Google Spreadsheet sum which always ends on the cell above

Question

How to create a Google Spreadsheet sum() which always ends on the cell above, even when new cells are added? I have several such calculations to make on each single column s

Answer 1

I like how @abernier describes the general solution. So far only alphabet-based A1 notation (A being first column, 1 being first row) are being used. It keeps confusing me, especially when thinking of number of columns left of another column. I like the number-based R1C1 notation much better. To use R1C1 notation for INDIRECT, you need to pass FALSE like so:

=SUM(INDIRECT("R1C"&COLUMN()&":R"&(ROW()-1)&"C"&COLUMN(), FALSE))

I hope you find that helpful, too.