Prepare Data for Analysis in PowerPivot

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Before you can analyze data in PowerPivot for Excel, you must prepare the data to support that analysis. Preparation occurs largely in the PowerPivot window, which is described in Take a Tour of the PowerPivot UI. Typically your workflow in the PowerPivot window is something like this:

1. Add data from various sources.

2. Review the added data. Quickly filter, sort, and browse data.

3. Add new columns or delete columns you don't need in the imported data.

4. Connect tables by creating relationships, or review any relationships that were imported with the data.

5. Use perspectives to create custom views to focus only on the necessary data. For more information on perspectives, see Perspectives Dialog Box.

6. Create calculations that build on the data.

PowerPivot for Excel is flexible, so you are not required to follow a linear workflow. You could, for example, add data from new sources after you have already defined some relationships between existing tables.

This section provides an overview of the tasks that you perform in these areas. After the data is prepared for analysis, see Overview of Reports, Charts, and PivotTables for more information.

In This Section

• Work with Tables and Columns

• Filter and Sort Data in PowerPivot

• Perspectives in PowerPivot

• Relationships Between Tables

• Hierarchies in PowerPivot

See Also

Reference

Perspectives Dialog Box

Concepts

Introducing PowerPivot for Excel

Add Calculations to Your Reports, Charts, and PivotTables

Share Data with PowerPivot

Other Resources

Add and Maintain Data in PowerPivot

Overview of Reports, Charts, and PivotTables