Is there any reason why the range can't always be the same number of
cells? For example, if you SUM a range that includes empty cells, the
empty cells will return 0 values and will not affect the accuracy of
the SUM.

Does that help?

-Ryan

snax500 wrote:
In Excel2000, I have data that changes monthly and I want a sum
function that changes with it. For example, one month it may look like
this:

may
payroll 1000
500
100

I want to sum to be the 1600. The next month it may look like this (
the # of rows are always changing):

june
payroll 200
300
100
100
200
and I want the sum to be 900. I want the sum formula to start like this
(formula is in "A10") =Sum(a9:(somehow look up the word payroll and
give me the cell one column to the right). It would always adjust by
looking up the word payroll.

Thanks