%20(11).png){kind=small}
Excel is a flexible and handy spreadsheet application to organize large data sets. It is used worldwide to record, manage, and analyze data. Data in Excel is of key importance. It is essential to maintain and organize data in a way that is professional as well as understandable. Here are 5 data organization skills to be kept in mind.
Labeling of Data
It's recommended to create column labels in the first row of the range of data. Labels should always represent what is being stored in the rows below it. These labels help in creating reports, sorting, and quickly filtering data. Make sure that the format of the heading cell is text.
Avoid Extra Spaces
Remember to avoid inserting spaces at the data's beginning or end in each row. It may create problems while searching, sorting, and even formatting the data in your sheet. It is preferred to use Increase Indent to move your content further away from the cell border.
Borders and Gridlines
There is a significant difference in borders and gridlines. Gridlines appear automatically to exhibit the data in rows and columns. At the same time, Boarders helps to highlight the critical information. Proper usage of borders and gridlines makes your data presentable. Using something other than gridlines is recommended if you have massive data sets.
Avoid Disturbances
While making an excel sheet, it is essential to have clarity and accuracy. The data should be such that it avoids distractions from the actual data. Removing gridlines from the Excel sheet, gridlines from charts or graphs, positioning the charts and the chart elements appropriately, and using light and fewer colors instead of making the sheet clumsy with too many colors. All these points, if taken into consideration, not only make the file organized but also representative.
Naming Appropriately
For any workbook in Excel, it is mandatory to give appropriate names, be it the name of the file, the name of the sheets, headers of the columns, charts, graphs, tables, or ranges. Naming is necessary to help the users and the viewers understand what is depicted in the file. It is suggested to pick short names but descriptive.
Storing and maintaining data in columns and rows is easy, but storing data for further use is what an Excel expert should take care of. Try using the above tips to create organized data in Excel.