keep a running tally on sheet 2

[PatrickB]

Hello i am currently trying to figure out excel i have to fill this worksheet out daily and then at the end of the month i have to count the total number of items. I was wondering if there was a way to auto talley on a different sheet so that everytime i entered a product name and quantity if on the other sheet it would auto add it in example:
I ate at mcdonalds (Main sheet)
On 11/22 I had 3 big macs and 4 quarter pounders,
On 11/24 I had 5 Big Macs and 2 quarter pounders
On 11/26 I had 12 Bigmacs and 5 quater pounders
(New Sheet) i want it to look like this:
Product quantity
Big macs (20) <-- this number i want to auto add from the notes made from main sheet)


So on another sheet i want to make a formula where for everytime i type in "big mac" on main sheet that on the other sheet it would auto add or keep a running tally so after i made those 3 entries on the main sheet it would show that i had a total of 20 big macs on the new sheet. What formula would i need to make that happen?

Can anyone help me out with that formula?

Thank You,
Patrick

[NBVC]

Try looking into the Sumif function in Excel help files...

e.g. =Sumif(Sheet1!A:A,"Big Mac",Sheet1!B:B)

this would some the values in Sheet1, column B when column A contains the words "Big Mac".

[PatrickB]

I am confused i just tried your formula but i think i did it wrong because its not auto adding it up for me?

[NBVC]

My formula assumes your sheet name is the default "Sheet1" and it assumes you are entering the food item (e.g "Big Mac" without the quotes, in column A) and you are entering quantities in column B..

You need to change any of these assumptions to match your actual data...

If you still have trouble, attach a sample sheet (zipped Excel2003 file).

[PatrickB]

how do i attach an xtl file?

[NBVC]

You have to attach an .xls file which is zipped.

Once you zip the file you click the paperclip icon in the forum's reply window. Then browse for you file and click Upload and close