6. Excel Tables & Tools

The ability to create Tables, what we ordinarily call Databases, in Excel 2007 (previously known as 'Lists' in Excel 2003), is one of Excel's very useful specialties. This feature of the program is much more robust in '07. Not only are there special tools just for this type of data structure, but Tables lend themselves to maintaining lists of information that can typically be very helpful in either a business or for personal needs, whether you have lots of data (like Inventory or Customer information) or small amounts that you use for record keeping (like your personal checkbook).

We began putting together the Silver Photography Accessories Sales Rep Table, and went over how to use Excel's Table Design tools to

• Create and Format our table
• Validate data
• Sort and Query data
• create a calculated field
• Enter Records using a traditional type of data entry.

In our segment on Table Tools we:

• Created a Grade Table
  
• Learned how to use the VLOOKUP function to determine letter grades
  
• Added Conditional Formatting using a Rule with colorful Icons
  
• Used a Table Total Row
  
• Examined the variety of ways to Print the Table
  
• Sorted the List using the Sort and Filter Button
  
• Using Sort on the Data Tab
  
• Sorting with an AutoFilter
  
• Sorting on Multiple Fields
  
• Converting a List to a regular range of cells
  
• Displaying Automatic Sub-Totals for analysis
  
• Using Sub-Total Tools
  
• Removing Sub-Totals
  
• Re-Formatting the Table

Materials Covered: MS Excel - Project 5:
Creating, Sorting & Querying a Table, pp 338-384

Excel Online Exercise on Financial Functions:
Click Here for a short online review to get better acquainted with Financial Functions. There is a nice twist here on what we've learned about the PMT Function - it is the NPER function! Excel's Financial Functions are related to one another like the faces on a Rubik's Cube.

You'll notice that this is a tutorial from Excel 2003. It hasn't yet become available for Excel 2007, but it's so important, I thought you should get the benefit of this one anyway! I hope you agree.

Write an entry about this online activity in your journal - express your opinion in your blog!!!