What are data sets in excel - Word и Excel - помощь в работе с программами

A dataset is a range of contiguous cells on an Excel worksheet containing data to analyze. When arranging data on an Excel worksheet you must follow a few simple rules so that Analyse-it works with your data: Title to clearly describe the data.

Contents

1 What is a data set example?
2 What is considered a data set?
3 How do you enter a data set in Excel?
4 How do you create a data set?
5 How does a data set look like?
6 How do you find a data set?
7 What is another word for data set?
8 What is a good data set?
9 What is the purpose of a data set?
10 What is data in a spreadsheet?
11 What are the types of data sets?
12 How do you use a dataset?
13 How do you find the mean of a data set?
14 Is it dataset or data set?
15 What is a antonym for data?
16 What is another word for in order to?
17 Can be collected synonym?
18 How do you know if a data set is good?
19 How do you determine the quality of a data set?
20 Why is a large data set better?

What is a data set example?

A data set is a collection of numbers or values that relate to a particular subject. For example, the test scores of each student in a particular class is a data set. The number of fish eaten by each dolphin at an aquarium is a data set.

What is considered a data set?

A data set is a collection of related, discrete items of related data that may be accessed individually or in combination or managed as a whole entity. A data set is organized into some type of data structure.The term data set originated with IBM, where its meaning was similar to that of file.

How do you enter a data set in Excel?

On the worksheet, click a cell. Type the numbers or text that you want to enter, and then press ENTER or TAB. To enter data on a new line within a cell, enter a line break by pressing ALT+ENTER.

How do you create a data set?

Create Dataset. Navigate to the Manage tab of your study folder. Click Manage Datasets.
Data Row Uniqueness. Select how unique data rows in your dataset are determined:
Define Fields. Click the Fields panel to open it.
Infer Fields from a File. The Fields panel opens on the Import or infer fields from file option.

How does a data set look like?

A dataset (example set) is a collection of data with a defined structure. Table 2.1 shows a dataset. It has a well-defined structure with 10 rows and 3 columns along with the column headers. This structure is also sometimes referred to as a “data frame”.

How do you find a data set?

A few free government datasets we recommend:

Data.gov.
USA.gov Data and Statistics.
Federal Reserve Data.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
California Open Data Portal.
New York Open Data.
NOAA Data Access(mostly via API)
NASA Open Data Portal.

What is another word for data set?

data set

ASCII file.
data file.
file.
text.
word processing file.

A good data set has metadata or a data dictionary
A good data set is one that has either well-labeled fields and members or a data dictionary so you can relabel the data yourself.

What is the purpose of a data set?

Data sets can hold information such as medical records or insurance records, to be used by a program running on the system. Data sets are also used to store information needed by applications or the operating system itself, such as source programs, macro libraries, or system variables or parameters.

What is data in a spreadsheet?

Spreadsheet data is information that is stored in any spreadsheet program such as Excel or Google Sheets. Data stored in cells in a worksheet can be used in calculations, displayed in graphs, or sorted and filtered to find specific information.

What are the types of data sets?

Types of Data Sets

Numerical data sets.
Bivariate data sets.
Multivariate data sets.
Categorical data sets.
Correlation data sets.

How do you use a dataset?

In order to use a Dataset we need three steps:

Importing Data. Create a Dataset instance from some data.
Create an Iterator. By using the created dataset to make an Iterator instance to iterate through the dataset.
Consuming Data. By using the created iterator we can get the elements from the dataset to feed the model.

How do you find the mean of a data set?

Mean is just another name for average. To find the mean of a data set, add all the values together and divide by the number of values in the set. The result is your mean! To see an example of finding the mean, watch this tutorial!

Is it dataset or data set?

While the Wikipedia page for data set features the phrase as two words, it includes a parenthetical instance of dataset, suggesting that it’s a common and acceptable alternative.Meanwhile, Dictionary.com provides results exclusively for ‘data set. ‘ It also redirects you to that entry should you type ‘dataset.

What is a antonym for data?

data. Antonyms: conjecture, assumption, problem, proposition, inference, deduction. Synonyms: facts, grounds, basis, axioms, postulates.

What is another word for in order to?

synonyms for in order to

after.
as.
beneficial to.
concerning.
conducive to.
during.
for the sake of.
in contemplation of.

Can be collected synonym?

Some common synonyms of collected are composed, cool, imperturbable, nonchalant, and unruffled.

How do you know if a data set is good?

Consider taking an empirical approach and picking the option that produces the best outcome. With that mindset, a quality data set is one that lets you succeed with the business problem you care about. In other words, the data is good if it accomplishes its intended task.

How do you determine the quality of a data set?

Below lists 5 main criteria used to measure data quality:

Accuracy: for whatever data described, it needs to be accurate.
Relevancy: the data should meet the requirements for the intended use.
Completeness: the data should not have missing values or miss data records.
Timeliness: the data should be up to date.

Why is a large data set better?

Larger sample sizes provide more accurate mean values, identify outliers that could skew the data in a smaller sample and provide a smaller margin of error.

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Содержание

What Is A Dataset In Excel?
What is a data set example?
What is dataset used for?
How do you add a dataset in Excel?
Where can I find datasets in Excel?
What does a dataset look like?
What are dataset entries?
What is a good dataset?
What are the features of a dataset?
What are the different types of DataSets?
How do you create a dataset?
How do you define a data set?
How do I create a data sheet in Excel?
How do you use datasets?
What is data in a spreadsheet?
How do I download a dataset?
How do you describe the structure of a dataset?
What is the difference between data and record?
What is the difference between database and dataset?
What is a record of a dataset?
How do you choose a data set?
How to make and use a data table in Excel
What is a data table in Excel?
How to create a one variable data table in Excel
Row-oriented data table
How to make a two variable data table in Excel
Data table to compare multiple results
Data table in Excel — 3 things you should know
How to delete a data table in Excel
How to edit data table results
How to recalculate data table manually

What Is A Dataset In Excel?

A dataset is a range of contiguous cells on an Excel worksheet containing data to analyze.If you do not specify a title, the cell range of the dataset (such as A3:C13) is used to refer to the dataset. A header row containing variable labels.

What is a data set example?

What is dataset used for?

Oxford Dictionary defines a dataset as “a collection of data that is treated as a single unit by a computer”. This means that a dataset contains a lot of separate pieces of data but can be used to train an algorithm with the goal of finding predictable patterns inside the whole dataset.

How do you add a dataset in Excel?

Right-click the chart, and then choose Select Data. The Select Data Source dialog box appears on the worksheet that contains the source data for the chart. Leaving the dialog box open, click in the worksheet, and then click and drag to select all the data you want to use for the chart, including the new data series.

Where can I find datasets in Excel?

You can find various data set from given link :.

KDnuggets: Datasets for Data Mining and Data Science.
UCI Machine Learning Repository: UCI Machine Learning Repository.
Web Data Commons.
AWS Public Data Sets: Large Datasets Repository | Public Datasets with AWS.

