Hi
I want to capture 4 different categories that are in one column & a cost
associated to it in another column. There are numerous line items but all
identified by the category. I want to total each category based on the
dollar volume.

Which function is best to do this?
IF or VLOOKUP??

Any and all suggestions are greatly appreciated!!
Cheers,
T

In my opinion, VLOOKUP is usually simpler to define and maintain. If you
also use named ranges, it also reads easily.
In any case, both are more intended for a cell by cell basis. If you want
to compute total try SUMPRODUCT with logical validations.

Hope this helps,
Miguel.

"CAPGirl" wrote:

Hi
I want to capture 4 different categories that are in one column & a cost
associated to it in another column. There are numerous line items but all
identified by the category. I want to total each category based on the
dollar volume.

Which function is best to do this?
IF or VLOOKUP??

Any and all suggestions are greatly appreciated!!
Cheers,
T

If there are multiple occurances of the categories you are summarizing then
VLOOKUP() will not work since it will only return a match for the first row
it finds, not a sum of the values.

I think the SUMIF() function will probably work best if I understand your
post correctly.

HTH,

TK

"CAPGirl" wrote:

Hi
I want to capture 4 different categories that are in one column & a cost
associated to it in another column. There are numerous line items but all
identified by the category. I want to total each category based on the
dollar volume.

Which function is best to do this?
IF or VLOOKUP??

Any and all suggestions are greatly appreciated!!
Cheers,
T

sheet 1:
Col A Col B
apples 15
pears 16
apples 22
bananas 12
pears 2
bananas 23

sheet2:
Col A Col B
apples =SUMIF(sheet1!A:A,A1,sheet1!B:B)
pears =SUMIF(sheet1!A:A,B1,sheet1!B:B)

- OR -

1) sort by category
2) use data subtotals. At each change in category, use function SUM on
column dollars.
--
Allllen


"CAPGirl" wrote:

Hi
I want to capture 4 different categories that are in one column & a cost
associated to it in another column. There are numerous line items but all
identified by the category. I want to total each category based on the
dollar volume.

Which function is best to do this?
IF or VLOOKUP??

Any and all suggestions are greatly appreciated!!
Cheers,
T