This post was originally a response to a prior thread, but I have created a new thread. I haven't posted enough to allow links, yet, but for reference the original is called "Data sorting and calculations"
I have a workbook for budgeting construction projects. Each element of a project gets its own tab (for example, walls, roof, floor, etc.). Within each of those tabs the user chooses a category of material from a drop down menu, then the actual material from a second drop down menu. Those drop downs reference a sheet with tables for each category. So, for example, tab "1" would be for the roof. In the first column they could choose "Lumber" which allows them in the second column to choose "2x8x8' #2 YP." Then, they manually input quantities of the material. And so it goes until all the necessary materials for each element are accounted for. Then, the process is repeated on the next tab for the next element.
Obviously, many materials are repeated in multiple tabs. For quick ordering purposes, I'd like to create a "Material Summary" tab that looks at all the element tabs, lists the materials chosen, and creates a sum of those materials from across all the tabs. There are hundreds of possible materials to choose from in the page of material tables, so the summary should only list materials that are actually chosen, and not a list of all possible materials. IDEALLY, it would group the materials by category, but that's not totally necessary.
I'm at a total loss for how to do this. Any help is appreciated. I've attached the document. The relevant tabs are the numbered ones in the middle. I also created a "Material Summary" tab as a starting point for where this info should go.
Thanks a lot!
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