What does a dataset look like?

A dataset (example set) is a collection of data with a defined structure. Table 2.1 shows a dataset. It has a well-defined structure with 10 rows and 3 columns along with the column headers. This structure is also sometimes referred to as a “data frame”.

What are dataset entries?

ENTRY: Uses the Numeric data type and stores a value representing the order in which the entries are logged. The example includes seven separate entries by four people, and every entry has a unique number. ID: Uses the Numeric data type and stores an identifying number for the person associated with each entry.

What is a good dataset?

A “good dataset” is a dataset that : Does not contains missing values. Does not contains aberrant data. Is easy to manipulate (logical structure).

What are the features of a dataset?

Each feature, or column, represents a measurable piece of data that can be used for analysis: Name, Age, Sex, Fare, and so on. Features are also sometimes referred to as “variables” or “attributes.” Depending on what you’re trying to analyze, the features you include in your dataset can vary widely.

What are the different types of DataSets?

Types of Data Sets

Numerical data sets.
Bivariate data sets.
Multivariate data sets.
Categorical data sets.
Correlation data sets.

How do you create a dataset?

On the Create dataset page:

For Dataset ID, enter a unique dataset name.
For Data location, choose a geographic location for the dataset. After a dataset is created, the location can’t be changed.
For Default table expiration, choose one of the following options:
Click Create dataset.

How do you define a data set?

A data set (or dataset) is a collection of data. In the case of tabular data, a data set corresponds to one or more database tables, where every column of a table represents a particular variable, and each row corresponds to a given record of the data set in question.

How do I create a data sheet in Excel?

You can create and format a table, to visually group and analyze data.

Select a cell within your data.
Select Home > Format as Table.
Choose a style for your table.
In the Format as Table dialog box, set your cell range.
Mark if your table has headers.
Select OK.

How do you use datasets?

In order to use a Dataset we need three steps:

Importing Data. Create a Dataset instance from some data.
Create an Iterator. By using the created dataset to make an Iterator instance to iterate through the dataset.
Consuming Data. By using the created iterator we can get the elements from the dataset to feed the model.

What is data in a spreadsheet?

How do I download a dataset?

If you want to download datasets that are used in projects, you can follow these steps:

Navigate to your project and click File > Open.
Navigate to the folder where the datasets are stored.
Select the datasets you need and click Download.

How do you describe the structure of a dataset?

A dataset written in the df standard consists of a series of records. A record is defined to be a series of bytes which are to be read or written together. In order that the next record type in a dataset be known (so that its length is known as well), the order of the records is fixed.

What is the difference between data and record?

In context|computing|lang=en terms the difference between data and record. is that data is (computing) a representation of facts or ideas in a formalized manner capable of being communicated or manipulated by some process while record is (computing) a set of data relating to a single individual or item.

What is the difference between database and dataset?

A dataset is a structured collection of data generally associated with a unique body of work. A database is an organized collection of data stored as multiple datasets.

What is a record of a dataset?

A record consists of general metadata about the dataset, a citation and other source information, and information about where to obtain the dataset. We define a dataset as a particular distribution or collection of data stemming from a single data collection, aggregation or synthesis effort.

How do you choose a data set?

The dataset should be rich enough to let you play with it, and see some common phenomena. In other words, it must have at least a few thousand rows (> 3.5 − 4K), and at least 20 − 25 columns. Of course, larger is welcome. The dataset should have a reasonable mix of both continuous and categorical variables.

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How to make and use a data table in Excel

by Svetlana Cheusheva, updated on March 16, 2023

The tutorial shows how to use data tables for What-If analysis in Excel. Learn how to create a one-variable and two-variable table to see the effects of one or two input values on your formula, and how to set up a data table to evaluate multiple formulas at once.

You have built a complex formula dependent on multiple variables and want to know how changing those inputs changes the results. Instead of testing each variable individually, make a What-if analysis data table and observe all possible outcomes with a quick glance!

What is a data table in Excel?

In Microsoft Excel, a data table is one of the What-If Analysis tools that allows you to try out different input values for formulas and see how changes in those values affect the formulas output.

Data tables are especially useful when a formula depends on several values, and you’d like to experiment with different combinations of inputs and compare the results.

Currently, there exist one variable data table and two variable data table. Although limited to a maximum of two different input cells, a data table enables you to test as many variable values as you want.

Note. A data table isn’t the same thing as an Excel table, which is purposed for managing a group of related data. If you are looking to learn about many possible ways to create, clear and format a regular Excel table, not data table, please check out this tutorial: How to make and use a table in Excel.

How to create a one variable data table in Excel

One variable data table in Excel allows testing a series of values for a single input cell and shows how those values influence the result of a related formula.

To help you better understand this feature, we are going to follow a specific example rather than describing generic steps.

Suppose you are considering depositing your savings in a bank, which pays 5% interest that compounds monthly. To check different options, you’ve built the following compound interest calculator where:

B8 contains the FV formula that calculates the closing balance.
B2 is the variable you want to test (initial investment).

And now, let’s do a simple What-If analysis to see what your savings will be in 5 years depending on the amount of your initial investment, ranging from $1,000 to $6,000.

Here are the steps to make a one-variable data table:

Enter the variable values either in one column or across one row. In this example, we are going to create a column-oriented data table, so we type our variable values in a column (D3:D8) and leave at least one blank column to the right for the outcomes.
Type your formula in the cell one row above and one cell to the right of the variable values (E2 in our case). Or, link this cell to the formula in your original dataset (if you decide to change the formula in the future, you would need to update only one cell). We choose the latter option, and enter this simple formula in E2: =B8

Tip. If you want to examine the impact of the variable values on other formulas that refer to the same input cell, enter the additional formula(s) to the right of the first formula, as shown in this example.

Now, you can take a quick look at your one-variable data table, examine the possible balances and choose the optimal deposit size:

Row-oriented data table

The above example shows how to set up a vertical, or column-oriented, data table in Excel. If you prefer a horizontal layout, here’s what you need to do:

Type the variable values in a row, leaving at least one empty column to the left (for the formula) and one empty row below (for the results). For this example, we enter the variable values in cells F3:J3.
Enter the formula in the cell that is one column to the left of your first variable value and one cell below (E4 in our case).
Make a data table as discussed above, but enter the input value (B3) in the Row input cell box:
Click OK, and you will have the following result:

How to make a two variable data table in Excel

A two-variable data table shows how various combinations of 2 sets of variable values affect the formula result. In other words, it shows how changing two input values of the same formula changes the output.

The steps to create a two-variable data table in Excel are basically the same as in the above example, except that you enter two ranges of possible input values, one in a row and another in a column.

