Excel Checkbook

[Humilliation]

I've been trying to create a checkbook using excel and I can not figure out how to make it stop doing what it's doing. I have no problems getting the spreadsheet to do the calculations, it's just that the cells that I have copied the formula to have the total going down though the entire E row. Is there a way using the conditional sum wizard to keep it from posting the total all the way through the E row?

A1 is the date cell
B1 is the description of transaction cell
C1 is the deposit cell
D1 is the debit cell
E1 is the balance cell

So in E3 I typed

=E2+C3-D3 and then hit enter then highlighted the E3 cell and dragged it down through the E cell to format the other cells in the E row. Everything gets calculated correctly and all totals above the last entry are what they are supposed to be, it's just all the totals below the last entry have the balance in them too which kind of bothers me because I'd like to have them remain blank until something gets entered into either the deposit or debit cell.

Does anybody know what I'm missing? Is there something I should add to the formula to hide the balances it the remaining cells?

[Stalemate]

Just skip a line between the E3 cell (current balance) and the following calculations.

By copying the format, you are including the preceding line into the calculations.

The cell will still read "0".

[Humilliation]

Thanks Adept, but I've fingered it out.
Since -
A1 is the date cell
B1 is the description of transaction cell
C1 is the deposit cell
D1 is the debit cell
E1 is the balance cell

The cells A2-D2 get blacked out and the starting balance gets put in E2

In E3 I typed

=IF(AND(ISBLANK(C3),ISBLANK(D3)),"",E2+C3-D3)

All works fine now

[Humilliation]

Oops, forgot to put in a cell for the check number. Start over.

[Humilliation]

Just right clicked on cell A and inserted a column for the check #s. Now I've got to figure out how I can organize my expenses by catagory and compare it to my budget.

[hudsonsmith]

Just right clicked on cell A and inserted a column for the check #s. Now I've got to figure out how I can organize my expenses by catagory and compare it to my budget.

If you are getting that involved, my recommendation would be to spring for the $30-40 and buy quicken or money (there are different flavors w/ different feature sets). Saves you from reinventing the wheel and has all the reports designed for you. Allows you to download transactions from your bank, credit cards, etc. If you own stocks or mutual funds it calculates your basis and gains for you (huge headache to do on your own). I've been using quicken since it was a dos program that fit on one 3.5" diskette and just upgraded again to the latest version.

[Humilliation]

If you are getting that involved, my recommendation would be to spring for the $30-40 and buy quicken or money (there are different flavors w/ different feature sets). Saves you from reinventing the wheel and has all the reports designed for you. Allows you to download transactions from your bank, credit cards, etc. If you own stocks or mutual funds it calculates your basis and gains for you (huge headache to do on your own). I've been using quicken since it was a dos program that fit on one 3.5" diskette and just upgraded again to the latest version.

Thanks hudson, but I'm doing this just to get familiar with the way excel operates again. It's been awhile since I've played around with this program so it's practice. My bro just bought another computer and gave me his old stuff which also included copies of Win2K and MS Office 2K that came with his old system. He's got Office XP to fart around with so he has no need for his old programs now which benefits me.