Treasurer Hunt Directions: “PivotTable”
An exercise to build skills and apply them in a real-life situation.
DIRECTIONS: You’ll create a PivotTable that can be used to analyze data. You’ll be using ONE of the Tech-Talk Database articles telling all about Pivot Tables. You will also watch a tutorial by Microsoft which you will find in your Excel program.
1. Go to www.Tech-Talk.com…
2. Search by the Keywords: pivot table
NOTE: You’ll use info in this article for all steps below.
- Read this article and watch the video.
- Learn the new terminology you’ll need in Pivot Tables.
3. Watch Microsoft’s “First Time” tutorial.
- See how Microsoft explains the new concepts and how a pivot table is created.
- To find the tutorial, in Excel: go to File, New, “Make Your First Pivot Table”
4. Identify the spreadsheet in which you want to create a pivot table.
- Find where the data is you want to analyze.
- Be sure you’ve read the Tech-Talk article on pivot tables for ideas.
5. Create a list of questions that you want to be answered about your data.
- Write down a list of possible questions you want answered.
- Think what you want to know about the data.
6. Open the spreadsheet with the data you want to analyze.
- Make sure each column has a header
- Be sure that the data is clean and complete so that your analysis is accurate.
- For instance, if the column asks for subscriber type, ensure consistency. e.g. Instead of Director, Library Direction, Executive Director… make them all the same: Director.
7. Create a pivot table
- Within your open spreadsheet, choose Insert, Pivot Table or Recommended PivotTables.
- You’ll find it in a separate worksheet with your workbook. (Watch Excel: Make Your First Pivot Table.)
8. Hey, do you want to see how much you learned?
- Take the TRIVIA CHALLENGE. See how many questions you get.
- You’ll find the answers in the articles above.