Suppose the numbers are in column A, you can try this array* formula:

=SUM(ABS(A1:A10))

Adjust the range to suit.

* An array fromula must be committed using the key combination of CTRL-
SHIFT-ENTER (CSE) instead of the usual ENTER. If you do this correctly
then Excel will wrap curly braces { } around the formula when viewed
in the formula bar - you must not type these yourself. If you
subsequently amend/edit the formula you must use CSE again.

Hope this helps.

Pete

On May 8, 12:42*pm, "BRob"
wrote:
I've got a column of positive and negative numbers that I want to total in
two ways :

- net - ie just natural addition which I can do with the SUM formulae
- absolute - ie the total being based on an assumption that all numbers are
positive

A slightly messy way (because of the design of the spreadsheet) is to create
an extra column of absolute values and sum that.

So my question is 'Is there are formulae I can use to do an absolute sum on
those values directly?'

TIA

Rob