Formula Excel : Calculating a Running Total

Some organizations like to see a running total as a mechanism to analyze the changes in a metric as a period of time progresses. Image 2-7 illustrates a running total of units sold for January through December. The formula used in cell D3 is copied down for each month:

=SUM($C$3:C3)

Image 2-7: Calculating a running total

How it works

In this formula, you use the SUM function to add all the units from cell C3 to the current row. The trick to this formula is the absolute reference ($C$3). Placing an absolute reference in the reference for the first value of the year locks that value down. Locking the value down ensures that as the formula is copied down, the SUM function always captures and adds the units from the very first value to the value on the current row.

Ref :  For more information see on absolute and relative cellreferences.

 

Categories: Formula