Pivot tables are one of several Excel tools for extracting meaning out of large groups of numeric data. They can be applied whenever raw data in a spreadsheet or database has to be summarized.

Drop-down lists in an Excel sheet can greatly facilitate data entry. Here's a look at how to use Microsoft Excel's data validation feature to create handy lists within your worksheets.

Pivot tables in Microsoft Excel are a great way to organize and analyze data, and the more you know about the feature, the more you’ll get out of it. For instance, filtering a pivot table is a ...