How to use the SUM function in Word

The Word text editor, of course, has a lot of differences from its counterpart, the Excel spreadsheet editor, but you can also use the SUMMA formula in it. This article will tell you how to calculate the amount in Word. In addition to a simple explanation of this task, some of the nuances of the function in the program will be described. That is why it is recommended to read the article to the end in order to find out about everything.

How to calculate in “Word” the amount in the column

We will start directly with a step-by-step guide on how to calculate the amount. However, before undertaking the calculation, it is necessary to prepare a table with the data, which we will do now.

Step 1: create a table with data

Of course, the SUMMA function in Word can be performed only in the table, because in the text it simply cannot be applied. So that no one has any unnecessary questions, we will now consider in detail the process of creating a table in a text editor from Microsoft.

1. Place the cursor in the part of the text where you plan to place the table.
2. Click the Insert tab.
3. On the toolbar that opens, click on the "Insert Table" button.
4. In the window that appears, specify the number of rows and columns of the table.

Immediately after that, a table with the number of cells you specified appears in the indicated location. We will perform the SUM function in the Word by an example. Create a table with two columns and seven rows. In the first column, enter the name of the products, and in the second - the price per kilogram. In the last, lowermost row in the first column we write the word "Amount", and leave the cell in the second column empty, it is in it that we will insert the SUM function.

Step 2: open the formula editor

So, the table has been created, the data has been entered into it, now you can go directly to performing the SUMMA function in Word. To do this, open the formula editor. This action is performed quite simply:

1. Place the cursor in the lower right cell immediately opposite the cell with the word "Amount".
2. We will produce the sum of the column in Word, so it is very important that the column of numbers for calculation is above the cell in which the function will be located, which is why our table looks like this.
3. Go to the “Layout” tab, which is located in the “Working with tables” tab group.
4. On the toolbar that appears, click on the "Formula" button. It is located in a group of tools called "Data".

Immediately after this, the formula editor appears. It is in this window that all arguments will be entered.

Step 3: perform the SUM function

Unfortunately, the SUMMA function in Word does not work as it does in Excel, so you have to learn again. But if you understand the principle of operation of the "Excel" formulas, then you can easily get used to the "Word" formulas.

1. In the "Formula" field, enter the beginning of the function itself. To do this, put an equal sign ("=") and, without making a space, enter "SUM" (without quotes).
2. Immediately after this, you must specify the range of cells. Since we don’t have any range, we will indicate all the values ​​located in the cells located above. To do this, immediately after the function name, put the opening bracket sign ("("), enter the word "ABOVE" and set the closing bracket sign (")"). As a result, your formula should look like this: "= SUM (ABOVE)" (without quotes).
3. Click the OK button.

As soon as you complete all the above steps, in the cell in which the formula was written, the sum of all the numbers above will appear. In other words, you learned how to carry out the amount in the Word text editor. This article could have been completed, but it is worth mentioning some of the nuances in the work of this function in Word. That is what we are going to do now.

Nuances in the work of the SUMMA function in Word

When working with the SUMMA formula in the table in Word, some nuances must be taken into account. In fact, there are not so many of them, and more precisely, only two:

1. If you change any number from the table that is included in the calculation of the formula, the value of the sum will not change. To do this, you will need to update the function. Fortunately, this is pretty simple. You just need to right-click on the table and select "Update Field" in the context menu.
2. The SUM function counts only those cells that are located above it and have a numerical value. So, if there is a series of numbers above a cell with a function, but there is an empty cell or a cell with text between them, then only those values ​​that go before it will be taken into account.

These are all the nuances that you need to know about when working with functions in Word. As you can see, there are not so many of them, although they radically change the principles of interaction.