Summary

In this chapter, you learned

• Sorting helps you find the highest or lowest values in a list of data records.

• Summarizations help you find sums and averages of a list of data values.

• Trending helps you understand how data changes, typically over time.

• Filtering helps you find one or more data values or data records that match specified criteria.

• Formatting data can help draw your eye to potential business anomalies.

• Charting data provides a visual alternative to long lists of data values, as well as a way to graphically represent summarizations and trends.

• Pivoting data provides a means to conveniently look at data summarizations from different perspectives without changing the underlying data values.

• XML data is a set of technologies with which to create, store, and share data regardless of the types of software applications you use. Microsoft is providing more and more XML data support in its software applications and data analysis tools.

In the next chapter, “Analyzing Data with Microsoft Excel,” you will learn how to

• Use basic Excel features for sorting, filtering, formatting, and importing data.

• Work with spreadsheet functions.

• Work with charts.

• Work with Web-based data.

• Use the features of the Analysis ToolPak and the Solver Add-In.