Page 17 - Excel Data Analysis

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GETTING STARTED WITH EXCEL 1

DATA ANALYSIS

When you analyze data, you perform a function to more complex comparisons by creating formulas or by
compare different values. Data analysis occurs when you writing macros with the VBA editor. Excel also provides a
do something as simple as totaling the numeric values in set of analysis tools that perform complex analysis, such
a column or sorting a list alphabetically. You can perform as calculating descriptive statistics.

Formula Creation PivotTables
You can use formulas to create a custom calculation You use PivotTables to perform a cross-tabulation of
that analyzes data values in a cell or series of cells. data, which is summarizing data into one or more
You create formulas using any combination of cell classifications. PivotTables analyze data from both an
references, mathematical operators, and the built-in Excel worksheet and an external database all within the
functions available in Excel. See Chapter 4 for more same table. Everything in a PivotTable is dynamic,
information about creating formulas, and Appendix D meaning that each time you change a value, any
for formula basics in Excel. corresponding cells update immediately. See Chapter 7
for more information on working with PivotTables.
You can also create custom functions that you can call
from any workbook using the VBA editor. See Chapter 9 Analysis Tools
for information on creating custom VBA functions.
Excel provides several other analysis tools that you can
use with your data values, including conditional
Macro Creation
formatting, which formats data based on specific
Because they combine a series of calculations that you criteria, filtering, and even data validation. See Chapter
want to perform into one step, macros help you save 3 for built-in Excel data analysis tools.
time by automating any tasks that you perform in Excel.
You can create a macro by recording a series of Excel's Add-in data analysis tools provide more complex
keystrokes or by manually coding the macro using the analysis of your data values. You can use these tools to
VBA editor in Excel. See Chapter 9 for more information find moving averages, run an ANOVA analysis on your
on creating custom macros. data, or determine rank and percentile values. See
Chapter 11 for more information about Add-ins.

RESULT PRESENTATION

While Excel's analysis tools can provide detailed numeric
summaries of your data values, you can also use them to create
graphical representations of your data. After you analyze your
data, you have different options for displaying your results.

Chart Creation PivotCharts
In Excel, you can create charts, which provide a visual PivotCharts combine all the same functionality of
representation of your data values. You can embed a standard Excel charts with the dynamic characteristics
chart directly into a worksheet or create a separate of PivotTables. The result is a graphic representation of
chart sheet. Excel provides fourteen different chart a PivotTable that updates whenever you change your
types, each of which has at least two different subtypes data. See Chapter 8 for more information on working
or variations. After you determine the desired chart with PivotCharts.
type, you can customize it further by changing such
options as text fonts and font colors. See Chapter 6 for
more information on creating and customizing charts.

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