2.4 Creating Tables

To make working with data easier, you can organize data in a table format on a worksheet.

You are going to use Excel’s random number generator and tables to create a fictional grade book.

2.4.1 Practice 2

  1. Select the block of cells D1:H11.
  2. On the Home tab, in the Styles ribbon, click Format as Table, and then click the table style of your choice.
A screenshot of the Style ribbon.

Figure 2.9: Style ribbon.

  1. Select the My table has headers check box in the Format as Table dialog window.
A screenshot showing the window for the command Format As Table command.

Figure 2.10: 32: Format As Table window.

Note: When you select a table by clicking the mouse pointer, the Table Tools menu becomes available, and a Design tab is displayed. To get a good idea of what you can add to or change in your table, click the Design tab, then explore the groups and options provided on this tab.

  1. Replace the table headers. Instead of Columns1 through Column5, replace headers by typing in them the following: Name, Exam 1, Exam 2, Exam 3 and Final Exam.
  2. Under header Name, in cells 2-11, create 10 students’ names, writing last name, and first name.
  3. Now select the block of cells D2:D11. Click Home > Sort & Filter > Select A to Z. The fictional names should then appear in alphabetical order.
  4. Select cell E2. Click on the Formula bar, type in =RANDBETWEEN(0,100).
  5. Position the mouse pointer in the lower right corner of cell E2 until it becomes a + sign and click-drag downward until you reach cell E11. Release (Note: Sometimes this feature is not needed within a formatted table).
  6. Repeat the process above for Column F using =RANDBETWEEN(40,98).
  7. Repeat the process above for Column G using =RANDBETWEEN(64,105).
  8. Repeat the process above for Column H using =RANDBETWEEN(37,100).
  9. If the list of numbers is not randomized, click the button Calculate Now.