How To Add Counter In Google Sheets

If y'all keep and manage records in Google Sheets, having a column with serial numbers is something you lot may demand.

While you can easily create a cavalcade with series numbers by manually entering these, information technology's not an efficient way.

In this tutorial, I will prove you a couple of means to number rows in Google in such a way that information technology automatically add together serial numbers.

This can easily be washed using formulas and other uncomplicated techniques.

So let's get started!

How to Number Rows in Google Sheets

In this tutorial, I will evidence you lot 4 ways to add together serial numbers in Google Sheets:

Using Fill up Handle
Using the ROW part
Using the COUNTA Function
Calculation 1 to Previous Serial number

The method you choose to numbers rows volition depend on how your data is structured or how you want this to piece of work.

For case, if at that place are blank rows in between and y'all simply want to add a serial number to records that are not bare, you can non use all the methods (example covered subsequently in this tutorial).

Number Rows Using Make full Handle

If yous have a dataset without any blank rows, this is the easiest way to add series numbers.

Suppose you have a dataset as shown beneath and y'all want to add serial numbers in column A.

Below are the steps to use the 'Fill handle' to fill downward the series numbers:

Insert a cavalcade to the left the Name column. To exercise this, right-click on any cell in column A and select 'Insert Column'
[Optional] Give the new column a heading and format it like other columns
In cell A2, enter i
In cell A3, enter two
Select both the cells
Place the cursor at the lesser-right corner of the pick. The cursor would change into a plus icon (this is chosen the Make full Handle)
Double-click using the mouse (or left-click and elevate till you want the numbers)

The above steps would give yous serial numbers in the additional cavalcade y'all inserted. You can then format this column to make it wait improve.

The to a higher place steps work when you have a continuous set of the dataset (i.e., there are no blank rows). In example there is a blank record the dataset, double-clicking on the fill handle will simply fill up downward the numbers till the filled record before the bare row.

Annotation: The result you become from this method is static. If you add more than records to the dataset, you will have to the fill-downward over again do this to cover the new rows.

Using the ROW Function to Number Rows

ROW function is Google Sheets gives y'all the row number of the prison cell reference y'all give to it. And if you don't give it any input argument, it volition return the row number of the prison cell in which it is used.

Y'all can utilize the ROW role (by adjusting it a petty) to get the serial numbers in a column.

Suppose you have a dataset as shown below and yous desire to add serial numbers in cavalcade A.

Below are the steps to do this:

Insert a column to the left the Proper name column. To do this, right-click on any cell in cavalcade A and select 'Insert Column'
[Optional] Give the new cavalcade a heading
In cell A2, enter the formula: = ROW ( ) – 1
Copy and paste for all the cells where you want the series number.

The above formula uses the ROW function to go the current row number and so subtracts one from it as we are starting from the 2d row onwards. In case you're starting from the offset row, yous can simply use the ROW function.

In case you only want to prove the serial number for the records that are filled, you can use the below formula:

          =          IF          (          B2          <>          ""          ,          ROW          (          )          -          ane          ,          ""          )

You lot tin apply this formula on an expanded number of cells in the column (even if at that place are no records in it for now). As presently as you add a new record, the number would automatically appear.

The to a higher place uses an IF function to check whether there is any text in the side by side cell or not. In example in that location is no text, information technology returns a bare, else it returns the row number.

The good affair about using the ROW function is that in instance you delete a row from this dataset, the role would accommodate to give y'all the correct row number.

Using the COUNTA Role

Another style you lot can number rows in Google Sheets is by using the COUNTA part.

The COUNTA part will count the number of non-empty cells adjacent cells and return a serial number only when the row is filled (dissimilar the ROW part method, which would still give a serial number if the row is empty).

Suppose you have a dataset equally shown below and you only want to assign a row number (serial number) to a row if that row is filled.

The below formula can do this:

=IF(ISBLANK(B2),"",COUNTA($B$ii:B2))

In the above formula, the IF function checks whether the side by side cell is bare or not (using the ISBLANK part). If it's blank, the IF formula would return a bare and if information technology isn't, it will count all the filled rows in the specified range and requite that number.

Note that I am using $B$2:B2 equally the range where I have locked the offset B2 (by having dollar sign before the column alphabet and row number) but not the second one. This allows me to expand the range when I copy it to other cells. For example, if I copy this to cell B5, it will expand and the range would become $B$2:B5

Adding one to Previous Serial number

This is a quick and simple way to add serial numbers to a cavalcade. It's best suited when you accept no blank rows in the dataset.

Suppose y'all have a dataset as shown beneath where y'all desire to insert series numbers in column A.

Beneath are the steps to exercise this:

Enter one in cell A2
In cell A3, enter the formula = A2 + i
Re-create and paste this formula for all the cells in the column where you want the numbers

The to a higher place formula but adds 1 to the number in the cell above it.

While this is a simple and straightforward method, there are a few drawbacks yous must know before using this method:

This would assign a number irrespective of whether in that location are blank rows or not.
In case you delete a row, all the values below information technology would return a reference mistake (#REF!)
When you insert a new row, it will non update the row number automatically. You will have to copy and paste the formula to all the cells in this new row and all the cells beneath information technology.

So these are iv methods you tin use to numbers rows in Google Sheets. You tin choose any of these methods based on how your data is structured. In case you have blank rows in your data prepare, information technology's best to use the COUNTA method.

Promise you lot found this tutorial useful!

You may as well like the post-obit Google Sheets tutorials:

Count the Number of Characters in a Cell in Google Sheets
Count Cells IF Not Blank (Not-Empty cells) in Google Sheets
How to Delete Empty Rows in Google Sheets
How to Use a Formula to an Entire Column in Google Sheets
How to Multiply in Google Sheets (Numbers, Cells or Columns)
How to Carve up in Google Sheets