When we do an auto sum of a column, if not all the cells are initialized, this will affect the range. Thus, if row 17 is having a value but not row 18 with values in row 19 to 100, this will break the sum of the column as as soon as it sees an empty cell, it breaks the range.

Is there a setting to avoid that?

Basically, we do not want to be forced to enter a zero on cell we do not initialize.