Blog Topic

Excel Tutorials

Excel formulas are the first tool every data analyst reaches for — and the one that breaks silently when a reference is wrong. These tutorials cover the formulas that show up in real analyst work: lookups that do not break when columns shift, ranking without ties, conditional formatting that highlights the right rows, and the cleanup steps between raw data and a trustworthy pivot table. Every example uses real cell references you can type into your own sheet.

What you will learn

  • ✓Write VLOOKUP, XLOOKUP, INDEX/MATCH and know when each one breaks
  • ✓Rank, subtotal and aggregate without double-counting or silent errors
  • ✓Apply conditional formatting to entire rows using locked column references
  • ✓Clean messy data with TRIM, PROPER and Remove Duplicates before analysis
  • ✓Build pivot tables and slicers that update dashboards interactively

45 articles in this topic

Tutorial

Free Excel Practice Sheets & Datasets: 10 Real Workbooks

Download 10 free synthetic Excel practice workbooks for data analytics. Practice VLOOKUP, XLOOKUP, pivot tables, SUMIFS, and business-style dashboards.

32 min readRead
Tutorial

Free Datasets for Data Analysis: Top Sources & Projects

Best free datasets for data analysis, SQL, and Excel. Direct download links, 5 portfolio project blueprints, and real-world cleaning trap fixes.

12 min readRead
Tutorial

Excel Relative Reference: Cell Formula Guide for Analysts

Master Excel relative reference formulas without drift. Learn relative vs absolute syntax, audit large sheets, and fix calculation errors with ease.

14 min readRead
Tutorial

Excel Pivot Dashboard In 10 Minutes

Build an interactive excel pivot dashboard in 10 minutes. Connect Slicers, link dynamic PivotCharts, and prevent PivotCache performance lags.

16 min readRead
Tutorial

Excel to SQL: Full Translation Map

VLOOKUP to JOIN, PivotTables to GROUP BY, filters to WHERE: every Excel skill mapped one-to-one to SQL, with a live practice path included inside.

1 min readRead
Interview Prep

RANK vs DENSE_RANK: Tie-Traps

Top-3-per-group with ties: ROW_NUMBER vs RANK vs DENSE_RANK explained side by side, plus 5 tie-trap drills with full answer keys for interviews.

2 min readRead
Career Guide

Data Analyst Skills Roadmap (2026): What to Learn First

The modern 2026 data analyst skills roadmap. Learn the optimal order to master SQL, Excel, Python, and Tableau with free courses and real-world projects.

22 min readRead
Tutorial

Excel Practice Online: 15 Business Exercises & Solutions

Practice Excel formulas online with 15 real business exercises. Master XLOOKUP, INDEX MATCH, dynamic arrays, pivot tables, and financial modeling.

29 min readRead
Tutorial

Sort & Filter in Excel Without Mixing Data (Fix Rows Fast)

Prevent misaligned rows when sorting or filtering in Excel. Fix auto-filters stopping at blank rows and learn why Ctrl+T permanently stops data scrambling.

8 min readRead
Tutorial

Basic Excel Formulas: The Top 10 Formulas Every Analyst Needs to Know

Learn essential basic excel formulas: master SUM, AVERAGE, COUNT, IF, VLOOKUP, and conditional functions with syntax, examples, and practical fixes.

9 min readRead
Tutorial

CAGR Formula in Excel: Growth Rate with RRI and Power Method

CAGR formula Excel guide: compute annualised growth with =(End/Start)^(1/n)-1 and =RRI(). Investor examples, negative bases, and CAGR vs XIRR explained.

7 min readRead
Tutorial

How to Compare Two Columns in Excel: 5 Methods (with Formulas)

How to compare two columns in Excel: equality checks, IF flags, COUNTIF matching, conditional formatting highlights, and VLOOKUP reconciliation steps.

7 min readRead
Tutorial

Compound Interest Formula in Excel: FV, Growth, and SIP Examples

Compound interest formula Excel guide: grow savings faster with =FV(rate, nper, pmt), the power-operator method, SIP math, and yearly compounding examples.

