there is a way but its hard to describe but i will try
I have the column of alphanumeric data in col f
so say cell f14 is your alphanumeric character
cell G14=VALUE(LEFT(F14,FIND(" ",F14)-1)) this finds the space and seperates
the number from the alpha part
in H 14 i have this formula
=IF(NOT(ISERROR(FIND("ab",F14,1))),"ab"
,IF(NOT(ISERROR(FIND("cd",F14,1))),"cd"
,IF(NOT(ISERROR(FIND("ef",F14,1))),"ef"
,IF(NOT(ISERROR(FIND("ghij",F14,1))),"ghif","kl")) ))
this examines the alpha numeric and splits out the alpha
conditional format cell ,formula is =H14="ab", choose the format you want
condition two formula is =H14<"ab",choose the format you want.
at the bottom of the G column type these formula
for ab =SUMIF($H$14:$H$22,"AB",$G$14:$G$22)
for cd =SUMIF($H$14:$H$22,"cd",$G$14:$G$22)
for ef =SUMIF($H$14:$H$22,"ef",$G$14:$G$22)
for ghij =SUMIF($H$14:$H$22,"ghij",$G$14:$G$22)
for kl =SUMIF($H$14:$H$22,"kl",$G$14:$G$22)
i have a sample sheet that i can email you.Email address below
make sure you put something about excelforum and alphanumeric in the subject
otherwise it will go straight to the trash
There may be a more elegant way but it works!

--
paul

remove nospam for email addy!



" wrote:

Is this even possible to accomplish with the manner in which the data
is entered? How would I get started with this?

Thanks,

Jim

On Sat, 26 Aug 2006 06:22:41 -0400, wrote:

Yes, that is the way.

On Sat, 26 Aug 2006 00:02:01 -0700, paul
wrote:

is there always a space between the number and alpha parts?And is the number
always first?
--
paul

remove nospam for email addy!



" wrote:

I have more than 3 different choices, ( ab, cd, ef, ghij, kl). They
are also aphanumeric, (.01 ab, 6 cd, .50 ef, 8 ghij),etc. The numbers
may range from .01 to 8.0. The letters will always remain the same. I
would like to change the color of all the ab entries to a specific
background color, regardless of the number range, and a different
selected color for the other alpha entries. If this is possible,
could I also obtain a sum total of all the numbers ony with the ab,
then with the cd,and each of the alphanumeric sets? How to get
started? Thanks.

Jim