How to Total a Column in a Word Table

If a Word user has a table with information in a column that needs to be totaled that is easy to do. First, the user should add an empty row to the bottom of their table to contain the totaled information.

Then, place the cursor in the empty field below the column of numbers to be added. On the TABLE TOOLS, LAYOUT tab click the formula button in the Data group to open the Formula dialog box.

In the Formula dialog box the formula =SUM(ABOVE) is the default formula that is in the Formula text box. This formula will perform an addition operation on all of the numbers listed above the empty field that the user placed the cursor in. This formula can be adjusted to =SUM(BELOW), =SUM(LEFT), and =SUM(RIGHT) depending on where the user needs to place the totaled information and where the addends are in the users table. In the Formula dialog box there are also Number Format options that will be applied to the answer to the formula. The third option has a dollar sign and two decimal places that would be appropriate for currency.

Click OK in the Formula dialog box and then the numbers are totaled and formatted correctly in the empty field.