XL: Keeping a Cumulative Total in a Column or Row

 Last reviewed: February 2, 1998
Article ID: Q36950

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 1.x, 2.2, 3.x, 4.x, 5.0, 5.0a
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 2.x, 3.x, 4.x, 5.0, 5.0c
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows NT, version 5.0
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
  • Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
  • Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition

SUMMARY

In Microsoft Excel, to calculate a cumulative total in a column or row of cells, you can use a combination of absolute and relative references in a SUM() formula.

For example, to keep a running total of cells A1 through A10 in column B (for example, B1 contains the value from A1, B2 contains A1+A2, B3 contains A1+A2+A3, etc.), set up the worksheet as follows:

  1. Enter the formula, =SUM($A$1:A1), into cell B1.

  2. Select cells B1 through B10.

  3. On the Edit menu, click Fill Down.

The $A$1 (absolute reference) will be constant in each cell, while the A1 (relative reference) will be updated in each successive cell to refer to the adjacent cell in column A.

NOTE: This information also applies to the AVERAGE() formula.

Additional query words: 7.00 1.0 1.00 1.03 1.04 1.06 1.5 1.50 2.2 2.20
3.0 3.00 4.0 4.00 5.00 97 98 XL98 XL97 XL7 XL5 XL4 XL3 XL2
Version : WINDOWS:2.x,3.x,4.x,5.0,5.0c,7.0,7.0a,97; MACINTOSH:1.x,2.x,3.x,4.x,5.0,5.0a,98; WINNT:5.0
Platform : MACINTOSH WINDOWS
Issue type : kbhowto

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Last reviewed: February 2, 1998
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