Chapter 6: Working with Data and Data Tables

Chapter at a Glance

Enter data quickly, page 156. Move data within a workbook, page 160. Find and replace, workbook data, page 164. Verify and extend workbook data using proofing and reference tools, page 168. Organize data using tables, page 172.

In This Chapter, You Will Learn To:

• Enter data quickly.

• Move data within a workbook.

• Find and replace workbook data.

• Verify and extend workbook data using proofing and reference tools.

• Organize your data using tables.

Microsoft Office Excel 2007 enables you to visualize and present information effectively using charts, graphics, and formatting, but the data is the most important part of any workbook. By learning to enter data efficiently, you will make fewer data entry errors and give yourself more time to analyze your data so you can make decisions about your organization’s performance and direction.

Office Excel 2007 provides a wide variety of tools you can use to enter and manage worksheet data effectively. For example, Excel 2007 enables you to organize your data into tables, which enables you to analyze and store your data quickly and easily. Excel 2007 also enables you to enter a data series quickly; repeat one or more values; or control how Excel 2007 formats cells, columns, and rows moved from one part of a worksheet to another. And you can do so with a minimum of effort. Excel 2007 also enables you to check the spelling of worksheet text, look up alternative words using the Thesaurus, and translate words to foreign languages.

In this chapter, you will learn how to enter and revise Excel 2007 data, move data within a workbook, find and replace existing data, use proofing and reference tools to enhance your data, and organize your data by using Excel 2007 data tables.

See Also Do you need only a quick refresher on the topics in this chapter? See the Quick Reference entries at the beginning of this book.

Important 

Before you can use the practice sites provided for this chapter, you need to install them from the book’s companion CD to their default location. See “Using the Book’s CD” at the beginning of this book for more information.