To see how it works, let’s use the same compound interest calculator and examine the effects of the size of the initial investment and the number of years on the balance. To have it done, set up your data table in this way:

Enter your formula in a blank cell or link that cell to your original formula. Make sure you have enough empty columns to the right and empty rows below to accommodate your variable values. As before, we link the cell E2 to the original FV formula that calculates the balance: =B8
Type one set of input values below the formula, in the same column (investment values in E3:E8).
Enter the other set of variable values to the right of the formula, in the same row (number of years in F2:H2).

At this point, your two variable data table should look similar to this:

Select the entire data table range including the formula, the row and column of the variable values, and the cells in which the calculated values will appear. We select the range E2:H8.

Create a data table in the already familiar way: Data tab >What-If Analysis button >Data Table…

In the Row input cell box, enter the reference to the input cell for the variable values in the row (in this example, it’s B6 containing the Years value).

In the Column input cell box, enter the reference to the input cell for the variable values in the column (B3 containing the Initial Investment value).

Click OK.

Optionally, format the outputs the way you need (by applying the Currency format in our case), and analyze the results:

Data table to compare multiple results

If you wish to evaluate more than one formula at the same time, build your data table as shown in the previous examples, and enter the additional formula(s):

To the right of the first formula in case of a vertical data table organized in columns
Below the first formula in case of a horizontal data table organized in rows

For the «multi-formula» data table to work correctly, all the formulas should refer to the same input cell.

As an example, let’s add one more formula to our one-variable data table to calculate the interest and see how it is affected by the size of the initial investment. Here’s what we do:

In cell B10, compute the interest with this formula: =B8-B3
Arrange the data table’s source data like we did earlier: variable values in D3:D8 and E2 linked to B8 (Balance formula).
Add one more column to the data table range (column F), and link F2 to B10 (interest formula):
Select the extended data table range (D2:F8).
Open the Data Table dialog box by clicking Data tab >What-If Analysis>Data Table…
In the Column Input cell box, supply the input cell (B3), and click OK.

VoilГ , you can now observe the effects of your variable values on both formulas:

Data table in Excel — 3 things you should know

To effectively use data tables in Excel, please keep in mind these 3 simple facts:

For a data table to be created successfully, the input cell(s) must be on the same sheet as the data table.
Microsoft Excel uses the TABLE(row_input_cell, colum_input_cell) function to calculate data table results:
- In one-variable data table, one of the arguments is omitted, depending on the layout (column-oriented or row-oriented). For example, in our horizontal one-variable data table, the formula is =TABLE(, B3) where B3 is the column input cell.
- In two-variable data table, both arguments are in place. For example, =TABLE(B6, B3) where B6 is the row input cell and B3 is the column input cell.

The TABLE function is entered as an array formula. To make sure of this, select any cell with the calculated value, look at the formula bar, and note the around the formula. However, it is not a normal array formula — you can’t type it in the formula bar nor can you edit an existing one. It is just «for show».

Because the data table results are calculated with an array formula, the resulting cells cannot be edited individually. You can only edit or delete the entire array of cells as explained below.

How to delete a data table in Excel

As mentioned above, Excel does not allow deleting values in individual cells containing the results. Whenever you try to do this, an error message «Cannot change part of a data table» will show up.

However, you can easily clear the entire array of the resulting values. Here’s how:

Depending on your needs, select all the data table cells or only the cells with the results.
Press the Delete key.

How to edit data table results

Since it is not possible to change part of an array in Excel, you cannot edit individual cells with calculated values. You can only replace all those values with your own one by performing these steps:

Select all the resulting cells.
Delete the TABLE formula in the formula bar.
Type the desired value, and press Ctrl + Enter .

This will insert the same value in all the selected cells:

Once the TABLE formula is gone, the former data table becomes a usual range, and you are free to edit any individual cell normally.

How to recalculate data table manually

If a large data table with multiple variable values and formulas slows down your Excel, you can disable automatic recalculations in that and all other data tables.

For this, go to the Formulas tab > Calculation group, click the Calculation Options button, and then click Automatic Except Data Tables.

This will turn off automatic data table calculations and speed up recalculations of the entire workbook.

To manually recalculate your data table, select its resulting cells, i.e. the cells with TABLE() formulas, and press F9 .

This is how you create and use a data table in Excel. To have a closer look at the examples discussed this this tutorial, you are welcome to download our sample Excel Data Tables workbook. I thank you for reading and would be happy to see you again next week!

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This blog post is brought to you by Diego Oppenheimer a Program Manager on the Excel team.

I am very happy to be writing this blog post today. Not just because I will be showing you another way Excel can make your data analysis easier but also because I will be introducing the new Data Model and Relationships features that will hopefully change the way you use Excel for data analysis forever.

For those of you who are not familiar with the power and usefulness of Pivot Tables you might want to check out this article (Overview of PivotTable and PivotChart reports) or this training (PivotTable I: Get started with PivotTable reports) . Some of these articles are a bit old but the principles and functionality still apply .

Ok, here we go…

Finding a home

Around this time last year my wife and I were considering purchasing a house in the Seattle area, even if it meant dealing with some of the worst traffic in the US. So like any self-respecting Excel nerd I started a spreadsheet with a table of data that fit our parameters. This data was easy to find on the many real-estate sites out there like Zillow.com or Redfin.com. One thing I noticed though was that none of the these sites by themselves had all the relevant data I wanted to make an informed decision and this is where the Data Model came into play by allowing me to combine data from multiple sources and perform a richer analysis.

You can see what I started with below or just download the workbook for yourself.

My first look at the Data Model

If you open the file above you will see I have a table with a lot of data. The first thing I am going to do is create a PivotTable so that I can sift through it easily. Under the INSERT tab, hit PivotTable and the
following dialog should pop-up:

I have highlighted a new option in the create PivotTable dialog which is to “Add this data to the Data Model”. So what is this Data Model I speak of?

“A Data Model is a new approach for integrating data from multiple tables, effectively building a relational data source inside the Excel workbook. Within Excel, Data Models are used transparently, providing data used in PivotTables, PivotCharts, and Power View reports“. Read more here…

In other words, the new Data Model allows for building a “model” where data from a lot of different sources can be combined by creating “relationships” between the data sources. For those of you with some database knowledge this is similar to creating joins between tables, except all the tables live in Excel.

I chose to add this data to my Data Model because I am going to be combining it with data I will get from other sources to make my analysis more complete.

Create the PivotTable

The first thing I want to do is look at the number of houses I have selected by zip code. To do this I drag the ZIP field to ROWS and the LISTING ID field to VALUES. By default, this will give me a SUM of LISTING ID’s, but we want a COUNT. To do this, right click on the header that says SUM of LISTING ID -> Value Field Settings… and change to COUNT. As you can see, I only have to sift through 165 house listings now (L).

I have decided to add a couple more fields to my PivotTable to help with my analysis. I added LIST PRICE, DAYS ON MARKET and SQFT and changed the Value Field Settings to AVERAGE.

At this time my PivotTable looked something like this:

And my Field List like this:

So now I have a layout that shows me the number of houses that met my criteria per Zip code and some extra data like Average Price, Square footage and Days on Market (my realtor says this comes in real handy when negotiating).

What do I know about the Zip codes?

One thing I noticed about all of the real-estate listing sites is that they give you a ton of detail about the listing but don’t really tell you much about the neighborhood. I want to better understand the demographics of the Zip codes I have selected.

Good thing there is a marketplace for just this type of inquiry (http://datamarket.azure.com). This place is great, and you can read all about it here. Make sure you have a Microsoft/Live-ID or sign up for one free.

Type “Demographics” in the search box and find a data set called “2010 Key US Demographics by ZIP Code, Place and County (Trial)”. If I click on that link to the data set, the first option is to “Explore Data Set” and that’s exactly what I want to do.

Next step is to narrow down the data set to only what is relevant, so I make GeographyType: Zip code and StateAbbreviation “WA” and hit “RUN QUERY”. Great, I think I have now what I need.

To get this into Excel you’re going to need two things from this website, so copy these somewhere:

(1) The URL for the current expressed query

(2) Your private account key

Now that I have all of this figured out, I can easily add what I found to the Data Model. In Excel, go to the DATA tab and select “From Other Sources”, “From Windows Azure Marketplace”.

Fill out the information with what you have saved from the website:

Select that table.

Hit “Finish” and then select “Only Create Connection”:

Note: Some of you might be wondering why I chose “Only Create Connection”. I chose to do so, so that the data was never brought onto the Excel sheet, but directly into the Data Model. I only plan on using it in combination with my original table so there was no need to bring it in as a table onto my sheet or create a new PivotTable or PivotChart. If you’re wondering what that PowerView Report does check out this post by Sean Boon.

Combining my Data

If I go back to my original PivotTable, specifically back to the field list, you might have noticed a small change, particularly around the top.

You can see a tab called “Active” (which is selected) and a tab called “All”. The field list is the best way to explore our newly created Data Model, and the “All” tab lets us do just that. Any connection or table that was added to the Data Model will show up in this tab. Let’s take a look.

We can see that our original Table (Table 1) and the Table we brought in from the Data Market are both there. Great!

Now for some magic. I want to know a bit more about each of my Zip Codes, so what I am going to do is add those fields from the demog1 table to my PivotTable. The first one I’ll add is MedianAge2010 (we want to live around people our age so we have a better chance of meeting neighbors we have something in common with).

There are two things to notice here. First, the median age is the same for every zip code, which gives me a hint that something is wrong:

And second, a little message popped up in the field list.

Excel is telling me that a relationship between the two tables might be needed, so I go ahead and create it.

A couple of things to notice when working with relationships:

· Both columns chosen need to contain the same type of data (Zip Code in this case).

· They only work when one of the table’s columns contains unique values.

· The Related Column (Primary) should always be the one containing the unique (no duplicates) values.

· In a PivotTable, to be able to put something from the Related Table on Values you will have to have a field from the Related Table on Rows or Columns.

To satisfy this last condition, I remove ZIP and add GeographyId to Rows. Now my PivotTable looks something like this:

The reason for all those ugly blank spaces is because I have no houses that match my criteria from Table1 for every single Zip Code from the Marketplace data. I can easily filter these out by clicking the downward arrow next to Row Labels, Value Filters, Does Not Equal

Great, now I only have the Zip Codes I care about. I went ahead and added some more fields, conditional formatting and some sorting to figure out what the best zip code for us is and ended up with this:

Seems like 98103 is a really good candidate, falling in the middle in price and Average SQFT but towards the bottom in both Unemployment and % Vacant units. I can go ahead and add a COUNT of ListingIDs and see that I have 8 houses to go check out in this neighborhood that meet my criteria.

More Details on the Data Model

In this last example, I really am only scratching the surface of what the Data Model can do and I plan on showing much more in future blog posts. Here are some quick facts though:

Any given workbook will only have one Data Model.
Any table in Excel can be added to the Data Model.
Almost all Data Sources can be added to the Data Model (SQL, Odata, Atom feeds, Excel tables and more).
Tables in the Data Model have no limit in terms of rows.
Relationships can be defined across multiple tables.

I hope this is enough information to make you dangerous with the new Data Model capabilities. Feel free to leave your questions and comments below or message me on Twitter @doppenhe.

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How to Make a Data Table in Excel Step-by-Step Guide (2023)

How to Make a Data Table in Excel: Step-by-Step Guide (2023)

Data tables in Excel are used to perform What-if Analysis on a given data set.

Using data tables, you can analyze the changes to the output value by changing the input values to a formula.

There is so much that you can do using data tables in Excel. 😀

Continue reading the article below to learn it all.

Also, download our sample workbook here to practice the examples given in this guide.

What is an Excel data table?

An Excel Data table is a What-if Analysis tool. It allows users to use different input values for a variable and assess the changes to the output value.

These are especially of help if you are operating a formula in Excel where the output depends on several variables. And you are keen to compare the results for different inputs to the formula.

Presently, Excel offers a one-variable and two-variable data table only. This means you can choose any two variable values (at max) from any formula to test.

Jump right into the article below to learn all about a data table in Excel. 🔔

How to create a one-variable data table in Excel

A one-variable data table in Excel allows users to test one variable.

For example, see the image below.

The image shows the particulars of a loan. We have three main variables in the data.

The amount of loan
The rate of interest/profit
The tenure of the loan (until it is paid back)

Example 1: Column Input Cells

In this example, let’s see keep the interest rate as the variable.

What is the yearly payment to be made against the loan?

1. Write the PMT function to find the yearly repayment against the loan.

= PMT (B3, B4, B2)

= PMT (Interest Rate, Periods of Repayment, Amount of Loan Today)

2. Multiply this number by the number of payments to be made.

That’s the total amount to be paid against the loan over 5 years.

So how much is the interest on the loan?

3. Subtract the amount of loan from the amount of repayment.

Everything’s good and sorted.

Now, what if you want to see how the repayments change if one variable (the interest rate) changes?

Do not re-perform the entire calculation all over again. The Data Table (What-if analysis) will do it for you.

4. List down the variable (interest rate in this case) that is to be changed.

5. Create a link by referring to the targeted output for each interest rate in the corresponding column.

We want Excel to give us the repayments for different interest rates. So, we have created a link to the repayment in the original calculation.

6. Select the Inputs table (the interest rates and the corresponding column for targeted output).

7. Go to Data Tab > Forecast > What-If Analysis Tools > Data Table.

This will take you to the Data Table dialog box.

8. In the Column Input Cell box, create a reference to the ‘Interest Rate’ from the original table.

Reference is made to the Interest rate because that is the variable in our data. We want to experiment with how the changing interest rates affect repayments.

We have created a reference in the Column Input Cell box and not the Row Input Cell box. This is because our Input data is in the form of a column and not a row.

Kasper Langmann, Microsoft Office Specialist

9. All set. Hit Okay and Ta-da! 😃

A one variable data table for the variable interest rates

Excel creates a one-variable data table to calculate the repayments for different interest rates.

