Working with the Total Row

The Total Row is an optional table element that contains formulas that summarize the information in the columns. Normally, the Total Row isn't displayed. To display the Total Row, choose Table Tools Design Table Style Options Total Row. This command is a toggle that turns the Total Row on and off.

By default, the Total Row displays the sum of the values in a column of numbers. In many cases, you'll want a different type of summary formula. When you select a cell in the Total Row, a drop-down arrow appears, and you can select from a number of other summary formulas.

None:
No formula.

Average:
Displays the average of the numbers in the column.

Count:
Displays the number of entries in the column. (Blank cells are not counted.)

Count Numbers:
Displays the number of numeric values in the column. (Blank cells, text cells, and error cells are not counted.)

Max:
Displays the maximum value in the column.

Min:
Displays the minimum value in the column.

Sum:
Displays the sum of the values in the column.

StdDev:
Displays the standard deviation of the values in the column. Standard deviation is a statistical measure of how "spread out" the values are.

Var:
Displays the variance of the values in the column. Variance is another statistical measure of how "spread out" the values are.

More Functions:
Displays the Insert Function dialog box so that you can select a function that isn't in the list.

The drop-down choices insert the SUBTOTAL function and refer to the table's column using a special structured syntax. The first argument of the SUBTOTAL function determines the type of summary displayed. For example, if the first argument is 109, the function displays the sum. You can override the formula inserted by Excel and enter any formula you like in the Total row cell.

The SUBTOTAL function is the only function that ignores data hidden by filtering. If you have other formulas that refer to data in a filtered table, these formulas don't adjust to use only the visible cells. For example, if you use the SUM function to add the values in column C and some rows are hidden because of filtering, the formula continues to show the sum for all the values in column C-not just those in the visible rows.