Excel PivotTables: Using Excel's Best Analytical Feature (IME183L)

1.0 CPE

Learn to Use PivotTables Efficiently to Analyze Data

Excel has a variety of tools like sorting and filtering to manage large lists of data, but if you need to analyze all that data and do it quickly, there’s no better feature than a PivotTable. You can quickly create a compact summary report (based on tons of data) without needing to write complex formulas or rely on lengthy techniques. The PivotTable feature is perhaps Excel’s best analytical tool and in addition to its speed, you get amazing flexibility and dynamism that let you quickly change the data interrelationships you’re viewing.

Most PivotTable users discover that the feature is relatively easy to learn, but not so easy if you are simply seeing the instructions on the printed page; this is a visually-oriented feature based on displaying fields in different locations. You’ll be amazed to see how in very little time, you can create a complete summary report with tons of data. You won’t even need to write complex formulas and rely on obscure techniques. But how do you use PivotTables to their maximum potential?

Join this session with expert speaker Dennis Taylor who will provide an overview of PivotTables and Pivot Charts, and how you can create them quickly and accurately. Dennis will discuss the capabilities of these features which you can use to boost your productivity. He will also discuss how you can play around with PivotTables, change their appearance, create data-based groupings, and update the PivotTable as and when needed.

Session Highlights

This session will cover:

• The quickest and best ways to create PivotTables and Pivot Charts, including these capabilities:
  • How to compare two or more fields in a variety of layout styles
  • How to sort and filter results
  • How to perform ad-hoc grouping of information
  • How to use slicers instead of filters to identify which field elements are being displayed
  • How to drill down to see the details behind the summary
  • How to categorize date/time data in multiple levels
  • How to create a Pivot Chart that is in sync with a PivotTable
  • How to add calculated fields to perform additional analysis
  • How to hide/reveal detail/summary information with a simple click
  • How to deal with dynamic source data and the “refresh” concept
  • How to create a PivotTable based on data from multiple worksheets
• Pre-requisites for source data: Preparing data so that it can be analyzed by PivotTables
• Creating a PivotTable with a minimum number of steps, including the new recommended PivotTables option now available in Excel 2013 and 2016
• Manipulating the appearance of a PivotTable via dragging and command techniques
• Using Slicers to accentuate fields currently being shown (and which ones are not)
• Using the new (in Excel 2013) Timeline feature
• Creating ad-hoc and date-based groupings within a PivotTable
• Exploring the best techniques for updating PivotTables

Who Should Attend

• Anyone familiar with many of Excel’s features but has little or no experience with using PivotTables
• Those users familiar with PivotTables but new to Excel 2013 or 2016