Tables

What is a Table?

A table is in simple terms a group of data – for ex: it maybe a list of employees in a store and their
details like age, date of joining, salary together. It may be a list of items left in the stock at a
supermarket and their quantities and prices mentioned.

Declaring a dataset as a Table

 Open or go to the sheet which has that dataset

 Go to ‘Insert’ group and click on ‘Table’
 Excel will select the dataset and just press ‘OK’ to make it a table

Advantages of declaring a dataset a Table

 Formats available to colour the table

 Auto-populates the formulas on adding a formula to one cell
 You can calculate a lot of metrics by clicking on ‘Total’ in the ‘Design’ tab which appears when
you have clicked on any cell in the said table
 Excel automatically adds filters to a table thus making it easier to sort and filter data
 Headers are always visible so that you do not need to freeze window pains
 Auto-updates charts i.e. whenever you add new rows or change data, excel will automatically
update the charts – please do remember that if you change the data, the charts will get
updated then also irrespective excel knows your dataset is a table or just a dataset