Example 2: Row Input Cells

Let’s bring a slight variation to the above data. This time the one variable of the data is the amount of the loan.

Also, let’s change the shape of Input Data from a Column to a Row.

1. Select the Inputs Data.

2. Go to Data Tab > Forecast > What-If Analysis Tools > Data Table.

3. In the ‘Data Table’ dialog box, create a reference to the Loan amount in the Row Input Cell box.

This time the variable is the amount of the loan. We want to experiment with how the changing loan amount affects the repayments.

Must note that we have created a reference to the ‘Row Input Cell’ this time. This is because our Input Data is row-oriented.

Kasper Langmann, Microsoft Office Specialist

4. Click ‘Okay’ to see the repayment amount for differing amounts of loans.

A one variable data table for different loan amounts

What if we want to see how the total interest changes by the change in the loan amount?

Simple, refer to the amount of interest in the Inputs Data.

Changing the reference to the total interest

And there it is! Excel shows the changes to total interest instead of repayments.

How to create multiple one-variable data tables?

In the above example, what if you want to see the change in interest rates on both the repayments and total interest?

Create multiple Excel data tables. Simple.

1. In the Input Data, make two columns next to the variable interest rates.

2. In the first column, create a reference to the repayment calculation in the original data.

3. In the second column, create a reference to the total interest in the original data.

4. Create a one-variable data table by referring to the interest rate in the Column Input Cell box.

Creating a reference to the interest rate

5. Click Okay, and there you go! 🙂

Excel creates multiple one variable data table

Excel shows the result of changes in interest rates on repayments and loan amounts.

How to make a two-variable data table in Excel?

The two-variable data table is more of a two-dimensional table. It allows you to analyze how your final output changes from the changes in any two variables of your data.

Let’s continue the example above to create a two-variable data table in Excel.

This time, let’s select two variables from the data, Interest Rate, and Loan Amount. We want to see how the repayments change when both these variables change.

1. Create a two-dimensional data table with each variable on one side of the table.

In the above image, we have set the interest rates in a columnar format. Whereas the loan amount takes the shape of a row.

2. Select the intersecting cell of both the data sides.

3. In this cell, create a reference to the calculation of the repayment in the original table.

This is because we want to see how the repayments change with changes in the interest rate and the loan amount.

Our Input Data is now ready. Let’s now create a data table and perform the What-if Analysis.

4. Select the entire Data Table.

5. Go to Data Tab > Forecast > Click What-if Analysis Tools > Data table.

Accessing data table in excel from Excel ribbon

6. This opens up the data table dialog box.

7. Against the Column Input Cell box, create a reference to the interest rate from the source data.

Pay attention to how a reference is created to the interest rate against the Column Input Cell. This is because the possible input values for interest rate (the first variable) are in the shape of a column.

8. Against the ‘Row Input Cell’, create a reference to the amount of loan from the source data.

The Row Input Cell refers to the amount of the loan. This is because possible input values for the loan (second variable) are in the shape of a row.

9. Click ‘Okay’, and you’re good to go.

Woah! This seems like a very densely packed data table.

What is this? See below.

Each cell of this data table is mutual to two cells. For example, in the image above, the highlighted cell shows the amount of repayment, if the interest rate changes to 12% and the loan amount changes to 2000.

Must Note: A two-variable data table is a two-dimensional table. It captures the result of the change in any two variables at the same time.

The data table formula above is an array formula. To double-check, click on any cell from the data table and see the formula bar.

You will find the formula enclosed in curly brackets. A formula enclosed in curly brackets is an Array formula.

Kasper Langmann, Microsoft Office Specialist

Trouble Shooting the Two-Variable Data Table

The Two-Variable data table in Excel seems no less than magic. A heap of calculations is only a click away.

A two-variable data table is an array, and there is something you must know about a table array.

1. Editing a two-variable data table

Once you have created a two-variable data table, try clicking on any individual cell from the data table and making some changes to it.

You cannot make changes to a part of this data! This is all that Excel has to say in return.

A data table is an array, and you cannot make changes to individual cells of an array.

To make any changes to the data table, click the data table and select the whole of it.

1. From the formula bar, delete the Table formula.

2. Type in the desired value (let’s say 10) and hit Ctrl + Enter.

3. The entire table will be replaced by 10.

You can now make changes to any individual cells as it is no more an array.

2. Deleting a two-variable data table

Deleting two-variable data is a little science.

You cannot delete an individual value from the data table. However, you can only delete the whole data table.

Select the entire array (whole data table).
Press the delete key.
And your data table is gone.

That’s it – Now what?

Data Tables can save you big on time.

In the article above, we have learned almost all about data tables in Excel – starting from creating a single-variable data table, and multiple single-variable data tables (in one go) to creating multiple-variable data tables.

And of course, many tips.

While data tables help data analysis in Excel, you’d need many other functions of Excel to handle big data sets in Excel. The most important of these include the VLOOKUP, SUMIF, and IF functions.

Learn each of these three functions by signing up for my free 30-minute email course that teaches you these functions (and more!).

Kasper Langmann2023-01-19T12:23:16+00:00

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There are some Microsoft Excel features that are awesome but somewhat hidden. And the «data table analysis» is one of them.

Sometimes a formula depends on multiple inputs, and you’d like to see how different inputs values would impact the result. The data table is perfect for that situation.

This is extremely useful to analyze a problem in Excel and figure out the best solution.

The Dataset

To use the data table feature we will need some data.

Here’s a table with 2 inputs (book price and quantity sold), and a formula (revenue = price * quantity).

If we sell 100 books at $29 each, we will make $2,900.

The data above assume we know the book price and how many copies we will sell. But we’re actually not sure, so we’d like to know the revenue for different combination of price and quantity. For example: how much profit will we make if we sell 150 copies instead of 100, and what if the price is $19 or $49?

There are 2 main ways to do that:

Manually change the 2 inputs, and see how the result change.
Do that automatically with the data table feature.

Nobody likes doing repetitive tasks manually, so let’s try the second option

The Set Up

Before we start using the data table, we need to do some changes to our data.

First we need to copy the formula to a separate place. You can do this by simply typing =C4 in a blank cell.

Then we need to tell Excel what values we would like to test. To the right of the formula we list all the prices ($19, $29, $49), and below the formula we list all the quantities (25, 50, 100).

And we can add some basic formatting (borders and currency) to make things look slightly better.

Our goal is to fill this table with the profit for each combination of price and quantity.

Data Table Example

Now we can start the interesting part!

Select the new table we just created, and in the «data» tab, click on the «what if analysis» button. There select «data table».

A popup will appear that you need to fill like this:

Row input cell: we listed the price at the top, so the «row input» is the price, which is in C2.
Column input cell»: we listed the quantity in the left, so the «column input» is the quantity, which is in C3.

Press OK, and we are done. Excel did the math for us, and automatically updated the spreadsheet with all the numbers we wanted.

