# Excel: Tell me what I can do with this information **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 22, 2004, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-tell-me-what-i-can-do-with-this-information/251637 "2004-06-22T15:12:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2004, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-tell-me-what-i-can-do-with-this-information/251637/1 "2004-06-22T15:12:09Z")
For the last 2 months I have been tracking the statistics for my fantasy baseball league each week. I have a separate file for each week, so I can see who is making advances week-to-week, and who is doing worse. But I think that I’m underutilizing the powers of Excel by creating separate files, so I compiled all the info into one file, with each week on a separate worksheet. What do I do now? There has to be some sort of nifty graph that’s easy to create using information across several worksheets, no? Oh, a problem I see is the fact that some players don’t make the cut week to week. For instance, when I rank by name, some players that just didn’t have enough stats to warrant being copied weren’t included, when maybe they’re included in a different week. Is that a problem? ---
**Author:** ![Kings\_Gambit1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dc4da7/32.png) [@Kings\_Gambit1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kings_Gambit1)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2004, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-tell-me-what-i-can-do-with-this-information/251637/2 "2004-06-22T15:23:29Z")
Three words: [Pivot Table Report](http://office.microsoft.com/assistance/preview.aspx?AssetID=HA010346321033&CTT=3&Origin=HP051995561033) Learn it. Know it. Love it. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2004, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-tell-me-what-i-can-do-with-this-information/251637/3 "2004-06-22T15:55:58Z")
I’m going to need all my data on one worksheet for that then, aren’t I? ---
**Author:** ![Kings\_Gambit1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dc4da7/32.png) [@Kings\_Gambit1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kings_Gambit1)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2004, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-tell-me-what-i-can-do-with-this-information/251637/4 "2004-06-22T16:04:30Z")
Yes, but it’s very easy to combine and summarize data from several different Excel lists. Just make sure the lists have matching row and column names for items you want to summarize together. Pivot Tables (and Pivot Charts) are so awesome. You can work magic with them. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2004, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-tell-me-what-i-can-do-with-this-information/251637/5 "2004-06-22T16:32:47Z")
Still having problems. Let’s see if you can help me out. Let’s say I have consolidated the (simplified) info into the following: ```auto NAME DATE TOTAL Adams 5-1 20 Adams 5-8 50 Adams 5-20 100 Clark 5-8 35 Deano 5-1 15 Deano 5-8 30 Deano 5-13 45 Deano 5-20 60 Smith 5-13 25 Smith 5-20 100 ``` Two problems that I have: 1. I’m not supposed to use formulas, but TOTAL is a formula. But without it, this exercise is pointless (each category is worth a certain number of points). 2. The totals are cumulative. Totals from 5-13 are included in totals for 5-20. The PivotTable wants to add them together (giving Smith 125). Thanks for your help so far, K\_G.