Whether youre working with 20 cells or 20,000 cells, Excel has several features to help you organize your data and find what you need.
Excel workbooks are designed to store a lot of information. Whether you're working with 20 cells or 20,000 cells, Excel has several features to help you organize your data and find what you need. You can see some of the most useful features below. And remember to review the other lessons in this tutorial series for detailed step-by-step instructions for each feature.
Fix rows and columns
You might want to see certain rows or columns at all times in your spreadsheet, especially the header cells. By fixing rows or columns in place, you'll be able to scroll through the content while continuing to view the fixed cells. This example has fixed the top two rows, which allows the viewer to follow the dates regardless of where they are scrolling in the spreadsheet.
Sort the data
You can quickly reorganize a spreadsheet by sorting your data. Content can be sorted alphabetically, numerically, and in several other ways. For example, you can sort a list of contacts by last name.
Filter data
Filters can be used to narrow down the data in your spreadsheet, allowing you to view only the information you need. This example is filtering the spreadsheet to show only the rows containing the words " Laptop" or "Projector" in column B.
Data compilation
The Subtotal command allows you to quickly summarize data. The example has created subtotals for each t-shirt size, making it easy to see how many shirts are needed for each size.
Format the data as a table.
Just like regular formatting, tables can improve the look and feel of a workbook, but they also help organize your content and make data easier to use. For example, tables have built-in sorting and filtering options. Excel also includes several predefined table styles, allowing you to create tables quickly.
Visualize data using charts.
An Excel workbook containing a lot of data can be difficult to understand. Charts allow you to visualize your workbook data graphically, making it easier to visualize comparisons and trends.
Add conditional formatting
Imagine you have a spreadsheet with thousands of rows of data. It would be difficult to spot patterns and trends just from examining the raw information. Conditional formatting allows you to automatically apply cell formatting—including color, icons, and data bars—to one or more cells based on the cell value.
Use the Find and Replace function.
When working with large amounts of data, identifying specific information can be difficult and time-consuming. You can easily search your workbook using the Find feature. Excel also allows you to modify content using the Replace feature.