Share via

Summing with non-contiguous cells

Anonymous
2017-11-29T02:00:36+00:00

I m not greatly familiar with all the uses of Excel - I mainly use it to keep tabs on my income and expenditure.

I know how to add a column with contiguous cells, but I can't work out how to add several non-contiguous cells together. The 'old' way of hitting E and then highlighting the cells I want to tally, then  hitting E again, doesn't seem to work. What am I doing wrong? 

Advice most welcome. Sylvia

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | For home | Windows

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments

Answer accepted by question author

  1. Bob Jones AKA CyberTaz MVP 435.3K Reputation points
    2017-12-01T15:15:35+00:00

    I appreciate the frustration, but it really should not be such a problem :-) To clear any muddying of the waters please try these steps exactly as enumerated below:

    1. Select the cell where you want the total
    2. Click the AutoSumbutton
      • That should insert =SUM( ) into the cell
      • Depending on where the cell is relative to other data there may be additional cell reference included. If so, simply disregard it - It will be replaced when the next step is executed.
    3. Click the first cell to be included. The cell containing the function now should read as =SUM( ) including the reference of the cell you clicked, such as =SUM(A1)
    4. Hold the Commandkey while you click each additional cell.
      • Each time you Command+Click a cell its reference preceded by a comma should be added within the parentheses, such as =SUM(A1,B5), then =SUM(A1,B5,D8) etc. as you continue to build the formula.
    5. Press return
      • Or press Tab or enter or click the green check on the Formula Bar to finish

    If that still doesn't work for you please describe exactly what does occur instead. Also, go to Excel> About Excel in the main menu & include the Version information of your present installation in your reply.

    Was this answer helpful?

    40+ people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments

12 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. OssieMac 48,001 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2017-11-29T03:50:45+00:00

    Start the formula in the cell to contain the formula by entering  =SUM(

    Alternatively, click AutoSum to wards far right of Home ribbon.

    Select the first cell or range and then hold the ctrl key while selecting the remaining cells/ranges. Unfortunately at this point in time if you make a mistake with the selections you have to start over again.

    There is a suggestion in to Microsoft to allow us to unselect a cell or range that was selected in error.

    Was this answer helpful?

    2 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2017-12-01T02:48:11+00:00

    Sorry - didn't work. Just abandoned the cells I had identified.

    Thanks for trying! S

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2017-11-29T05:10:57+00:00

    Hi sylvia hill,

    On Mac, when you sum with non-contiguous cells, please press and hold down the “command” key on the keyboard, click the cells that you want to select at the same time. Release the command key, then the non-contiguous cells will be selected.

    Regards,

    Rosen

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2017-11-29T04:40:25+00:00

    That sounded eminently logical - but it doesn't work.

     Firstly - pressing control key had no influence at all in selection. I had to use the Command key to identify the cells. When I had them all selected, I hit E sum (Autism) again -  and nothing happened!

    Tried several times. No joy.

    Got another suggestion ....... and I am grateful for your patience!

    Sylvia

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments