MS Excel [Week 17-18]

Intermediate Excel: Key Skills for Data Analysts [Week 17]

3.1 Data Cleaning

As a data analyst, cleaning messy data is critical:

  • Remove Duplicates: Remove repeated rows.
    Go to Data > Remove Duplicates.
  • Text to Columns: Split text into multiple columns (e.g., separating first and last names).
    Go to Data > Text to Columns.
  • Find & Replace: Quickly replace specific values.
    Use Ctrl + H.

3.2 Conditional Formatting

Conditional formatting highlights cells based on conditions, making patterns in data more visible.

  • Highlight cells greater than a specific value, lower than the average, or duplicate values.
    Go to Home > Conditional Formatting.

3.3 Sorting and Filtering Data

Sorting and filtering allow you to manipulate large datasets.

  • Sort: Arrange data in ascending/descending order based on a column.
    Go to Data > Sort.
  • Filter: Display only the rows that meet certain criteria (e.g., sales > 1000).
    Go to Data > Filter.

3.4 Excel Tables

Convert a range into an Excel Table for better data management:

  • Auto-filters, column sorting, and total rows are part of tables.
  • Ctrl + T to create a table.
    Go to Insert > Table.

3.5 Logical and Lookup Functions

  • IF: Perform logical comparisons.
    =IF(A1>100, "Pass", "Fail")
  • VLOOKUP: Lookup values vertically in a table.
    =VLOOKUP(value, table, col_index, [range_lookup])
  • HLOOKUP: Lookup values horizontally in a table. =HLOOKUP(value, table, row_index, [range_lookup])
  • INDEX & MATCH: More flexible lookup functions compared to VLOOKUP. =INDEX(range, row_num, col_num)
    =MATCH(lookup_value, lookup_array, match_type)