How do you use a box with text in to act as a category?

[mjtandy]

First post - excel noob so please be kind!

In the follow example, I'm looking to add a formula to the table to determine the sum total of each individual's spend.

Name:	Spend:
Emma	$4.50
John	$5.00
Emma	$3.75
Emma	$5.00
John	$3.00
John	$6.00
Emma	$2.75

There would be 2 categories: "Emma" and "John" - I would be looking for the sum total of the "spend" for both.

Maybe a formula that recognises that if a box has the word "Emma" in it, it should take the box to the immediate right (the amount) and add all the totals together.

Hope this explains the problem adequately!

[shg]

See the SUMIF function.

[xwarlock10x]

here you go.. this should work
=SUMIF(A2:B8,D2,B2:B8)

[xwarlock10x]

here you go.. this should work
=SUMIF(A2:B8,D2,B2:B8) where D2 is a drop down in my sheet..