i am new at this so please send me any info to

Most people might say put a formula at the bottom of the list of numbers.
For example, you have numbers in column B and they go from row 2 to row 154,
in B155 (or anywhere else, pretty much), you could put this formula:
=SUM(B2:B155)

The 'problem' with that is that you can't just add to the bottom of the
list, you have to keep inserting rows to push that formula on down the sheet.
Try putting a SUM formula near the TOP of the column. Let's say you have
the title for a column in row 1, then you start your number entries in row 2.
Insert a new row 2 and put this formula in B2:
=Sum(B3:B500)
now B2 will show you the total of all numbers entered into column B below
row 2 until you have entered numbers beyond row 500. Then you just up the
second number to something like =SUM(B3:B1000) or you can start with a really
big number to begin with, but remember that making it really large, and
making it look at a big excess number of empty cells can affect performance.

If you want to do away with having to ever mess with the formula again, if
you're using a version of Excel earlier than 2007, just enter
=SUM(B3:B65536)
and that covers all the bases, so to speak.
"oldfartlink" wrote:

i am new at this so please send me any info to

thank you for the info. its a start. im new to the pc world except for the
online games.At 51 i thought i would try my skills with something a little
more challenging for my office . thanx again. oldfartlink

"JLatham" wrote:

Most people might say put a formula at the bottom of the list of numbers.
For example, you have numbers in column B and they go from row 2 to row 154,
in B155 (or anywhere else, pretty much), you could put this formula:
=SUM(B2:B155)

The 'problem' with that is that you can't just add to the bottom of the
list, you have to keep inserting rows to push that formula on down the sheet.
Try putting a SUM formula near the TOP of the column. Let's say you have
the title for a column in row 1, then you start your number entries in row 2.
Insert a new row 2 and put this formula in B2:
=Sum(B3:B500)
now B2 will show you the total of all numbers entered into column B below
row 2 until you have entered numbers beyond row 500. Then you just up the
second number to something like =SUM(B3:B1000) or you can start with a really
big number to begin with, but remember that making it really large, and
making it look at a big excess number of empty cells can affect performance.

If you want to do away with having to ever mess with the formula again, if
you're using a version of Excel earlier than 2007, just enter
=SUM(B3:B65536)
and that covers all the bases, so to speak.
"oldfartlink" wrote:

i am new at this so please send me any info to

Always a good thing to keep the brain busy.

-- anolderphart

"oldfartlink" wrote:

thank you for the info. its a start. im new to the pc world except for the
online games.At 51 i thought i would try my skills with something a little
more challenging for my office . thanx again. oldfartlink

"JLatham" wrote:

Most people might say put a formula at the bottom of the list of numbers.
For example, you have numbers in column B and they go from row 2 to row 154,
in B155 (or anywhere else, pretty much), you could put this formula:
=SUM(B2:B155)

The 'problem' with that is that you can't just add to the bottom of the
list, you have to keep inserting rows to push that formula on down the sheet.
Try putting a SUM formula near the TOP of the column. Let's say you have
the title for a column in row 1, then you start your number entries in row 2.
Insert a new row 2 and put this formula in B2:
=Sum(B3:B500)
now B2 will show you the total of all numbers entered into column B below
row 2 until you have entered numbers beyond row 500. Then you just up the
second number to something like =SUM(B3:B1000) or you can start with a really
big number to begin with, but remember that making it really large, and
making it look at a big excess number of empty cells can affect performance.

If you want to do away with having to ever mess with the formula again, if
you're using a version of Excel earlier than 2007, just enter
=SUM(B3:B65536)
and that covers all the bases, so to speak.
"oldfartlink" wrote:

i am new at this so please send me any info to