I want the first cell of a column to be a running bal for that col

[rsilver]

Hi!

I am trying to set up a worksheet where I have different columns for each
area in a budget (ie "Food", "entertainment", "security", etc)

Column A&B = Date and decription of each item
Row 1: Budget areas listed above

Now I have done the "freeze frame" command so that no matter where I scroll,
I ca always see Row #1. I would like to have a running balance for each
column that I could also see no matter where in the worksheet I am.

For Example, C1 = "Food"
C2 = a running balance for how much is left in the food budget
C3 - C(really big number) would be where I enter money spent on food, or
donations to the food budget, and C2 would automatically update to tell me
the current balance

I hope I explained this okay. I'm not married to the idea of setting it up
exactly like this, if there is a better way. I just want to be able to have a
running balance for each budget area that I can easily see without having to
scroll all over the place.

Thanks in advance!

 

[rsilver]

Thanks! I am jst now reading this over, and I didn't explain things as well
as I'd hoped....my problem is not so much how to make a cell that is always
in view ( I have done exactly what you suggested as far as freezing the
panes), but how to make that cell have running balance.

Microsoft help suggest this for keeping a running balance:

"To maintain the running balance, add a row for each new entry by doing the
following:

Type the amounts of your deposits and withdrawals into the empty rows
directly below the existing data.

For instance, if you were using the example above, you would type the
deposits into A4, A5, and so on, and the withdrawals into B4, B5, and so on.

Extend the running balance formula into the new rows by selecting the last
cell in the balance column and then double-clicking the fill handle (fill
handle: The small black square in the lower-right corner of the selection.
When you point to the fill handle, the pointer changes to a black cross.).

For instance, if you were using the example above, you would select cell C3
and then double-click its fill handle to extend the formula into all new rows
that contain deposit and withdrawal values."

But this seems to say that you have to have a new cell for each entry that
show the current running balance, i.e. there will be a cell on each row that
states the current balance.

I am trying to have he balance displayed in just 1 cell (row 2 of the
column), and it will show the most current running balance. So, for example
instead of this:

A B C
1 deposits withdrawals balance
2 $1000 [blank] [previous balance + 1000]
3 [blank] $675 [previous balance - 675]

you would have this:

A B C
1 Food Entertainment Security
2 [most current Food balance] [most current ent. balance] [most current
security balance]
3 100 [blank blank
4 blank (250) blank
5 blank blank 25

And if anyone is still reading this after all of that nonsense, bless you!
If you have any ideas, or if I am still not being clear, please do let me
know!

Thanks again!!

 

[Cutter]

It sounds like you just want to sum the cells from row 3 to that 'really
big number'.

In C2 type: =SUM(C3:C65536)

Bear in mind that you'll have to make sure that you enter expenditures
as negative numbers and deposits as positives.

 

[rsilver]

Cutter, that's exactly what I want! Only is there anyway not to have to type
a "-" before every withdrawal? There are way more withdrawals that deposits.
I just asked a question on the board inquiring whether there is such a thing
as the opposite of the sum function, but i'm pretty sure i made absolutely no
sense whatsoever and no one will respond.

But you have hit the nail on the head, and seem to know what I am trying to
do. I just don't want to have to remember to make what wil be essentially
EVERY number a negative one. It really slows down the data entry, if you know
what I mean.....

Thanks!