Pivot tables are your best friend if you do a lot of data entry.

They let you organize data and slice and dice it.

Fortunately, they're easy to use at a basic level:

1. Highlight the data

2. Go to Insert > Pivot Table

Then, it's time to manipulate your data.

With a lot of data, you may decide you want items in rows to be in columns or vice versa.

To transpose a column to a row:

1. Select the data in the column

2. Select the cell you want the row to start

3. Right click, choose paste special, select transpose

XLookup is an upgraded VLookup.

We use it to find data in a table or range.

We are going to combine our X-Lookup with our Min and Max function.

The formula: =XLOOKUP(lookup value, lookup array, return array)

Ours will pull the min / max person by month.

The world works on averages.

When your boss asks you a question, often you should answer with "On average..."

Positively, Excel makes it easy for us to know the average:

Enter a formula =Average( A+B+C+D)

Use your mouse =Average(drag mouse)

With a large data table, you will use a formula for multiple rows.

Instead of typing it each time, use auto-fill. Here are 3 ways:

• Double click mouse on the lower right of 1st cell

• Highlight the Section and type Ctrl + D

• Drag the cell down the rows

There can be a lot of data in a table.

You may not want to see all of that data and the sort and filter features will help with this.

To Sort or Filter:

1. Highlight data (include labels for filter)

2. Go to the Data Ribbon

3. Select Sort or Filter

We use the IF formula to tell us to do something if a condition is met.

From logic class: If this, then that; else, this.

Your formula is =if(logical test, value if true, value if false)

You can also use nested IF formulas, which we will explore later (my favorite).

Basic addition is the feature we use the most in Excel.

There are three ways we will show you to do it:

Enter a formula =Sum( A+B+C+D)

Use your mouse =Sum(drag mouse)

Auto Sum: Type Alt + "=" at the base of the data