Is there a function in excel that clears an entire column or sets it to zero temporarily?

Fairly new to excel and am stuck with a problem that should be fairly easy.
I am doing a calculation in one column that involves a variable that is the sum of a separate column. In a third column if "Y" is typed I need that variable to be set to zero, so I have tried an if statement that if "Y" is typed all cells are set to zero.. But once a "Y" has been typed all the cells are =0 and thats it! I need a function that will clear all the cells when "Y" and then continue to add the following data as it is entered into the column, and then the column cleared when "Y"?

Is there a function in excel that clears an entire column or sets it to zero temporarily?

Originally Posted by FDibbins

Hi and welcome ot the forum

Not sure what your formula was, but try this...

=IF(C2="Y",0,your-formula)

That is the gist of what I'm doing but not quite what I need.

In column A I have a formula that contains a variable C19 >>> [SUM(C1:C18)]

In column B the input is "Y" or "N"

Whenever "N" is typed nothing is to happen...The data is entered down column C and is then summed at the end.

Whenever "Y" is typed I need C1:C18 = 0 (The variable in the formula needs to be zero)

Using an IF statement to do this is the problem because because if you type "Y" in B1 then C1:C18 = 0 and any data entered after a "Y" is typed is just zero.

I'm finding it hard to explain but I need a function or code that will allow me to SUM a column of numbers but clear the column when "Y" and then continue to sum until "Y" and so on....