How to write SUM formula

This is one of the most simple excel formula

SUM - used to add numbers

SYNTAX: =SUM(NUMBER1,NUMBER2,.................NUMBERn)

Each number can be specified in cells and in the systax number1 = cell

eg: = sum(A2,B3,D1) will add the numbers in these cells

You can also use combination of numbers annd cells

eg: =SUM(8,C3) will add the number in cell C3 to 8

You can also specify ranges in this formula

eg: =SUM(A6:I6) will add numbers in cells A6,B6,C6,D6,E6,F6,G6 and I6

Now you can use a combination of all above

eg: =SUM(E4:E9,C3,8,H3:I5,2,7)

Here we have added 2 ranges, one cell and 3 numbers.

Such a simple formula with so many combinations possibel makes SUM formula very useful in excel

RECAP FOR BEGINNERS

Thank you everyone for your feedback and ideas. I understand that each the average level of understanding of excel for users is beginners. I am doing a recap of whats done so far and in case have any questions put in your comments or mail me at vmani32@yahoo.co.in

• The best way to learn excel is to open a spreadsheet and do all sorts of experiments
• Opening a spreadsheet is simple Start-->Run-->Excel {Enter}
• Spreadsheet generally opens with 3 sheets (TABS). This can be changed in options
• Depending on the version of excel the number of rows and columns will vary.
• What you see in the sheet are tiny cells which can be formatted to your need and desire
• This gives extensive flexibility to excel and one can present reports in varied formats
• Excel also gives you the flexibility of store huge amount of data. However the file size gets huge and you need a good RAM to work
• You can learn the tricks of formatting from the previous posts by referring to the dummy report at this link https://www.yousendit.com/download/TTZtYnU4NDI5NVZMWEE9PQ
• This report will help a lot
• Excel reportin g is one of the best forms of reporting available which is cheap and does not invlove any major training
• Other systems like SQL, Access, Oracle etc need a lot of technical training. In future I will give you some hints on SQL. May be I can circulate some ebooks
• From the next post I will start sharing one formula every two days
• Please read all the previous posts carefully before going into formulae

Lesson 3.Formatting Spreadsheet Part 4

This is the last part of this lesson where we summarise

• The trick to get a well formatted spreadsheet is try and look
• Give it a shot and find for yourself
• Some of theings we studied was how to prepare a dull worksheet to a presentable report
• Tools like grouping, hiding cells and column, merging cells, filling colurs are some of them
• Using various colour combination of patterns a lot of life can be put in reports
• Hiding rows and columns help the user to display only the part which he wants to present
• Grouping is user friendly eg: A person wants to present regionwise sales he may do so but he can provide a group inside which there would be citywise sales. So if the user wants to know that he may do so by ungrouping them
• If there are calculation in the spreadsheet which have to be hidden or protected then cell protection is useful as it preserves the report from being changed