Filtering data is a crucial task in Excel, especially when dealing with large volumes of information. There are various ways to filter data in Excel, including using the basic filter, advanced filter, and auto filter. In this article, we will discuss how to use these filters in Excel, along with some common questions and answers.
Using the Basic Filter
The basic filter in Excel allows you to filter data by selecting specific values or ranges. Here’s how to use the basic filter:
- Select the data range that you want to filter.
- Go to the “Data” tab in the ribbon menu.
- Click on the “Filter” button. This will add filter dropdowns to the header row of each column in your data range.
- Click on the filter dropdown for the column you want to filter.
- Select the values or range that you want to include or exclude, and click “OK”.
You can also use the basic filter to sort data in ascending or descending order. To do this, click on the filter dropdown for the column you want to sort, and select “Sort A to Z” for ascending order or “Sort Z to A” for descending order.
Using the Advanced Filter
The advanced filter in Excel is a more powerful filtering tool that allows you to filter data based on multiple criteria. Here’s how to use the advanced filter:
- Create a criteria range in your worksheet that specifies the criteria you want to use for filtering. The criteria range should have the same headers as your data range, and the criteria should be listed below the headers.
- Select the data range that you want to filter.
- Go to the “Data” tab in the ribbon menu.
- Click on the “Advanced” button in the “Sort & Filter” group. This will open the “Advanced Filter” dialog box.
- Select the “Copy to another location” option, and specify the destination cell where you want to copy the filtered data.
- Select the range that contains the criteria range you created in step 1.
- Click “OK”.
The advanced filter will filter your data based on the criteria you specified, and copy the filtered results to the destination cell you selected.
Using the Auto Filter
The auto filter in Excel is a quick way to filter data based on one or more criteria. Here’s how to use the auto filter:
- Select the data range that you want to filter.
- Go to the “Data” tab in the ribbon menu.
- Click on the “Filter” button. This will add filter dropdowns to the header row of each column in your data range.
- Click on the filter dropdown for the column you want to filter.
- Select the criteria you want to use for filtering. You can select multiple criteria by checking multiple checkboxes.
- Click “OK”.
The auto filter will filter your data based on the criteria you selected.
FAQ
Q: How do I clear a filter in Excel?
A: To clear a filter in Excel, go to the “Data” tab in the ribbon menu, and click on the “Clear” button in the “Sort & Filter” group. This will clear all filters in your worksheet.
Q: How do I use wildcards in a filter criteria in Excel?
A: You can use wildcards in a filter criteria in Excel by using the following characters:
- “*” – to represent zero or more characters
- “?” – to represent a single character
For example, if you want to filter all cells that contain “apple” or “application”, you can use the criteria “app*”. This will match both “apple” and “application”.
Video Tutorial
Check out this video tutorial on how to use filters in Excel: