The AutoSum button found on both the Home and Formulas tabs of the Ribbon provides access to more than just the SUM function. Careful scrutiny of the AutoSum button reveals that it contains a drop-down menu that provides access to all functions as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1 - AutoSum Providing Access to All Functions

The AutoSum button can be used to foot and cross-foot ranges of data simultaneously. Just highlight all of the data, making sure to extend the highlighted range down and to the right to include blank rows and columns where the totals are to appear as shown in Figure 2. Then, click the AutoSum button to sum the columns and rows with a single command, thereby footing and cross-footing the range simultaneously.

Figure 1 - Footing and Cross-Footing with AutoSum

Learning how to use AutoSum effectively can save even experienced users a tremendous amount of time when attempting to summarize data in Excel. So be sure to master this terrific Excel feature, one of the easiest and best tools in the toolbox.

For a video demonstration of this tip, please visit www.tinyurl.com/k2tips71.