Consolidate the Combined Input

Use a copy of your template worksheet to set up the consolidation. First, create a formula using 3-D references that totals projections for each account across all the departmental worksheets. Indicate the range of worksheets by specifying the first and last worksheet names in the formula, and include a reference to the cell on each worksheet to include in the consolidated total. The result appears on your consolidation worksheet.

Enter the worksheet names in the formula   Position the insertion point at the target location within the formula, and then click the appropriate worksheet tabs. Copy formulas automatically   After you’ve entered the formula to consolidate one account, you don’t have to type similar formulas for the rest of the accounts. If you used a relative cell reference, dragging the fill handle or using the Copy and Paste commands (Edit menu) will adjust the cell references accordingly for your other formulas. Cope with revisions and late returns   If you get another departmental worksheet after you’ve already set up the consolidation, just drag a copy of the new worksheet between the tabs of the worksheets you refer to in the formula. The new worksheet is consolidated automatically. (Make sure you drag the new worksheet between the existing consolidated sheets. If you insert it outside the range, the new figures won’t be included in the consolidation.)

Other Ways to Consolidate Your Figures

3-D references let you design your template worksheet any way you want. But they do require that the same information be in the same place on every worksheet.

Consolidate worksheets with different layouts   If the worksheets have similar data but in different areas or positions, you can give the same name to the corresponding range of cells on each worksheet. You can then combine data from ranges with the same name on different worksheets by clicking Consolidate (Data menu).

Compare figures as well as combine them   You can use a PivotTable to consolidate and compare multiple worksheets. For more information, see Create a Sales Summary.