Here is a fun formula to write.
Given a number in cell, I want you to find the sum of digits in it. So, for eg. if you have the number 3584398594 in a cell, the sum would be =3+5+8+4+3+9+8+5+9+4, equal to 1994. 😛
I am kidding of course, the sum would be 58.
Now, how would you write a formula to find this sum automatically based on the number entered in the cell?
Go ahead and figure it out. If you can, come back and check your answer with mine below.
How to get the sum of digits?
In order to get the sum of digits, we just need to separate and add all the numbers. Sounds simple right? But how!?!
Very simple, we use Array formulas and pixie dust.
First the formula:
Assuming the number is in cell B4, we write the formula,
=SUMPRODUCT(MID(B4,ROW(OFFSET($A$1,,,LEN(B4))),1)+0)
to get the sum of digits.
Note: you need not press CTRL+SHIFT+Enter to get this formula work.
How does this formula work?
We will go inside out to understand this formula.
The portion – ROW(OFFSET($A$1,,,LEN(B4))): Gives the numbers 1,2,3…n where n is the number of digits of the value in B4.
The portion – MID(B4,ROW(OFFSET($A$1,,,LEN(B4))),1): Now gets the individual digits of the number and returns them as array (since the 2nd argument of MID formula is an array.
The SUMPRODUCT: is the pixie dust. It just magically sums up all the digits extracted by MID(). We use a +0 at the end because MID() returns text that needs to be converted to numbers for SUMPRODUCT to work its magic.
How would you have solved this?
I just love SUMPRODUCT Formula. So I use it whenever I can. But you may like other techniques. So please tell me how you would solve this problem using formulas. Post your formula using comments.
Note: while posting your formula, just put it between CODE tags like this:
<code>your formula goes here</code> so that it gets displayed correctly.
Bonus question: How to calculate single digit sum of the digits?
Go ahead and solve it too.
The single digit sum is arrived by summing the sum of digits of sum of digits of … of a number. For ex. the single digit sum for number 3584398594 is 4 (because the sum of digits is 58, whose sum of digits is 5+8 = 13, whose sum of digits is 1+3 =4 and we stop here because 4 is a single digit number).
3 Responses to “How-to create an elegant, fun & useful Excel Tracker – Step by Step Tutorial”
Hi Chandoo,
I am responsible for tracking when church reports are submitted on time or not and the variations from the due date for submission.
Here is the Scenario;
The due date for the submission of monthly reports is on the 5th of each month. and I would like to know how many reports have been submitted on time (i.e, those that have been submitted on or before the due date) I would also want to track those reports that have been submitted after the due date has passed.
How can I create such a tracker?
Hi Chandoo,
I am a member of your excel school.
I was trying to create SOP Tracker I follow all your steps but I keep this error below.
The list source must be a delimited list, or a reference to a single row or cell.
I try looking on YouTube for answer but no luck.
can you help on this?
thanks
Carl.
Dear Mr. Chando,
Rakesh, I'm working in a private company in the UAE. Recently, I'm struggling to get more details about the staff sick, annual, unpaid, and leaves. I would like to get a tracker in excel. Could you please help me in this situation?
I also watching your videos in YouTube. i hope you can help me on this situation.