Excel experts--quick question

[Moxie]

I have about 100 paper tshirt order forms.  There are 20 different types of shirts in 5 sizes.  My job is to tally the number of each shirt in each size (we need 4 white XL, 2 gray L, etc.).

 

This process seems fraught with places for human error.

 

Is there a way in excel to tally numbers?  For example, in the white XL cell, hit the space bar and it adds one so the number changes from 3 to 4?  I'm open to any other ideas.  I'm trying to eliminate human error as much as possible.

 

Of course, eliminating the paper forms at the very beginning would be perfect but the group isn't ready for such a radical idea.

[Twigs]

I can't quite wrap my brain about the excel part, but why not take the paper forms and sort them 1st by type of shirt (that would make 20 piles), then sort each pile by size. Hope that helps. Best wishes.

[SKL]

There are a few ways you can do this.  One way is to sort by the size column and just count them.  Another way is to do a series of "if, then" functions in the columns to the right =if(+c4="XL",1,0), one column for each size, then total those columns.  There are probably other ways, but I haven't had enough coffee yet.  :p

 

ETA it might be more straightforward to just enter the sizes in different columns in the first place, using the number 1, and then total those columns.

Edited August 20, 2016 by SKL

[Josh Blade]

You can add buttons in excel and add a single line of vbscript to tell them what to do (A1 = A1 + 1 etc), but that would take a long time (doing it x20) for something so simple (counting to 20 or less over and over) and isn't really worth setting up unless this is something that you're going to be doing all the time. For a one off, just sort and count them.

 

If you really want something where you click a button and a number goes up, you can use this site I found after a quick google:

 

http://tallycounterstore.com/online-counter

 

You can label each tally counter and click the "+" button pretty  much as you described. Just add a counter for each shirt type and label it. Even this is probably too much work and Twigs suggestion would be best. 

[Guest]

Thanks!  I'm probably going to just count by hand.  I only need to do it three times a year.  I'm going to count them twice to make sure, I guess.

 

I can't just sort the paper forms because most people order more than one.  So, I have a grid with 20 shirts x all the sizes with several check marks that I'm trying to count.  Fingers crossed!

 

[Arcadia]

Names in rows, size with color in columns. Then use summation function.

[ErinE]

Have size (Column A) and color (Column B) in separate columns.

 

Create a lookup column (Column C) with the formula combining column A and B (=A1&" "&B1). Copy all the way down. The lookup value should look like: gray XL, white S, red M.

 

List the twenty t-shirt combinations in your lookup value format in column E. In column F, use the COUNTIF function to tally the list: COUNTIF($C$1:$C$100,E1); copy the formula for the remaining combinations.

 

If this isn't clear, let me know.