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Most users would use the following formula to information from the new tab(s). The original way
About the complete this task for the Jan. 2, 2022, sales in cell would not include that new information, and you
author B2 of the Total Product Sales tab: would have to manually edit the formulas on the
='Product A'!C2+'Product B'!C2+'Product total tab every time a new tab was added. Let’s see
Kelly L. Williams, C'!C2+'Product E'!C2 how that works.
CPA, Ph.D., MBA, See the first screenshot below. For comparison purposes, I have shown both the
is an associate This isn’t too daunting unless you have many 3D formula (B2) and the original formula (D2) in
professor of tabs. And you also have to update the formula. the first screenshot at the bottom of the page. Both
accounting at the
Jones College of
Business at Middle
Tennessee State
University.

Let’s do this same task using a 3D formula. show the same daily total sales.
Again, select cell B2 of the Total Product Sales Now I am going to add the Product D tab in
tab. Type =sum( to start the sum formula. Select between the Product C and Product E tabs. See
cell C2 on the Product A tab, hold down Shift, the second screenshot at the bottom of the page
and click the Product E tab (do not click a cell, for the changes to the Total Product Sales tab.
just the tab). Close the parentheses and click The 3D formula (B2) reflects the new informa-
Enter to finish the formula. See the screenshot tion for product D, but the formula in D2 does
directly above. not. The formula in D2 would need to be manually
You get the same sum as the way we did it updated each time a new tab was added. Note that
originally. So, what are the advantages of using the the new tabs have to appear between the start tab
3D formula? You only use those few steps whether and end tab for them to automatically be updated
you have four tabs or 40 tabs. The original way in the 3D formula(s).
includes selecting all tabs individually. So, if you You can access a video demonstration of using
have many tabs, linking them can be cumbersome. 3D formulas in Excel with the online version of this
Also, if you add a new tab between your start tab article at journalofaccountancy.com.
and end tab, your 3D formulas will include the — By Kelly L. Williams, CPA, Ph.D.

journalofaccountancy.com August 2022 | 37