# Easy MS Excel Question

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easy-ms-excel-question/268229>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 8, 2004, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easy-ms-excel-question/268229 "2004-10-08T17:44:11Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Wolfian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7ea924/32.png) [@Wolfian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolfian)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easy-ms-excel-question/268229/1 "2004-10-08T17:44:11Z")

</div>

I’m trying to make a formula go throughout an entire column as opposed to typing in formulas in each square. Basicly I want to make column C equal the sum of columns D and E without having to type in =SUM(D5:E5) in C5, =SUM(D6:E6) in C6, etc. How do I do that?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easy-ms-excel-question/268229/2 "2004-10-08T17:50:32Z")

</div>

Enter your formula as you stated in cell C5. Then copy the cell and paste in cells C6 through C-whatever. The formula will automatically adjust references to the desired rows or columns.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![akennett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee59a6/32.png) [@akennett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/akennett)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easy-ms-excel-question/268229/3 "2004-10-08T17:52:02Z")

</div>

Well, what I would do is:

1. Type the formula in for the first instance you want to use it.
2. Click on that element.
3. Look at the square. It should have a solid border around it with a small solid box in the lower right-hand corner.
4. Click on that box in the lower right and drag it as far down the column as you need.

If I have just insulted your intelligence because you were looking for a simpler way, I apologize.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Wolfian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7ea924/32.png) [@Wolfian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolfian)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easy-ms-excel-question/268229/4 "2004-10-08T17:54:11Z")

</div>

Duh! :smack: I tried everything, but that. Thank guys.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![PoorYorick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@PoorYorick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoorYorick)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easy-ms-excel-question/268229/5 "2004-10-08T17:56:22Z")

</div>

A little short cut to **akennett’s** suggestion if the column of formulas is next to a column of data: Rather than dragging the fill handle down, you can double-click on it. It will automatically fill down to the bottom at the same row of the adjacent column.

Another way is to use the Edit --\> Fill menu. There seems to be about a dozen ways to do any one thing in Excel.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![akennett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee59a6/32.png) [@akennett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/akennett)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easy-ms-excel-question/268229/6 "2004-10-08T18:15:51Z")

</div>

Thanks for those hints **PoorYorick** …that is, indeed, a handy trick for the 1000-plus entry long charts I sometimes have to make.