Just click individual cells to sum
Excel 2011 had the possibility to sum individual cells by typing "=", and then just clicking on individual cells across the workbook that you want to sum, and "return" when done. This functionality is no longer available in Excel 2016 (you have to type "=sum(", then clicking on the individual cells while holding down the command key, "return". I would be happy if the old functionality is brought to Excel 2016.
Saskia Aldershof
shared this idea
Update – thanks for the continued support of this feature. We’ll keep this request open for voting, but we’ll need to consider modifying the behavior slightly if it is to be brought back. For this suggestion, we would want to enable such behavior on both Mac and Windows, but we would need to do it in a way that does not cause problems for people who don’t want this behavior. For example, it may be that you would type =, then hold the CMD key as you click the cells to be added. Or perhaps you would need to enable a preference to get the old behavior. Please comment on these options or offer other ideas.
We’ve been working to make Excel more consistent between Mac and Windows, as can be seen by the updates over the past several months, which have satisfied several thousand votes on this forum (multi-thread calculation, PivotCharts, modern chart types, new functions, slicers for tables). I mention that to be clear that we are listening to the suggestions, comments and votes.
Steve K [MS Excel]
341 comments
-
Charlie Hartman
commented
Adding this functionality back as a preference should mean making it something you can choose to have turned on or not. It should be a one-time choice, and from then on you'd be able to click on cells to add them.
-
CT
commented
I like the add-as-i-click-cells and sometimes i dont based on what i'm trying to do within the sheet. So having it as an option is great. It can be a Preferences but changing this option would take too long by leaving the sheet and opening the Preference window. It takes too many steps vs holding down CMD or Option or Shift or Control.
-
Anonymous
commented
Please bring this functionality back. I think adding as a Preference would be the best solution.
-
Kiyoshi Inoue
commented
I am really struggling with the new catalina update for mac as it forced me to update to the latest office package. I combine information from multiple sheets with intricate structure, adding individual cells in different location on each sheet. Being able to click to add in each cell after inserting = in my totals sheet in imperative.. I can't fathom why this feature is no more?!!???? I guess I could work with the cmd suggestion but as excel has no feature that conflicts with this simple yet ingenious feature is mind puzzling..
-
Denise Imbesi
commented
This was one of the best features of Excel which in my opinion sets Excel apart from other worksheet programs. Please please bring it back...
-
BW
commented
Absolutely bring that function back. It was such a time saver! Thank you
-
NK
commented
Please bring that function back. I just upgraded and now takes me so much longer to do my spreadsheets and I hate it. That feature was extremely convenient. I also use a mac.
-
PL
commented
I am a 100% Mac user and I too want to see the function back.
-
Willy
commented
Why make Excel more consistent between Mac & Windows? The reason I have a Mac is to never touch a PC of my whole life again.
BTW, why do I have to pay 70$/yr for MS on my Mac? I had MS Office 2011 for years. Now we have to pay a fee yearly? Such a rip off!
-
Geoff Berlin
commented
Yes, pls add this feature back. I just "upgraded" from Office 2011 for Mac to Office 365, and it's not there. Looked through Preferences and could find no way to activate. Pls add it back!
-
JL
commented
I am a Mac user and I agree with all the comments re the need to click + between clicking cells I want to add together. Not only is it a retrograde step it is inconvenient with the + key being on the right of the keyboard. I also have clients who are very unhappy about this. I am seriously considering cancelling my subscription and looking at other options than 365.
-
MG
commented
As requested by many, please create an option so users can enable this intuitive summation method. For reference I am a Mac user, whom recently "updated" to 365. Thanks much.
-
Anonymous
commented
Anonymous commented · October 14, 2019 05:03
Please re-enable the click on each cell capability to add, instead of having to select + between each cell. PLEASE
________________________________Yes! Why would you take this function away? 😲
Please bring this back.
-
Anonymous
commented
I'm a Mac user and I also vote to re-enable this feature.
-
Gil Frisbie
commented
I'm a Mac user and I would love to see the function back
-
Andrew Bullard
commented
The sum (then clickimng individual cells etc is great if one is adding a single line with adjacent cells But what we miss is instead just selecting no adjacent cells in rows as wekll as columns
MS Excell guys should relaise this
And it should be available for both mac users as well as windows users please -
Anonymous
commented
Please re-enable the click on each cell capability to add, instead of having to select + between each cell. PLEASE
-
Nope
commented
It should that Microsoft listens to and accommodates the users and not a bunch old men in Redmond. This is a convenient and necessary feature.
-
Anonymous
commented
As mentioned in my post to Philip:
MS stated 2018 (March 26) in this thread that they will not bring back this feature, but keep the voting open.
First time I actually saw that and that means : TIME TO MOVE ON! -
Dan S.
commented
Still waiting... Everyone who has written a comment (or just found this page, and moved on) has a slow-burn itch for this to come back. Unfortunately, the lack of this feature makes it easier to switch to Google Sheets. Microsoft has made a seamless functionality compatibility with Sheets, and taken away this time-saving feature that Sheets does not have.
MICROSOFT: WE STILL WANT THIS BACK.
Maybe we can petition Google to add it, and then just make the switch. (I hate this idea)