How do I add different ranges in a column together?

[Jackie]

I have a large column of numbers and need to select random numbers that I
need to total. Rather than adidng one cell at a time. How do I add multiple
ranges within the column together?


Thank you

 

[bpeltzer]

If they're ranges (as in groups of consecutive cells) you can use SUM, as in
=sum(a1:a5,a20:a43, ... ).
If they're cells that are selected based on the value of some other cell in
the same row, you can use sumif: =sumif(b:b,"Selection",a:a) would add the
values in column A of the rows where column B is equal to "Selection".
If it's really pretty random, I'd introduce a 'helper' column. Fill that
helper column either with various values ("Project A", "Project B", etc) to
use with the sumif as above. Or just enter 1's for the group you wish to
select, then use =sumproduct(a:a,b:b); if column B has 1's for the rows you
want to include, this would add up all the corresponding entries from column
A.
HTH. --Bruce