Excel can be tiring if you have too much data to understand and analyze. Also, consolidating data from multiple sources is a quite wanted skill. You can combine as different worksheets or workbooks. And if you do not know the formula, it can be a time-consuming task. So, you can start learning different methods on how to consolidate data in excel.
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Why Consolidate Data in Excel? What does it mean to consolidate data in Excel?
Excel is one of the most widely used spreadsheet programs. And we know its powerful data analysis and management features. You can professionally store and organize data. But when the volume of data grows, managing it can become challenging. Consolidating data can be a key to understand it. It also helps to eliminate duplicate data and errors at one shot tough.
How to Consolidate Data in Excel? how to consolidate sheets in excel
Excel provides several ways for excel data consolidate function depending on your needs.
- Each source sheet’s range of data must be in list format with no blank rows or columns for consolidation by position to function.
- Also you should put your data is in the same location on every source sheet.
- To display the aggregated data, you will pick the cell in the upper-left section of your target sheet.
Now, you will select Consolidate under Data. - Next move is choosing the function you want Excel to use to combine the data in the Function box.
- Again, you should choose your data from each source sheet to make all references have the file path.
- Lastly, you click OK after adding the data from each workbook and source sheet.
Consolidate Data by Position
One way to Consolidate Data in Excel is by position. This method is useful when your data is organized in the same way across multiple worksheets or workbooks.
- You will open the workbook that contains the worksheets.
- Then, you click on the cell where you want to consolidate.
- Now, you go to Data tab and click on Consolidate.
- In the Function field, you will select the function you want to apply to the data. For example, SUM or AVERAGE.
- In the Reference field, you must select the range of cells. You can select the range manually or use the Browse button to select it from another workbook.
- And basically click on Add to add another group of cells.
- And then, you will repeat steps 4-6 until you have added all the ranges.
- Again you click OK to consolidate the data.
Consolidate Data by Category
Another way to consolidate data is by category. This method is useful when your data is organized differently across multiple worksheets or workbooks. Follow the steps below to consolidate data by category:
- First, you should open the workbook containing the relevant worksheets. Then, you can select the cell where you wish to place the consolidated data. Next, you will go to Data tab and choose the Consolidate option. In the Function field, you will specify the desired function. Subsequently, you select the range of cells containing the category labels.
- Here what is important is ensuring Top row and Left column checkboxes are select. You can add each range of cells you want to consolidate by clicking Add. Finally, you will click OK to complete process.
Data with PivotTables
PivotTables are quite good for consolidating and analyzing data in Excel. Because they can summarize and analyze large data quickly than any human being.
- Like above steps, this time you select cells you want to include in the PivotTable.
- When inserting, this time you choose PivotTable.
- In the Create PivotTable box, you will select New Worksheet.
- Now, you can drag the fields you want to include in the PivotTable to the Rows and Columns areas.
- Again now, you will frag the field you want to summarize to the Values area.
- Lastly, you will click on OK to create the PivotTable.
Data with Power Query;: Data Consolidation Function
Power Query is another good data connection and transformation tool in Excel. It can consolidate data from multiple sources, transform it as needed and load it into a single worksheet or table. For achieve it, you can follow the steps below to consolidate data with Power Query:
- After opening data for consolidation, you will go to Data tab and click on From Table/Range.
- In Power Query Editor, you can click on Append Queries under Home tab.
- Now, you select the tables you want to append and click OK.
- Last step is clicking Close & Load to consolidate your different data.
Tips and Tricks: how to consolidate worksheets in excel
- First things first, you should organize your data before consolidating. You can believe us, everything will be easier.
- Also, it is critical to use descriptive labels and headers to avoid confusion during consolidation.
- As an advanced tip, you can use data validation and formatting to ensure consistency across multiple worksheets.
- You can use Excel’s Find and Replace feature to correct errors or inconsistencies.
- Lastly, you should always save your consolidated data as a separate worksheet or file . So that, you can avoid overwriting the original data.
excel data consolidate function
So, consolidating data in Excel is a multifaceted tool for managing large datasets. With the different methods here, you can choose the one for your data analysis. But no matter what you do, you should remember to organize your data, use descriptive labels and headers. After that, you should save your consolidated data as a separate file. If you learn these steps, you can get better at data management process.
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