23. Using Pivot Tables to Analyze Data

A pivot table enables you to summarize thousands or millions of records of data to a one-page summary in just a few clicks.

Pivot tables were introduced in Excel 95 and have been evolving ever since:

• Excel 2013 adds a new entry point for pivot tables called Recommended Pivot Tables. This feature shows you various thumbnails of pivot tables before you begin creating one.

• Excel 2013 adds the ability to create a data model from several different tables. You can create a relationship between tables without using VLOOKUPs and base pivot tables on the model.

• Timelines are a visual date filter introduced in Excel 2013. They join slicers, the visual filter introduced in Excel 2010. The best feature of timelines ...

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