7 min readRead
Tutorial

How to Delete Blank Rows in Excel: 4 Safe Methods (with Checks)

How to delete blank rows in Excel safely: Go To Special Blanks, AutoFilter blanks, helper COUNTBLANK flags, and backup checks every analyst must run first.

7 min readRead
Tutorial

Conditional Formatting in Excel: Highlight Rows & Rules

Master conditional formatting in Excel to highlight entire rows based on cell values or formulas. Learn =$A2 locks, SEARCH rules, and key analyst fixes.

5 min readRead
Tutorial

Data Cleaning in Excel: How to Remove Blank Rows, Spaces & Duplicates

Master data cleaning in Excel: learn how to remove blank rows in excel, strip stray spaces with TRIM, fix casing, and delete duplicates safely.

5 min readRead
Tutorial

Excel Formula List: The Top 30 Functions Every Analyst Uses (with Examples)

The complete excel formula list for data analysts: 30 essential functions across Lookups, Math, Logical, Text, and Date categories with syntax and examples.

8 min readRead
Tutorial

Excel Formulas: The Complete Guide for Data Analysts (2026)

Master essential excel formulas in this complete guide: lookup, math, dynamic arrays, text, financial modeling, and 30+ core functions for analysts.

15 min readRead
Tutorial

Excel Formulas Shortcut Keys: The 15 Must-Know Shortcuts for Analysts

Master excel formulas shortcut keys: AutoSum Alt + =, lock references with F4, audit with Ctrl + `, fill with Ctrl + D, and calculate 10x faster.

9 min readRead
Tutorial

Excel Formula vs Function: Key Differences, Formula Bar & Syntax

Understand the difference between an excel formula and a function. Master MS Excel formulas syntax, formula bar auditing, and data cleaning workflows.

5 min readRead
Tutorial

Pivot Table in Excel: The Step-by-Step Data Summarization Guide

Master how to create a pivot table in excel: step-by-step tutorial on Rows, Columns, Values, Filters, Calculated Fields, and fast data summarization.

5 min readRead
Tutorial

VLOOKUP vs XLOOKUP in Excel: When to Use Each (with TRANSPOSE)

VLOOKUP vs XLOOKUP in Excel: compare the vlookup formula in excel against XLOOKUP, avoid column index bugs, and reshape dynamic array spills.

5 min readRead
Tutorial

FILTER Formula in Excel: Dynamic Filtered Lists (with Examples)

FILTER formula in Excel explained: =FILTER(array, include) builds live filtered lists. Multiple criteria, troubleshooting #CALC!, and analyst examples inside.

7 min readRead
Tutorial

How to Hide Columns in Excel: Shortcuts, Grouping, and Best Use

How to hide columns in Excel: right-click Hide, Ctrl+0, grouping outlines for reports, and what hiding does to formulas, printing, and shared workbooks.

7 min readRead
Tutorial

How to Combine Two Columns in Excel: Ampersand, TEXTJOIN, and Flash Fill

Learn how to combine two columns in excel using the ampersand (&), TEXTJOIN, CONCAT, and Flash Fill. Add spaces, format dates, and preserve data.

9 min readRead
Tutorial

How to Freeze Rows in Excel: Top Row, Multiple Rows, and Panes

Learn how to freeze rows in excel: lock the top row, freeze multiple rows, lock rows and columns simultaneously, and use the Alt + W + F + F shortcut.

8 min readRead
Tutorial

How to Remove Duplicates in Excel: Built-in Tools, UNIQUE, and Fixes

Learn how to remove duplicates in excel using the Data tab tool, UNIQUE formula, and Advanced Filter. Step-by-step methods, edge cases, and analyst fixes.

9 min readRead
Tutorial

INDEX MATCH Function in Excel: Flexible Lookups (with Examples)

INDEX MATCH function in Excel explained: =INDEX(return, MATCH(lookup, range, 0)). Left lookups, two-way matches, and XLOOKUP migration tips for analysts.

7 min readRead
Tutorial

How to Insert Checkbox in Excel: Developer Tab + COUNTIF Uses

How to insert checkbox in Excel: enable Developer tab, link cells to TRUE/FALSE, count checked boxes, and build interactive task trackers step by step.

