As PCMag's resident data journalist, I practically live in Microsoft Excel. I've learned that it's capable of far more than I ...

PivotTables are great for quick analysis, but they break down when you rely on them for serious reporting workflows.

To create a pivot table, check that all the columns and rows are titled the way they should be, and then select PivotTable on the Insert tab. Better yet, try the Recommended PivotTables option to see ...

Calculate data values - Get actual, target, and performance metrics Normalize to pixel coordinates - Scale values to fit SVG canvas Apply conditional logic - Determine colors based on performance ...