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Using AutoSum in Tables

March 14, 2018 - by

Using AutoSum in Tables

Direct from the Excel development team, Project Manager Ash Sharma shares another of his seven favorite tips about Excel. This is one that I never knew.

Say that you have a boring Excel table like this.

One row of headings and some data
One row of headings and some data

Make the data a table by selecting one cell and pressing Ctrl + T. You will get some nice formatting.

Ctrl+T marks the data as a table
Ctrl + T marks the data as a table

In the Table Tools Design tab, choose Total Row.

Add a Total in one click
Add a Total in one click

Here is the part that I never discovered. To the right of the Total is an INVISIBLE drop-down arrow. You can't see it. But when you click *where it should be*, the drop-down opens! Click here.

Click the invisible drop-down arrow.
Click the invisible drop-down arrow.

Once you click on the invisible arrow, you can change the calculation. Plus, once you've activated the arrow, it will stay visible.

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Change the calculation
Change the calculation

This is an awesome trick that took me 10+ years to discover! I am glad that Ash called this out as one of his seven favorites.

I love to ask the Excel team for their favorite features. Each Wednesday, I will share one of their answers.

Excel Thought Of the Day

I've asked my Excel Master friends for their advice about Excel. Today's thought to ponder:

"Don't center-align numerical data."

Title Photo: Eder Sampaio / Unsplash