Try using a Pivot Table:

From the Excel Main Menu: <Data<Pivot Table
Use: Excel..Click [Next]
Select your data..Click [Next]
Click the [Layout] button

ROW: Drag the DEPARTMENT field here
COLUMN: (leave this area blank)
DATA: Drag the AMOUNT field here
If it doesn't list as Sum of AMOUNT...dbl-click it and set it to Sum
Click [OK]
Select where you want the Pivot Table.Click [Finish].

That will list each DEPARTMENT and the sum of AMOUNT.

To refresh the Pivot Table, just right click it and select Refresh Data

Is that something you can work with?
Post back if you have more questions.
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Regards,

Ron (XL2003, Win XP)
Microsoft MVP (Excel)


"Terry" wrote in message
...
I have a long list of transactions based on departments that is always
changing.
A department can make more then one transaction so that department number
can appear more then once in a file. I want a function that will sum the
amount of an item used by each department.

ie.

Department Amount
50010 10.00
50010 15.00
50012 20.00
50010 6.00

ect..
Problem I am facing is I don't know which departments will be making
transactions for the week so i can't use the simple sumif with the
criteria
being a certain department number.