and then click once on the AutoSum tool. Excel generates a formula at the bottom of each column in the first empty cell.
Clicking on the AutoSum tool always creates a formula using the SUM function which returns the total of a given range of cells. However it can also be used with other functions: for example, AVERAGE. To access the other functions, click on the drop-down menu to the right of the AutoSum tool, select the appropriate function and then check to ensure that Excel has correctly guessed the range of cells you want to use as the argument of the function.
If Excel has failed to guess, you can correct it: either by typing the correct reference; or simply resize the selection rectangle until it encloses the correct range of cells then press the Enter key or click on the Enter button located on the left of the formula bar. The formula can then be copied using the AutoFill handle.
The AVERAGE function is notorious for returning too many decimal places. If you want a consistent number of decimals, click on the Launch button in the Number section of the Home Tab, choose "Number" as the category and then specify the number of decimal places you like.
The other functions available on the AutoSum tool are COUNT ( the number of cells in the highlighted range containing numbers); MAX (the highest value in the range); and MIN (the lowest value). The final option in the AutoSum tool drop-down menu says "Other Functions". This gives you access to Excel's complete range of functions.
The AutoSum tool has a variety of uses. Its principal function use it to generate the total or SUM of a series of numbers. To do this, you highlight a row of cells and click once on the AutoSum tool. Excel will then place the total of the highlighted cells in the first available empty cell to the right of the selected range. You can then copy the formula using the Autofill handle. As you drag down, Excel copies the formula making the necessary changes to return the correct total for each row.
The AutoSum tool can also be used to return the total of several columns simultaneously. To do this, just select all the data in each of the columns you wish to total and then click once on the AutoSum tool. Excel generates a formula at the bottom of each column in the first empty cell.
Clicking on the AutoSum tool always creates a formula using the SUM function which returns the total of a given range of cells. However it can also be used with other functions: for example, AVERAGE. To access the other functions, click on the drop-down menu to the right of the AutoSum tool, select the appropriate function and then check to ensure that Excel has correctly guessed the range of cells you want to use as the argument of the function.
If Excel has failed to guess, you can correct it: either by typing the correct reference; or simply resize the selection rectangle until it encloses the correct range of cells then press the Enter key or click on the Enter button located on the left of the formula bar. The formula can then be copied using the AutoFill handle.
The AVERAGE function is notorious for returning too many decimal places. If you want a consistent number of decimals, click on the Launch button in the Number section of the Home Tab, choose "Number" as the category and then specify the number of decimal places you like.
The other functions available on the AutoSum tool are COUNT ( the number of cells in the highlighted range containing numbers); MAX (the highest value in the range); and MIN (the lowest value). The final option in the AutoSum tool drop-down menu says "Other Functions". This gives you access to Excel's complete range of functions.
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