Data tables and pivot tables

A data table shows what a formula gives when you try different values in it. Find it at Data > What-if Analysis > Data Table.

• A one-variable data table changes one input cell: for example, the budget increase for each possible cost increase, with $C$1 as the column input cell.
• A two-variable data table uses one formula with two input cells and two lists of values. With =B1*C1 and the numbers 1-15 down the side and across the top, you get a 15 × 15 multiplication table (row input $B$1, column input $C$1).

A pivot table is an interactive summary (a cross-tabulation) of a big list. The book's example is vegetable consumption: Day as the report filter, Vegetable as the column label, City as the row label, and Sum of Actual as the values.

Pivoting means moving headings between rows and columns to see the same data another way. A pivot table can query large data, subtotal by category, expand and collapse detail, filter and sort, group, and give a short report, all without changing the source list.