Excel Data Analysis For Dummies, 2nd Edition

Chapter 1

Introducing Excel Tables

In This Chapter

Figuring out tables

Building tables

Analyzing tables with simple statistics

Sorting tables

Discovering the difference between using AutoFilter and filtering

First things first. I need to start my discussion of using Excel for data analysis by introducing Excel tables, or what Excel used to call lists. Why? Because, except in the simplest of situations, when you want to analyze data with Excel, you want that data stored in a table. In this chapter, I discuss what defines an Excel table; how to build, analyze, and sort a table; and why using filters to create a subtable is useful.

What Is a Table and Why Do I Care?

A table is, well, a list. This definition sounds simplistic, I guess. But take a look at the simple table shown in Figure 1-1. This table shows the items that you might shop for at a grocery store on the way home from work.

As I mention in the Introduction of this book, many of the Excel workbooks that you see in the figures ...