Now we can see exactly how much revenue we will make based on the different combination of inputs. For example it shows that selling 50 copies at $49 will make us $2,450. That’s super powerful.

Limitations

For your information, using data tables have some drawbacks. Here I listed three limitations that make me most uncomfortable:

The performance and calculation speed of an Excel file will be slowed down if it contains many data tables.
The structure of the data table is fixed. You will get an error message if you try to insert a row or column in a data table, or if you delete just a single cell in it.
The data table must be located on the same tab as the setup data table (as mentionned above in the Set Up section). You cannot link the data table to cells on a different tab.

Conclusion

With just a few clicks, we can get Excel to do some magic computation and give us interesting information.

For this example we had a simple formula. But you could do the same on something much more complex, and Excel will give you the perfect answer in no time.

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Spreadsheet Sample Data in Excel & CSV Formats

I have put this page together to provide everyone with data that you would come across in the REAL WORLD. Whether you are looking for some Pivot Table practice data or data that you can flow through an Excel dashboard you are building, this article will hopefully provide you with a good starting point.

All the example data is free for you to use any way you’d like. I have saved the data in both an Excel format (.xlsx) and a comma-separated values format (.csv).

What Can This Data Be Useful For?

Feeding Dashboards
Manipulating in Power Query
Feeding into Power BI
Practicing Excel Formulas (VLOOKUP Practice Data)
Testing Spreadsheet Solutions
Example Data for Articles or Videos You Are Making

Which Spreadsheet/BI Programs Can I Use This Data With?

Power BI
Tableau
LibreOffice (OpenOffice)
Tell me in the comments if there are others!

Microsoft Excel
Google Sheets
Apple Numbers
Excel’s Power Query

Company Employee Example Data

Folks in Human Resources actually deal with a lot of data. This data can be great for creating dashboards and summarizing various aspects of a company’s workforce. In this database, there are 1,000 rows of data encompassing popular data points that HR professionals deal with on a regular basis.

You can use this data to practice popular spreadsheet features including Pivot Table, Vlookups, Xlookups, Power Query automation, charts, and Dashboards.

Columns in this Data Set:

Below is a list of all the fields of data included in the sample data.

Employee ID
Full Name
Job Title
Gender
Ethnicity
Age
Hire Date

Annual Salary (USD)
Bonus %
Department
Business Unit
Country
City
Exit Date

Data Preview (Employee Records)

Download This Sample Data

If you would like to download this data instantly and for free, just click the download button below. The download will be in the form of a zipped file (.zip) and include both a Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) and CSV file version of the raw data.

Sales Force Example Data (Coming Soon!)

Columns in this Data Set:

Below is a list of all the fields of data included in the sample data.

YTD Sales
Commission Rate
Phone Number
Leader Name
Units Sold
Avg. Price Per Unit

Employee Name
Region
Office
Prospecting
Negotiating
Orders

Data Preview (Sales Team Data)

Company Financial Results Example Data

Columns in this Data Set:

Below is a list of all the fields of data included in the sample data.

Month
Year
Scenario (Actuals/Forecast/Budget)
Currency

Account
Department
Business Unit
Amount

Data Preview (Financial Data)

Website Traffic Example Data (Coming Soon!)

Columns in this Data Set:

Below is a list of all the fields of data included in the sample data.

Users
Bounce Rate
Keywords
Avg. SERP
Avg. Time on Page

Page URL
Page Title
Pageviews
Sessions
Social Media Traffic

Data Preview (Web Traffic)

I Hope This Microsoft Excel Article Helped!

Hopefully, you were able to find 1 or more data sets that you can use for your spreadsheet project. If you have any questions about the data I’ve compiled or suggestions on more datasets that would be useful, please let me know in the comments section below.

About The Author

Hey there! I’m Chris and I run TheSpreadsheetGuru website in my spare time. By day, I’m actually a finance professional who relies on Microsoft Excel quite heavily in the corporate world. I love taking the things I learn in the “real world” and sharing them with everyone here on this site so that you too can become a spreadsheet guru at your company.

Through my years in the corporate world, I’ve been able to pick up on opportunities to make working with Excel better and have built a variety of Excel add-ins, from inserting tickmark symbols to automating copy/pasting from Excel to PowerPoint. If you’d like to keep up to date with the latest Excel news and directly get emailed the most meaningful Excel tips I’ve learned over the years, you can sign up for my free newsletters. I hope I was able to provide you with some value today and I hope to see you back here soon!

— Chris
Founder, TheSpreadsheetGuru.com

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What is Data Table in Excel?

A Data Table in Excel helps study the different outputs obtained by changing one or two inputs of a formula. A data table does not allow changing more than two inputs of a formula. However, these two inputs can have as many possible values (to be experimented) as one wants. Excel Data tables, along with Scenarios and Goal Seek are parts of the What-If Analysis tools.

For example, an organization may want to study how changes in the cash possessed impact its working capital. A data table will help the organization know the optimum level of cash (from the specified possible values) to be held to meet its short-term obligations.

The purpose of creating data tables in Excel is to analyze the variation in outputs resulting from a change in the inputs. Moreover, one can have all the outputs in a single table which eases interpretation and allows quick sharing with other users.

What is Data Table in Excel?
Types of Data Tables in Excel
- One-Variable Data Table in Excel
  - Example #1
- Two-Variable Data Table in Excel
  - Example #2
- The Key Points Governing Data Tables in Excel
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Recommended Articles

Types of Data Tables in Excel

The kinds of data tables in Excel are specified as follows:

One-variable data table
Two-variable data table

Let us discuss each type of data table one by one with the help of examples.

Note: A data table is different from a regular Excel tableIn excel, tables are a range with data in rows and columns, and they expand when new data is inserted in the range in any new row or column in the table. To use a table, click on the table and select the data range.read more. The former shows the various combinations of inputs and outputs. These outputs are calculated by considering the source dataset as the base. In contrast, an Excel table shows related data that is grouped in one place.

One-Variable Data Table in Excel

A one-variable data tableOne variable data table in excel means changing one variable with multiple options and getting the results for multiple scenarios. The data inputs in one variable data table are either in a single column or across a row.read more is created to study how a change in one input of the formula causes a change in the output. A one-variable data table in excel can be either row-oriented or column-oriented. This implies that all the possible values that an input can assume are listed in either a single row (row-oriented) or a single column (column-oriented) of Excel.

You can download this DATA Table Excel Template here – DATA Table Excel Template

Example #1

There are two images titled “image 1” and “image 2.” The following information is given:

Image 1 shows an organization’s revenue (in $) for 2018 in cell B2. The minimum growth rate expected is given as 12% in cell B3. The projected revenue (in $ in cell B5) for 2019 has been calculated by using the formula “=B2+(B2*B3).”
Image 2 shows the possible values (in column C) that the growth rate can assume. The value of cell D8 has been explained in steps 1 and 2 (given further in this example).

