While collecting and creating data is easy, maintaining it in Excel so that it can be used further is an essential and mandatory step every analyst must adhere to.
Here are 5 ways to organize data in Excel.
Sorting
Sorting refers to the process of organizing data in a specific order, say from A to Z or Z to A, i.e. in ascending or descending alphabetical order. It becomes easy to understand data, find values, apply functions, and identify duplicates by sorting data. To sort the data in Excel, you only need to select the range, go to the data tab, and select the sorting option.
Filters
Filters, as the name suggests, filter out the required data from massive data sets. Let us suppose you have sales records for 100 different employees, and you only want to know the sales transactions of the employees during the morning shift. In such a case, the morning shift filter can easily be applied, and all unnecessary data can be removed. In this way, you can organize and create different reports easily.
Naming ranges
Another way to organize data is to create named ranges. By assigning names to ranges, you can easily apply formulas and functions. Naming ranges not only make it easy for the user to apply functions but also help organize data and data tables.
Tables
Tables are an excellent way to organize data in excel. It makes the data look good and well-maintained. A table in Excel can perform functions like sorting, filtering, formatting and searching of the data. Tables can be created by selecting data, going to the insert tab and inserting a table, or by selecting the data and pressing CTRL+T.
Pivot tables
Pivot tables are a higher version of creating tables. It is an amazing way to organize and analyze the data. A pivot table enables you to drag and drop the fields to rows and columns at your convenience. It lets you find the sum, count, min, max, and other mathematical operations.
Properly organized data makes it easier for the user to understand and make inferences from the same. It not only eliminates irrelevant information but also highlights the essential facts of the data. Try applying the 5 ways to organize data and see how it does wonders for you.
Comments