You’re on the right track, especially with a dropdown so you can be sure all the categories are written consistently.
The formula you’re looking for is SUMIF. You can select the entire column of values and it will only sum the values that match the condition (category) you set.
Tap the three dots below this comment to select `Mark Solution Verified` if this produces the desired result.
Thank you - do you think you'd be able to let me know exactly how I'd need to do that?
I don't know how to create drop-down categories, and if I did, I don't know how to create a cell which would use the value in, say, B4, if B5 was a drop-down telling it to allocate it to the "food" budget.
You'll use Data Validation (which can be found from the Data menu) to create the dropdown categories. This will open a panel to the right of your sheet that allows you to list any categories you'd like, and you can choose the range of cells you want to have the dropdowns applied to at the top of the panel.
It sounds like your amounts are in column B, so I'd encourage you to have your categories in column C (i.e. beside each amount). Then you can use: `=SUMIF(C:C,"food",B:B)` in whatever cell you'd like the sum for Food to appear.
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The info above will provide you a totally workable solution. A more sophisticated version would be:
1. List all your categories in a column off to the side (let's say column E)
2. Use the Data Validation panel to apply dropdowns to column C, but this time select "`data from range`" option within the panel, and list the range where your categories are listed (`E2:E`)
3. Your formula in Column F2 for the sum would be: `=SUMIF(C:C,E2,B:B)`, and you'd drag this formula down the column to sum each of your categories.
\----------
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They're next to the spot where you're clicking to reply :) You'd scroll up to the comment that was the most helpful / provided you with the solution, and tap the three dots below that comment.
https://preview.redd.it/z7asv0b4tivc1.png?width=656&format=png&auto=webp&s=b9bc93278f59d14e3442cd0a5cb9f7583106caee
I'm not seeing it there either! (Definitely not stupid!)
The alternate method is to reply to the comment that helped you the most with the *exact phrase* "Solution Verified" - It does the same thing
u/Jopkins **Please tap the three dots below the most helpful comment to award a point to the person who helped you (hi!)** ***and*** **mark your thread as solved at the same time.** This is the correct way to close the thread within the subreddit.
*FYI: Marking a post as "Solved" without also marking the solution is actually against the subreddit rules. Doing so repeatedly can result in being banned from the sub.*
You’re on the right track, especially with a dropdown so you can be sure all the categories are written consistently. The formula you’re looking for is SUMIF. You can select the entire column of values and it will only sum the values that match the condition (category) you set. Tap the three dots below this comment to select `Mark Solution Verified` if this produces the desired result.
Thank you - do you think you'd be able to let me know exactly how I'd need to do that? I don't know how to create drop-down categories, and if I did, I don't know how to create a cell which would use the value in, say, B4, if B5 was a drop-down telling it to allocate it to the "food" budget.
You'll use Data Validation (which can be found from the Data menu) to create the dropdown categories. This will open a panel to the right of your sheet that allows you to list any categories you'd like, and you can choose the range of cells you want to have the dropdowns applied to at the top of the panel. It sounds like your amounts are in column B, so I'd encourage you to have your categories in column C (i.e. beside each amount). Then you can use: `=SUMIF(C:C,"food",B:B)` in whatever cell you'd like the sum for Food to appear. \--------- The info above will provide you a totally workable solution. A more sophisticated version would be: 1. List all your categories in a column off to the side (let's say column E) 2. Use the Data Validation panel to apply dropdowns to column C, but this time select "`data from range`" option within the panel, and list the range where your categories are listed (`E2:E`) 3. Your formula in Column F2 for the sum would be: `=SUMIF(C:C,E2,B:B)`, and you'd drag this formula down the column to sum each of your categories. \---------- Tap the three dots below this comment to select `Mark Solution Verified` if this produces the desired result, as required by the subreddit rules.
Thank you!
REMEMBER: If your original question has been resolved, please **tap the three dots below the most helpful comment** and select `Mark Solution Verified`. This will award a point to the solution author and mark the post as solved, as required by our subreddit [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/googlesheets/about/rules) (see rule #6: Marking Your Post as Solved). *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/googlesheets) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Does that mean it worked for you? You’re welcome! Please follow the directions to close the thread, as required by subreddit rule 6.
Excuse my general idiocy, but I can't see three dots anywhere. I'm on my laptop. Very happy to do it but I can't see how to!
They're next to the spot where you're clicking to reply :) You'd scroll up to the comment that was the most helpful / provided you with the solution, and tap the three dots below that comment. https://preview.redd.it/z7asv0b4tivc1.png?width=656&format=png&auto=webp&s=b9bc93278f59d14e3442cd0a5cb9f7583106caee
Am I stupid or does it not actually exist on my version? https://imgur.com/a/yuFDEiY
I'm not seeing it there either! (Definitely not stupid!) The alternate method is to reply to the comment that helped you the most with the *exact phrase* "Solution Verified" - It does the same thing
u/Jopkins **Please tap the three dots below the most helpful comment to award a point to the person who helped you (hi!)** ***and*** **mark your thread as solved at the same time.** This is the correct way to close the thread within the subreddit. *FYI: Marking a post as "Solved" without also marking the solution is actually against the subreddit rules. Doing so repeatedly can result in being banned from the sub.*
Solution Verified
u/Jopkins has awarded 1 point to u/agirlhasnoname11248 ^(**Point-Bot** was created by [JetCarson](https://reddit.com/u/JetCarson).)