Turn monthly sheets into a quarterly or annual total in one step
When data is split across several sheets with the same layout -- say, one tab per month -- Consolidate lets you calculate the combined total or average across all of them at once, instead of manually adding each sheet's numbers together yourself.
Consolidating by position vs. by category
If every sheet has the exact same row and column layout, a straightforward "by position" consolidation works fine. But if the row order or item names differ between sheets, check "Top row" and "Left column" as labels in the dialog -- Excel will then match and combine values by their labels instead of their position, which avoids silently combining the wrong rows.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it matter if the item order is different on each sheet?
No -- as long as you check "Top row" and "Left column" as labels, Excel matches items by name rather than position, so differently ordered sheets still combine correctly.
Does the consolidated result update automatically if the source data changes?
Only if you check "Create links to source data" when you set it up. With that option on, the combined result updates whenever the original sheets change.