# How do I set up the add function to add the elements in a column?

I have a spreadsheet with numbers in column 2. I select a set of rows. I want to add the numbers in column 2 for these rows and have the answer placed somewhere sensible. How do I do that? This is obviously a very useful feature but I don't know how to use it. Keith

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My answer is really summed up in the comment above. As I was about to say when I reached the limit -

I want Libre-office to respond to me as follows:

I highlight a stack of cells from row r1 to row r2, say, in column c. (Libre-office knows the values of r1,r2, and c.) I press ADD a - Libre-office inserts a blank row immediately below row r2.

## b - Libre-office adds the values in column c from row r1 to row r2 and places the value in the new row r2+1

The advantage here is that I don't need to do the counting and type in a particular formula involving the number of cells over which to add. You can see that this offers a tremendous speed-up. Alas - this is not just an application of libre-office as it stands; I am asking for libre-office a - to mimic what I I would do with right click, insert a row b - to analyze the pattern of selected cells in order to discover r1,r2, and c. ( Libre-office must 'know' these values in order to maintain the display of he selected cells.) c - to create the right formula involving SUM and the integer 1 + r2 - r1; this is the number of values to be added.

## d - to execute this formula

I am a bit hazy about how to ensure that the answer falls in the cell in the new row 1+r2 and column c However I am sure that someone can enlighten me!

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Hi for the sample answer, I make the following assumptions:

• the result should be in cell C1 (Colum 3, Row 1).
• 1st cell for the sum is B1 (Column 2, Row 1)
• Last cell for the sum is B10 (Column 2, Row 10)

then go to cell C1 and add the formula: =SUM(B1:B10)

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## Yes I see that would work. Since on any call I have a particular number of values to add I have to specify the number of values, the 10 you mentioned in your formula. So I still have a lot of counting to do! What about this?

I Insert a blank row underneath the rows to be added I Highlight the column of cells to be added - a stack finishing above the blank row - I choose the top row I Press ADD

## Libre office will add the values in the column and place the result in that column in the row I have so thoughtfully provided

For extra points - I Just highlight the column of cells I press ADD Libre-office will itself insert the blank row I just mentioned ; it will then add the elements in the highlighted cells and put the answer in the cell below the column.

I ...(more)

( 2019-03-29 00:38:18 +0200 )edit

Well I found that I can add up the items of a given class quite quickly; the total time is made up of two main elements;

a -time to transfer the data from my bank statement

b - time to add up the amounts for items of the same class

I find that a is much bigger than b. Of course my bank could make it easier by providing a suitable formatted ledger file (cancelling a), just as libre office could make life easier by provindng the SUM function I mentioned (making b much much less) I conclude that for an indivdual the task is carried out so little that the effort by the bank or libre office would not be worthwhile. And; of course, large groups who do this will be able to use custom built software with both these functions built in. Keith

( 2019-03-30 08:35:50 +0200 )edit

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Asked: 2019-03-28 23:47:34 +0200

Seen: 61 times

Last updated: Mar 29