We want to perform the following tasks:

Calculate the projected revenues (in column D) according to the different growth rates (in column C) given in image 2.
Create a “line with markers” chart showing the growth rates on the x-axis and the projected revenues on the y-axis. Replace the markers of the chart with arrows.

Use a one-variable data table of Excel. Interpret the data table thus created.

Image 1

Image 2

The steps for performing the given tasks by using a one-variable data table are listed as follows:

Enter the data of the two images in Excel. In cell D8, type “equal to” (=) followed by the reference B5. This links cell D8 to cell B5.

The linking of the two cells is shown in the following image.

Since all the growth rates have been entered vertically (C9:C19), our data table is said to be column-oriented. The entire range C8:D19 is our one-variable data table. We are creating a one-variable data table as the change in outputs will be observed against a change in one input, i.e., the growth rate.

Note: Notice that either the formula “=B2+(B2*B3)” could be typed directly in cell D8 or cell D8 can be linked to cell B5. We have chosen to link the two cells.

The linking of cell D8 to cell B5 ensures that any updates in the formula of the latter are automatically reflected in the range D9:D19 of the data table. For instance, if the formula of cell B5 is multiplied by 2 [like =B2+(B2*B3)*2], all the outputs obtained in the range D9:D19 are automatically multiplied by 2.

Had we not linked cells D8 and B5, any changes to the formula of cell B5 would not have changed the value in cell D8. Consequently, the outputs in the range D9:D19 would not have been updated automatically.
Press the “Enter” key. Cell D8 shows the value of cell B5, as shown in the following image.

Notice that if one manually enters the value (1680000) in cell D8, the data table will not work. Moreover, one should always type the formula [=B2+(B2*B3)] or link the cell that is one row above and one column to the right of the possible input values (C9:C19). This is the reason we chose to link cell D8 to cell B5.

Note: If the data table is row-oriented, type the formula or link the cell that is one column to the left and one cell below the first possible input value. For instance, had the possible input values been in the range F2:P2, we would have entered the formula or linked cell E3 to cell B5.
Select the range of the data table. This selection should include the linked cell (D8), the possible input values (C9:C19), and the empty cells for outputs (D9:D19). Hence, we have selected the range C8:D19, as shown in the following image.
From the Data tab, click the “what-if analysis” drop-down (in the “data tools” or “forecast” group). Select the option “data table.” This option is shown in the following image.
The “data table” dialog box opens, as shown in the following image. In the box of “column input cell,” select cell B3, which contains the minimum expected growth rate. As a result, the reference $B$3 appears in this box. Leave the box of “row input cell” blank.

By giving the reference to cell B3 in the “column input cell,” we are telling Excel that at the growth rate of 12%, the projected revenue is $1,680,000. So, with this data table, Excel is being asked the projected revenue when the growth rates vary from 12.5% to 22.5%.

Note 1: A “row input cell” or “column input cell” is a reference to a cell that contains the input. This is the input that can assume the different possible values. Moreover, this input must necessarily be used in the formula whose outputs are to be studied.

In a one-variable data table, either the “row input cell” or the “column input cell” is specified depending on whether the data table is row-oriented or column-oriented.

Note 2: In a one-variable data table, Excel uses either the formula “=TABLE(row_input_cell,)” or “=TABLE(,column_input_cell)” to calculate the different outputs. The former formula is used when the possible input values are in a row, while the latter is used when the possible input values are in a column.

To view the TABLE formula, select any of the output cells and check the formula bar. In this example, the formula “=TABLE(,B3)” is used to calculate the outputs.

Further, Excel uses these TABLE formulas as array formulasArray formulas are extremely helpful and powerful formulas that are used in Excel to execute some of the most complex calculations. There are two types of array formulas: one that returns a single result and the other that returns multiple results.read more. However, these formulas cannot be edited manually, unlike the regular array formulas. But, one can delete all the output cells containing the TABLE formulas.
Click “Ok” in the “data table” window. The range D9:D19 of the data table has been filled with values. The different outputs are shown in the following image.

Interpretation of the one-variable data table: By looking at the data table in the preceding image, one can say that when the growth rate is 12.5%, the projected revenue is $1,687,500. Likewise, when the growth rate is 13.5%, the projected revenue is $1,702,500. Hence, the larger the growth rate, the more the increase in the projected revenue.

The projected revenue is at its maximum ($1,837,500) when the growth rate is at its highest (22.5%). So, the organization can study the variation in outputs when a single input (growth rate) changes.

Note: For more examples related to the one-variable data table of Excel, refer to the hyperlink given before step 1.
To create a “line with markers” chart that displays the growth rates on the x-axis and the projected revenues on the y-axis, follow the listed steps:

a. Select the range D9:D19 and click the Insert tab on the Excel ribbon.
b. Click the “insert line or area chart” icon from the “charts” group. Select the “line with markers” chart under the 2-D line charts. A “line with markers” chart appears, which displays the projected revenues on the y-axis.
c. Click anywhere on the chart. The “chart tools” menu becomes visible. This menu consists of the Design and Format tabs.
d. Click the Design tab of the “chart tools” menu. Choose “select data” from the “data” group. The “select data source” window opens.
e. Click “edit” under “horizontal (category) axis labels.” The “axis labels” window opens.
f. Select the range C9:C19 in the “axis label range” box. Click “Ok.” Click “Ok” again in the “select data source” window.

The “line with markers” chart is created whose x-axis and y-axis look the way they are shown in the image of step 8.
To replace the default markers of the chart with arrows, follow the listed steps:

a. Select the markers of the chart and right-click them. Choose the “format data series” option from the context menu. The “format data series” pane opens.
b. Click the “fill & line” tab. Expand the “line” tab. In “end arrow type,” select any of the arrows. We have chosen “open arrow.”
c. Select “marker” and expand the “marker options.” Choose the option “none.”
d. Close the “format data series” pane.

The “line with markers” chart looks the way it is displayed in the following image. Notice that since the chart shows the projected revenues, we have titled it accordingly.

Two-Variable Data Table in Excel

A two-variable data table in excelA two-variable data table helps analyze how two different variables impact the overall data table. In simple terms, it helps determine what effect does changing the two variables have on the result.read more helps study how changes in two inputs of a formula cause a change in the output. In a two-variable data table, there are two ranges of possible values for the two inputs. From these two ranges, one range is in a row and the other is in a column of Excel.

Example #2

There are three images titled “image 1,” “image 2,” and “image 3.” The following information is given:

Image 1 shows an organization’s revenue (in $ in 2018) and the minimum growth rate in cells B2 and B3 respectively. Both these figures are the same as that of the previous example. Additionally, the organization gives a 2% discount (in cell B4) to its customers. This is given to boost sales.
Image 2 shows how the projected revenue (in $ in cell B6) for 2019 has been calculated. The formula “=B2+(B2*B3)-(B2*B4)” is used for this purpose. The amount obtained ($1,650,000) is the projected revenue after the discount.
Image 3 shows the different values in row 9 that the discount rate can assume. The possible values that the growth rate can assume are given in column D. The value of cell D9 has been explained in steps 1 and 2 (given further in this example).

