Adding up cell values in a table
Although Excel would be the go-to application for calculating data, calculations can be performed within Word tables. We could create a formula to add sales values, work out percentage commission, or multiply values:
- Click where you would like your answer to be (that is, place your cursor in the total cell).
- On the Layout tab under Table Tools, choose the Formula icon, as illustrated in the following screenshot:
- The Formula dialog box will open and will automatically enter a formula to add values in a table cell, as illustrated in the following screenshot:
- Check that the formula is correct. (Word automatically assumes that we are adding all the values above, which is correct in this example. Always double-check after the calculation is assumed by Word, as you may wish to alter the formula to =sum[LEFT] if you are to add all the values to the left, or =sum[RIGHT] to add all the values to the right of the formula cell.)
- Click on OK.
To update a formula, press F9 on your keyboard. If you change any of the table values, which will have an impact on any formula in the table, select the table and press F9 on your keyboard to update the formula. Alternatively, right-click on the answer, and select Update Field, as illustrated in the following screenshot:
To multiply, subtract, or divide in a Word table, simply use the rows and column cell references in the formula. For example, to sum up the values 9000 + 4567 to reach a total, you would need to use column B and row 2 and column B and row 3 to identify the cell references for the cells to use in the formula to obtain the total in column C, row 6.