Summing multiple entries with the same criteria

[boobavon]

I'm at my wits end with this particular task, so I'm looking to be pointed in the right direction by someone here. I'm working with 3 worksheets, one with the numbers to be summed, one with the lists to be parsed to see which numbers to sum, and one where results will be placed. I'll attach the file at the end.

What needs to happen is on worksheet A with the list of items, and its corresponding category, I need to be able to add all of the items on worksheet B whenever the category is matched as the criteria. My original function was a SUMIF(categories, particular category, data list), which left out several of the data and probably didn't do it in the right order anyway.

This is not a work assignment, rather for class, and my teacher has not emailed me in three days after I asked him for help on this. Additionally, I do not believe we are required to use macros (though it would help, as a former programmer), so only excel functions should be required. I'll be watching this thread in case I explained it poorly.

[martindwilson]

have alook at this.
since items are unique (size doesn't matter)and therfore only have to be catogirised as
DR/ADE/PH
VAR JC
FCOJ
you can use vlookup to find all the catogaries against all items
so look up product on prime against list on org
this will give all types [vlookup(column "e2 prime)]

then use sumif on "market" in the format

=SUMIF(Prime!$E:$E,$A12,Prime!D:D)
ie sumif(if in column e sheet prime , the word in a12 is found then sum corresponding values in column d
hope that helps and i get 5* homework points or whatever lol

[boobavon]

Yea I think that will do it, thanks so much. Just for my own edification, would it have been possible without adding that new column E on Prime?

[martindwilson]

i can't think of another way, to create a range for sumif to look a
however lots of things are possible perhaps someone else will post a better answer!

[boobavon]

Thanks again, I'll be off to finish this thing now.