7 min readRead
Tutorial

How to Merge Two Cells in Excel: Merge vs CONCAT vs TEXTJOIN

How to merge two cells in Excel: Merge & Center, the & operator, CONCAT and TEXTJOIN. Keep values safe, fix sorting issues, and choose the right method.

6 min readRead
Tutorial

Percentage Formula in Excel: Growth, Totals, and Changes (with Examples)

Master the percentage formula in excel: calculate percentage of total, percentage change, markup, and discounts with practical formulas and error fixes.

9 min readRead
Tutorial

PMT Formula in Excel: Calculate Loan EMIs and Payments (Examples)

PMT formula in Excel explained: compute EMIs with =PMT(rate, nper, pv). Loan examples, rate conversions, total-interest math, and analyst mistakes to avoid.

7 min readRead
Tutorial

Python for Data Analysis: The Complete Workflow Playbook (2026)

Master python data analysis with this complete playbook: pandas wrangling, exploratory data analysis, statistical cohorts, and production data pipelines.

15 min readRead
Tutorial

RANK Formula in Excel: Rank Sales, Scores, and KPIs (with Examples)

Rank formula in Excel explained: use RANK, RANK.EQ, and RANK.AVG to rank sales, scores, and KPIs. Syntax, examples, ties, and fixes analysts need daily.

8 min readRead
Tutorial

SEQUENCE Formula in Excel: Auto-Numbering and Date Series (Guide)

SEQUENCE formula in Excel explained: =SEQUENCE(rows, columns, start, step) for IDs, date series, and dynamic grids. Spill fixes and analyst examples included.

7 min readRead
Tutorial

SUBTOTAL Formula in Excel: Subtotals That Respect Filters (Guide)

SUBTOTAL formula in Excel explained: function numbers 1–11 vs 101–111, filtered totals that stay correct, and step-by-step analyst examples with fixes.

7 min readRead
Tutorial

SUM Formula in Excel: AutoSum, Ranges, and 3D Sheet Sums (with Examples)

Master the sum formula in excel: learn syntax, AutoSum shortcut Alt + =, multi-range additions, 3D sheet sums, and troubleshooting silent errors.

8 min readRead
Tutorial

Transpose Excel: How to Switch Rows and Columns (Formula & Shortcut)

Learn how to transpose excel data: switch rows to columns using Paste Special Transpose, the dynamic =TRANSPOSE() formula, and Power Query.

8 min readRead
Tutorial

How to Unhide Columns in Excel: 5 Methods (with Shortcuts)

How to unhide columns in Excel: drag headers, right-click Unhide, Ctrl+Shift+0, Go To Special, and fixes for columns that refuse to reappear. Full guide.

7 min readRead
Tutorial

VLOOKUP Formula in Excel: Syntax, Step-by-Step Guide, and Common Fixes

Master the vlookup formula in excel: understand all 4 arguments, build exact lookups, fix #N/A errors, and compare with XLOOKUP and INDEX MATCH.

8 min readRead
Tutorial

XLOOKUP Formula in Excel: Syntax, Examples, and VLOOKUP Migration

XLOOKUP formula in Excel explained: syntax, exact match, reverse lookup, and if_not_found. Real examples plus VLOOKUP migration tips for analysts daily.

7 min readRead
Tutorial

Excel Charts for Analysts: Pick the Right Visual and Use Aggregation Intentionally

Choose the right Excel chart for the message. Learn column, line, pie, and combo visuals — and how Excel aggregates values before plotting.

4 min readRead
Tutorial

Excel for Data Analysts: Interface Tour in 6 Minutes

New to Excel for analytics? Tour the ribbon, grid, formula bar, and file basics that prevent silent errors — and find the right tab in seconds.

6 min readRead
Tutorial

EDA in Python: A Checklist That Catches Silent Data Errors

A step-by-step EDA checklist in Python — data loading, missing values, outliers, and feature engineering — with a downloadable Jupyter notebook.

5 min readRead
Tutorial

Pandas Cheatsheet: The 7 Sections Every Analyst Memorises

The Pandas cheatsheet analysts actually use — inspect, select, filter, handle nulls, sort, groupby, and merge with one-liner patterns.

3 min readRead