One suggestion

=SUMPRODUCT(--(LEFT(A5:A1000,5)="Total"),C5:C1000)

"Fred Holmes" wrote:

Excel 2000

How do I write a SUMIF function, such that the matching text criterion
matches the first five characters of the string in the cells of the
range to be evaluated for a match? Something like the following:

=SUMIF(LEFT(A5:A1000,5),"Total",C5:C1000)

Many thanks,

Fred Holmes