Getting rid of helping columns

I am using the formula =IF(purchaser=name at top of column,SUM(purchase
amount),0) in XL 2003 to find the expences of each person and placing that
amount in a column to be sumed at the bottom. I then use that total to
calculate costs and comissions. I have no need to see the list of purchases
under each name but I don't know how to test each purchase for a name and add
that to other purchases without a helping column. Is there some way to get
around this?

thanks, paul

Nevermind, I figured out how to use SUMIF.

"paulgallanter" wrote:

> I am using the formula =IF(purchaser=name at top of column,SUM(purchase
> amount),0) in XL 2003 to find the expences of each person and placing that
> amount in a column to be sumed at the bottom. I then use that total to
> calculate costs and comissions. I have no need to see the list of purchases
> under each name but I don't know how to test each purchase for a name and add
> that to other purchases without a helping column. Is there some way to get
> around this?
>
> thanks, paul

On Sat, 8 Apr 2006 15:09:02 -0700, paulgallanter
<[email protected]> wrote:

>I am using the formula =IF(purchaser=name at top of column,SUM(purchase
>amount),0) in XL 2003 to find the expences of each person and placing that
>amount in a column to be sumed at the bottom. I then use that total to
>calculate costs and comissions. I have no need to see the list of purchases
>under each name but I don't know how to test each purchase for a name and add
>that to other purchases without a helping column. Is there some way to get
>around this?
>
>thanks, paul


Sounds like you need SUMIF

With purchaser in A2:A100, amounts in B2:B100, and purchaser name in
A1

SUMIF(A2:A100,A1,B2:B100)

HTH
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Richard Buttrey
Grappenhall, Cheshire, UK
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