MS Excel - Is It possible to update data rather than replace it?

Question

Imagine that i wanted to record the scores of a basketball game. Let's say the scores for the respective teams are in cells A1 and A2. Let's say the scores are 34 and 23. Then, team 'A1' scores a 3, which would change their score to 37. I want to be able to put 3 in cell C1, which would cause cell A1 to update to the new score. Is that possible in Excel?

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Let me clarify... Every update to the first teams score has to be done from C1. So sum() cannot work.

unnga has the correct idea so far.

Answer 1

Yes you can, but you need to write a vba macro for that.

The answer is approximated in the link below.

Answer 2

In cell A1 but the formula =B1+C1
In cell B1 put the beginning value (34)
As the team scores, increase the value of C1 (3 points)
Cell A1 would display the value 37 (B1+C1).
As you continue to add to C1 (the team scores 2 more points, so C1 becomes 5) A1 will also increase by 2
You can make it a little easier by setting C1 to the value "=3", rather than just "3". Then when the team scores, you add the points by setting C1 to "=3+2". Score again, and C1 becomes "=3+2+3". Each time you add, it will update A1 accordingly.

The other alternative is to write a VBA script that would do that. But there is no single command in Excel to change the value of a cell.

Answer 3

it's one of the most basic functions of excel.

below is a link to an example so you can see what happens - it basically totals up each entry of points to make a grand total.

the formula used is =sum() and will add the specified cells together:
http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/5063/untitled2ih6.jpg

excel will help you, simply type =sum( in cell b2 or c2 then click and drag a selection of cells and excel will include them as cells to be added together - press enter and you'll see your total.

you can also use excel to start with an existing base 'score' number rather than zero and add the points to that. the formula would be this:
=SUM(C2:L2)+34

if you compare it with my screenshot, you'll see it's creating a total and then adding 34 to it.

EDIT:
indeed, with only ever placing points in c1 then it would have to be done using vba in combination with a variable to store the overall score and a user input box to accept new amounts of points.