Calculate the projected revenues (in E10:J18) according to the various discount rates (in row 9) and growth rates (in column D). Use a two-variable data table of Excel. Interpret the data table thus created.

Image 1

Image 2

Image 3

The steps for creating a two-variable data table are listed as follows:

Step 1: Enter the data of the preceding images in Excel. In cell D9, type the “equal to” operator followed by the reference B6.

This time we have chosen to link cell D9 to cell B6. Alternatively, we could have also entered the formula [=B2+(B2*B3)-(B2*B4)] in cell D9. This is because, in a two-variable data table, one should type the formula or link the cell that is one column to the left of the first horizontal input value (2.5%). At the same time, this cell should be one row above the first vertical input value (12.5%).

The linking of cells ensures that any changes to the formula of cell B6 are reflected in the value of cell D9. Further, any change in the value of cell D9 will update the outputs (in E10:J18) automatically.

Note: Please ignore the differences in font, colors, and alignment across the images of this example. These differences may be due to the different versions of Excel being used to create the images.

Step 2: Press the “Enter” key. Cell D9 shows the value of cell B6, which is 1,650,000. This is shown in the following image.

The entire range D9:J18 is our two-variable data table. Notice that the excel data table shows the possible discount rates horizontally (in bold in row 9) and the possible growth rates vertically (in column D). This time the variation in outputs resulting from changes in both these inputs (discount rate and growth rate) need to be studied.

Note: If the value is entered manually in cell D9, the excel data table will not work.

Step 3: Select the range D9:J18. Note that the selection should include the linked cell (D9), possible discount rates (E9:J9), possible growth rates (D10:D18), and the empty cells for the outputs (E10:J18).

The selection is shown in the following image.

Step 4: Click the “what-if analysis” drop-down (in the “data tools” or “forecast” group) of the Data tab. Select the option “data table.”

Step 5: The “data table” window opens, as shown in the following image. In the box of “row input cell,” select cell B4. In the box of “column input cell,” select cell B3. The absolute referencesAbsolute reference in excel is a type of cell reference in which the cells being referred to do not change, as they did in relative reference. By pressing f4, we can create a formula for absolute referencing.read more to cells B4 and B3 appear in the two boxes.

Cells B4 and B3 contain the minimum expected growth rate and the discount rate of the source dataset.

By making these selections, Excel is told that at a discount rate of 2% and a growth rate of 12%, the projected revenue is $1,650,000. Therefore, our two-variable data table instructs Excel to calculate the projected revenues when the discount rates and growth rates vary from 2.5% to 5% and 12.5% to 20.5% respectively.

Note: In a two-variable data table, both the “row input cell” and “column input cell” are specified, unlike a one-variable data table where one has to specify either of the two inputs.

Further a two-variable data table uses the formula “=TABLE(row_input_cell,column_input_cell)” to calculate the outputs. So, in this example, the formula “=TABLE(B4,B3)” has been used for the calculations. This formula is visible in the formula bar when an output cell is selected.

For the meaning of the “row input cell” and the “column input cell,” refer to “note 1” under step 5 of example #1.

Step 6: Click “Ok” in the “data table” window. The outputs appear in the range E10:J18, as shown in the following image.

Interpretation of the two-variable data table: When the discount rate is 2.5% and the growth rate is 12.5%, the organization’s projected revenue is $1,650,000 (in cell E10). Notice that this figure is the same as that of cell B6. However, the value in cell B6 takes into account 2% and 12% as the discount rate and growth rate respectively.

Notice that the numbers of cells E10 and B6 match those of cells G11 and I12. This implies that when the discount rate and growth rate are increased in the same proportion (like by 0.5%, 1.5% or 2.5%), the resulting value is the same as the output of the source dataset (in cell B6). Cells E10, G11, and I12 reflect 0.5%, 1.5%, and 2.5% increase in the two rates.

Likewise, had we increased both the discount and growth rates by 1%, the resulting value would have again been $1,650,000. In this case, the discount rate and growth rate would have been 3% and 13% respectively.

By obtaining the projected revenues in the range E10:J18, the organization can sell at an optimum discount rate and, at the same time, target an attainable growth rate. Hence, the organization can choose the most suitable combination of the two rates.

Note: For more examples related to the two-variable data table of Excel, click the hyperlink given before step 1 of this example.

The Key Points Governing Data Tables in Excel

The important points related to data tables of Excel are listed as follows:

It helps select those input values that fit the business in the best possible manner.
It facilitates the comparison of the different outputs as all the results are consolidated in one place.
It presents the results in a tabular format that can neither be edited nor undone with the shortcut “Ctrl+Z.” The outputs can only be deleted by selecting them and pressing the “Delete” key.
It uses the TABLE array formulas to calculate the outputs. The “row input cell” and the “column input cell” must be selected carefully to get accurate results. Moreover, the input cell or cells must be on the same worksheet as the data table.
It need not be refreshed, unlike a pivot table. A change in the values or the formula of the source dataset causes the excel data table to update automatically.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Define a data table and suggest when it should be used in Excel.

A data table helps analyze how a change in one or two inputs of a formula causes a change in the output. The resulting outputs are arranged in a tabular format, making them easy to compare and interpret.
A data table of Excel should be used in the following situations:
• When the outputs resulting from a change in one or two inputs need to be studied
• When the most optimum input value or values need to be chosen
• When all the combinations of inputs and outputs need to be explored in one glance

2. How to create a data table in Excel?

The steps to create a data table in Excel are listed as follows:

a. Enter the source dataset in an Excel worksheet. Use one or two inputs to calculate an output.
b. Arrange the possible values, which an input can assume, in a row and/or column.
c. Link one cell of the data table to the output cell of the source dataset. Alternatively, in a cell of the data table, enter the formula whose outputs need to be studied.
d. Select the data table. The selection should include the linked cell (or the formula cell of the data table), the possible input values, and the empty cells for outputs.
e. Select the “data table” option from the “what-if analysis” drop-down of the Data tab. The “data table” window opens.
f. Enter either the “row input cell” or “column input cell” if the impact of changing one input is to be studied. To study the impact of changing two inputs, enter both “row input cell” and “column input cell.”
g. Click “Ok” in the “data table” window.

A one-variable or two-variable data table is created depending on the execution of steps “a,” “b,” and “f.”

Note: For more details on creating a data table in Excel, refer to the examples of this article.

3. How does a data table work in Excel?

A data table works on the policy “what will be the result if one or two inputs of a formula are changed?” One cell of the data table is linked to the source dataset. In this way, Excel is told how the inputs are to be used in calculating the output.

Next, as the possible input values are supplied, Excel is asked to calculate the outputs using the same formula as that of the source dataset. The resulting table shows the different mixes of inputs and outputs, thereby assisting the user in decision-making.