When to use Cell SUM instead of SUM

You typically use Cell SUM rather than SUM when you simply want to add a row or column of values.

Example - using Cell SUM to calculate an increase in sales

In this example, you use Cell SUM to calculate an overall total sales target for individual sales targets (i.e. an increase of ten units).

Figure 14-3 Using Cell SUM to calculate an increase in sales

Description of the illustration total_type2.gif

Key to figure:
a. The calculation item Sales Target contains the calculation Sales + 10. For example, the value for the North region is 210 (i.e. 200 + 10).
b. In the Sales column, the Totals value is the sum of the Sales column.
c. In the Sales Target column, the Totals value is the sum of the Sales Target column 730 (210 + 310 + 210).

In the figure above, the worksheet contains three items, including the calculation item Sales Target. When you calculate a total for the Sales Target item, you want to sum the values in the column. In other words, the intended total value for the Sales Target item is 730 (210+310+210).

Note: If you used SUM in this example, you would apply the calculation to the total for the Sales column. This would result in the unintended total value 710 (700+10).