Excel 2013: Data Tables and Charts

Overview

This practical, task-focused overview highlights clear workflows for organizing, analyzing, and visualizing data in Excel 2013 using tables and charts. It emphasizes techniques that improve data integrity, reduce manual upkeep, and produce communication-ready visuals that support faster decisions. Lessons move logically from building reliable table-based data structures and using structured formulas to driving charts and simple dashboards that make trends and exceptions obvious.

What you will learn

Work through the guide to develop repeatable skills that transfer to real work scenarios. Key competencies include:

• Creating and maintaining Excel tables so data stays consistent and updates automatically.
• Using structured references and summary/database functions to keep formulas robust as datasets grow.
• Applying sorting, filtering, and slicers to explore subsets and reveal patterns quickly.
• Choosing and customizing charts—including combo charts and trendlines—to present comparative views and highlight forecasts or seasonality.
• Combining tables and charts into concise reports and dashboards that emphasize clarity and recommended actions.

Teaching approach

The guide follows a learn-by-doing model: short demonstrations introduce concepts, followed by focused practice labs that reinforce techniques. Early sections explain why converting ranges to formal tables unlocks features like AutoExpand and structured referencing. Subsequent modules show how to summarize and filter reliably, then link those results to charts to tell a clear data story.

Charting and visualization guidance

Practical chart advice helps you match visualization type to message, connect charts directly to table-driven data, and refine visual elements—axes, labels, legends, and markers—for readability. Advanced tips cover when to use combo charts to compare measures, how to add trendlines for simple forecasting, and ways to harmonize chart styles with table formatting to produce polished, brand-ready reports.

Hands-on practice and projects

Exercises progress from short drills to capstone-style projects. Suggested activities include converting a raw dataset into a formatted table with structured formulas, creating time-series charts with trendlines to summarize performance, and assembling a branded report that pairs customized table styles with coordinated chart themes. Capstone guidance walks through building an interactive dashboard that uses filters or slicers and linked charts for exploration.

Practical applications

Examples are role-agnostic and apply across finance, sales, operations, research, and education. Use cases highlighted include preparing sales and inventory datasets for interactive reporting, using trendlines to surface seasonality or growth, and designing stakeholder-ready dashboards that reduce follow-up questions by surfacing the most relevant insights.

Who benefits most

This material is ideal for beginner-to-intermediate Excel users who want practical, repeatable methods for data management and reporting. Students, business professionals, entry-level analysts, and educators will find techniques they can apply immediately. Many of the core principles—structured tables, reliable formulas, and clear chart design—remain valuable in newer Excel releases.

How to get the most from the guide

Work through modules in order to build a solid foundation, then revisit advanced sections as needed. Open Excel 2013 alongside the guide and replicate examples with the sample datasets or your own data. Complete the labs to test understanding and adapt exercises to a current project for immediate impact. Use the glossary and lab solutions to verify methods and speed up troubleshooting.

Author perspective

According to Pamela J. Taylor, the guide prioritizes concise, task-focused instruction and progressive labs to build confidence through repeated practice—helpful when converting principles into everyday workflows.

Quick FAQs

Can these workflows be used in newer Excel versions? Yes. Core concepts such as tables, structured references, and thoughtful chart design translate across versions; newer releases may offer additional features that streamline some steps.

Do I need prior Excel experience? Basic familiarity helps, but the guide begins with foundational table skills and moves toward more sophisticated charting, making it accessible to motivated beginners.

Use this overview to decide whether the guide’s hands-on lessons, practical labs, and project-based approach match your goals for mastering tables and charts in Excel 2013.