To sum using destination cells in Excel, what is the correct first step?

To sum using destination cells in Excel, the correct first step involves selecting the destination cell you intend to place the total in and then clicking the AutoSum button. This method is particularly efficient as it quickly identifies the range of cells that are adjacent to the destination cell for summation purposes.

When you select the destination cell first, Excel automatically understands where you want the result of the summation to appear and utilizes the adjacent cells to compute the total when AutoSum is activated. This streamlined approach allows you to efficiently calculate sums without having to manually input the range of cells you want to sum, which enhances productivity.

Other methods available, such as selecting cells first or typing the SUM function manually, represent alternative approaches to achieving the same result but do not start with the earliest necessary step in the AutoSum process, which is focusing on where the output will be placed.