How to Build an Excel Spreadsheet Using Three Variables
Microsoft Excel is a useful spreadsheet tool that's widely used to compare two variables, such as change over time. It can also be used to compare three variables, using a built-in function that allows you to build pivot tables. You can use pivot tables to filter, subset and rearrange tabular data with multiple variables. The only major limitations to pivot tables in Excel is the user's data and imagination.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Open Microsoft Excel. Click on the "Office" button in the upper, left-hand corner and select "Open." Use the dialog box to navigate to the file you want to analyze. Click "Open."
-
2
Select the "Insert" tab at the top of the page. Click on the "Pivot Table" icon. Choose "Pivot Table" or "Pivot Chart."
-
-
3
Select the range of cells that contain the data you want analyzed from the dialog box that appears. Fill in the radio button to determine whether your pivot table or chart will be featured on the current worksheet or a new one. Click "OK."
-
4
Go to the pane that will open on the right-hand side of the spreadsheet. Choose the data you want in rows by clicking on the variable and dragging it to the "Row Labels" box in the lower, left-hand corner of the pane. Select the data you want in columns by clicking on the variable and dragging it to the "Column Labels" box. Drag the amount variable to the "Values" box. Excel will populate your pivot table.
-
5
Use the pull-down menus in the pivot table to filter on column or row variables. Go to the pull-down menu in the "Values" box in the right-hand pane and use the filter menu to select "Value Field Settings" if you want to change the amount from a sum to another mathematical function, such as a count, average, minimum or maximum.
-
1
References
- Photo Credit calculation image by lefty from Fotolia.com
