The database capabilities of Excel are very powerful. In fact, not only can Excel be used to create a simple searchable database, it also can be used to create a proper relational database.

Tips This article applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, and Office 365. View the videos listed in the Resources section for more ideas on using Excel's database functions.

TL;DR Key Takeaways : Excel’s database functions offer a more flexible and efficient alternative to traditional methods like SUMIFS, especially for handling multiple criteria.

I recommend starting with a simple database type list if you can, and if you’re using Excel to analyze that data. For instance, the sheet in Figure B stores customer invoice information.

The conventional tools we use aren’t agile enough or scalable enough to handle emerging data volumes and complexities. Excel Challenges Let’s consider an example—Microsoft Excel—which many of us use ...

Excel will present a few options for you to consider. In our example, Excel offers to create 10 different pivot tables that take a look at a number of different angles on our sales data.