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.

In other words, these references will never change—I will always use the ID to create the lookup, and the database will always be in these cells. I added these dollar symbols by pressing F4 ...

Learn how to create a drop-down list using Data Validation in Excel. Data Validation limits the type of data that can be entered into a cell.

When using existing data in a Microsoft Excel file, there’s not a lot to do to prepare. However, you can’t think like an Excel user; you must think like a Lists user.

How to create data bars in Excel 1. Select the cells you want to apply the data bars to. You can select a single cell, a range of cells, a table, or the entire sheet. 2.