BENEFITS of using an Excel Table Vs.

a Normal Range
# Topic Explanation Benefits Notes
1 Dynamic • When you add new rows or columns, they • Useful for writing formulas such as VLOOKUP. No need to change • No need to use the complicated OFFSET
Ranges automatically get included into the range called the cell references to the "lookup table" if you added more data to function to create the effect of a dynamic
"Table1" or whatever name you gave it. The same is the "lookup table." range.
true if you delete rows or columns. • Useful for creating Pivot Tables. No need to change the data
source ever again. When new rows get added to the table, they will
automatically be included in the data source for the Pivot Table.
IMPORTANT: don't forget to right-click on the Pivot Table and click
"refresh" to actually show the newest data.

2 Calculated • When you enter a formula into the first row of a • No need to copy and paste the formulas all the way down when • Can easily create default values by
Columns table, it automatically copies that formula all the way adding new rows to the table. simply using a calculated column of
down to the bottom of the table. Every new cell in that ="defaultvalue" since every new row will
column automatically has that formula since it is now a automatically start with that value.
"calculated column." • Excel will alert the user when a cell
NOTE: This automatic step of creating a "calculated contains a different formula than the rest
column" may not work if that column has some data in in the column (good for error checking).
it.

3 Improved • Tables look cleaner, more organized, and more • Improved readability of data by using built-in feature of "banded • Can change the entire style of a table
Formatting professional because they apply consistent and easy to Rows" to alternate row colors. with a single click.
change formatting throughout the entire table.

4 Descriptive • "Battleship Syntax" (A1, B12, G6, etc.) tells the user • Easier time understanding formulas while writing them out, and
& Intuitive NOTHING about the meaning behind those cells. while looking at them later.
Syntax However, "Table Syntax" includes names like • As you start typing a reference using "Table Syntax," you can press
Tbl_Transactions for the entire table, [Tax] for the TAB to Autocomplete the rest of the reference, saving time and
entire Tax column, and [@Tax] for THIS ROW of the Tax improving accuracy.
column. • "Table Syntax" is dynamic, and will not change even when the
location of the table changes. Incredibly beneficial when referencing
cells, and when using VBA to reference cells.

5 Head Start • Every table comes with built-in options for filtering, • Super quick analysis, as well as the ability to find what you're • Filtering and sorting within a table is
for Basic sorting, and totals. looking for in order to make a change. dynamic. When you add new rows or
Analysis columns, they are automatically
INCLUDED in the filtering and sorting (not
necessarily the case with standard ranges
of data).
 DRAWBACKS of using an Excel Table Vs. a Normal Range
# Topic Explanation Drawback Notes
1 Limited • Excel Tables can link to external data from an SQL • If you need to import a CSV file into Excel you CANNOT use an
Linking to Server or an XML file, but NOT from a standard CSV text Excel Table.
External file.
Data
2 Column • When it comes to column widths, Excel does a better • When creating a Table, all existing column widths are lost.
Width job with normal ranges of data than it does with Excel BEST PRACTICE: is to create a Table first, and THEN change column
Limitations Tables. widths

• When re-arranging the order of columns, column widths will likely

be impacted, with no built-in solution readily available.
WORKAROUND: create a new worksheet, copy and paste special the
table's column widths into the new worksheet. Then, make the
changes to the columns of the Table as needed. Finally, copy and
paste special the column widths from the new worksheet back into
the table.

3 No • Subtotals cannot be used with Excel Tables. • Excel's built-in "Subtotal" feature ("Data" tab on Ribbon --> • Workaround: Use an Excel Table, then
Subtotals "Subtotal" button) cannot be used with a Table. create a Pivot Table to show subtotals
(the default setting of Pivot Tables is to
• Manual subtotals should NOT be used within an Excel table (even show subtotals for each field).
though technically it is possible), since Excel treats each row of the
table as an instance of data within the table (not as summary
information about the above data).