Excel 2010 Bible

Chapter 5: Introducing Tables

101

FIGURE 5.2

An Excel table.

What’s the difference between a standard range and table?

l Activating any cell in the table gives you access to the Table Tools contextual tab on the

Ribbon (see Figure 5.3).

l The cells contain background color and text color formatting. This formatting is optional.

l (^) Each column header contains a drop-down list, which you can use to sort the data or filter
the table to hide specific rows.
l (^) If the active cell is within the table, when you scroll the sheet down so that the header row
disappears, the table headers replace the column letters in the worksheet header.
l (^) Tables support calculated columns. A single formula in a column is automatically propa-
gated to all cells in the column. (See Chapter 10.)
l (^) Tables support structured references. Rather than using cell references, formulas can use
table names and column headers. (See Chapter 10.)
l (^) The lower-right corner of the lower-right cell contains a small control that you can click
and drag to extend the table’s size, either horizontally (add more columns) or vertically
(add more rows).
l Excel can remove duplicate rows automatically.
l (^) Selecting rows and columns within the table is simplified.