How to Create a Consolidated Spreadsheet

1. Log on to your computer and open Microsoft Excel. Create a new spreadsheet and give it a descriptive name like 'Consolidated Budget' or 'Consolidated Spreadsheet.'
2. Add another sheet if you need to. Make sure you have enough sheets to hold the data you will be consolidating. For instance, if you want to use your spreadsheet to add up quarterly data, you would need a total of five sheets—one for each quarter and fifth sheet to hold the consolidated data.To add a sheet in Excel 2003, click on the 'Insert' menu and choose 'Worksheet' from the menu. To add a sheet in Excel 2007, click on the 'Insert Sheet' option.
3. Give each sheet a descriptive name. In Excel 2003, click on the 'Format' menu and choose 'Sheet' from the drop-down box. Choose the 'Rename' option and type a descriptive name. Repeat this process for each of the sheets. In Excel 2007, right-click on the worksheet tab at the bottom of the screen and select 'Rename' and type in the new name.
4. Enter your data into each of the sheets, then move to the sheet that will house your consolidated data.
5. Place your cursor in the field where you want the consolidated data to appear. Type the equal sign in that field, then click your cursor on the sheet containing the first number you want to add. Highlight the cell containing that information then type the plus sign. Move to the next cell you want to add to your consolidated spreadsheet, highlight it and press the plus sign. Continue this process until all cells have been added, then hit the 'Enter' key.