How to sum cross two categories?

[Guest]

I have a journal file and a ledger.
The journal contains expense category, date, value and is randomly sequenced.
The ledger is a rectangual array. Rows are expense categories, columns are
months. The leger cell for a given expense category / month is the sum of
journal entries with the given expense category and month. I have a feeling
that Is hould be able to use something like DSUM to do this, but I can't
figure it out. I'd appreciate suggestions! I daresay many people have done
this, so a reference to a solution would be fine. I don't, of course, have
money to solve the problem... or someone else would be doing it.

Thanks

 

[Frank Kabel]

Hi
could you post some example data and based of this example data your
expected result

 

[Guest]

Frank, thanks for taking a look. I hope this (simplified!) example helps. I
actually have 12 months (of course) and about 30 categories.

Journal

Amount Month Cat
5 1 Contract
7 2 Goods
8 1 Goods
9 3 Services
12 2 Services
15 3 Contract
11 1 Contract
17 3 Goods

Ledger

Month=> 1 2 3
Cat
Contract 16 0 15
Goods 8 7 17
Services 0 12 9

 

[JE McGimpsey]

Head directly for Pivot Tables. Do not pass go, do not collect $200.

http://peltiertech.com/Excel/Pivots/pivotstart.htm

 

[Frank Kabel]

Hi
use SUMPRODUCT. See:
http://www.xldynamic.com/source/xld.SUMPRODUCT.html

 

[Guest]

Frank,

That was the perfect answer. thank you so much.

 

[Guest]

Thanks, I would normally have used Pivot tables but that would require my
untutored helper to update the table. Frank knabel has provided a solution
which is great for me. I appreciate your taking the time to assist, however.