In a previous video I showed pivot tavles and said that they big problem with pivot tables isn’t the pivot table; it’s having the data being ready to go into the pivot table.

In this video I list some features and concepts that make source data pivot table ready.

The first is the data must be contiguous: no empty rows or columns. This also means getting rid of summaries and subtotals.

Next. All columns must have headers, and those headers need to reflect the possible ways that you might want to look at your data. If you want to look at regions, you need a ‘regions’ column header.

An important concept: sweep all of your data together into as few places as possible, Excel can peel down what you want to see.

If you have expenses and income and want a monthly view. Don’t make 24 different worksheets. Instead, make just TWO sheets, Income and Expenses. And let Excel peel out the monthly views using pivot tables and other Excel features.

My book: Guerrilla Data Analysis 2nd Edition

My blog: http://datascopic.net/blog-2-2

Today, Excel Ignited and SSSVEDA Day 10, I show beginners that Pivot Tables are available to them. Pivot Tables aren’t an intermediate-level tool.

The issue with Pivot Tables is that they require proper spreadsheet layout and an understanding of what’s being asked of the data. Then, Excel’s Pivot Table wizard takes care of the rest.

DIVE IN!

My book: Guerrilla Data Analysis 2nd Edition

My blog: http://datascopic.net/blog-2-2

In Day 9 of Excel Ignited and SSSVEDA I share some thoughts on how we’ll be going forward through the rest of this month. Rather than teach tips and tricks, we’ll learn by integrating Excel features and data management concepts.

Tips & tricks feel too much like the painful way that my dad and other old jazz musicians learned their craft. No! Let’s actually “make some music” and borrow ideas that have stuck with me since 2005 when I attended Victor Wooten’s Bass/Nature Camp.

My book: Guerrilla Data Analysis 2nd Edition

My blog: http://datascopic.net/blog-2-2

Just 5 days into the “Vlog Every Day” challenge and I wanted to let you know I needed a break. A video a day … WOW! This is going to be a battle. But we’re going to do it.

I just needed to reassess how to pace the content creation over these next few weeks.

My book: Guerrilla Data Analysis 2nd Edition

My blog: http://datascopic.net/blog-2-2