To add a group of adjacent numbers (in the same column or row):
Select the groups of cells that you want to add. (To select a group of cells, click on the first cell of the group, hold down your mouse button, and drag the cursor over the other cells you want to select). When selecting:
If you are adding numbers in a column, only select cells from one column (e.g., cell A1 to cell A5). Similarly, if you are adding numbers in a row, only select cells from one row (e.g., cell A1 to G1).
If you are adding numbers in a column, there must be an empty cell at the bottom of the column of cells you select. Similarly, if you are adding numbers in a row, there must be an empty cell to the right of the cells you select.
Go to the Data menu, and click Add Selected Numbers. Or, if you are in Easy Mode, click the Add Selected Numbers button (in Advanced Mode, click the icon with a blue sigma symbol).
Note: This will not work if the cell in which the total should appear is occupied, or if a block of cells has been selected (i.e., more than one row and more than one column).
The values in the selected cells will be added together. If you selected a group of numbers in a column, this sum will appear in the cell immediately below the your selection. If you selected a group of numbers in a row, this sum will appear in the cell immediately to the right of your selection.
Note: A formula (rather than an actual number) including the SUM function will be inserted into the cell. This formula represents the sum of the cells you selected. This sum is a value, and thus, can be used in calculations. It will also be included in row and column totals.
Notes on Subtotals
Subtotalling numbers in a column is different from adding a selected group of cells.
When subtotalling numbers (by clicking Subtotal Above Numbers):
There is no need to select a group of cells. The numbers above the single cell you select will automatically be totaled. Note that it will not include numbers that are already used in another subtotal.
The subtotal will be ignored when totaling the entire column. It will also be ignored by other subtotals. However, the subtotal is a value, and can be used in other calculations.
See Subtotaling Numbers for further details.