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Quick Analysis is one of the best features of Excel that you are not using

If you haven't already, you really should consider upgrading to the latest version of Microsoft Office. I know we discussed earlier that Office 2016 wasn't worth it. Don't buy Office 2016! Here's why you don't need it Don't buy Office 2016! Why don't you need it? Should you buy the standalone suite version of Office 2016? We make our case for why we think you shouldn't and show you what you can do instead. Read More

In fact, there are many reasons why upgrading is a good idea. 13+ Reasons Why You Should Upgrade To Microsoft Office 2016 13+ Reasons Why You Should Upgrade To Microsoft Office 2016 Microsoft Office 2016 is here and it's time for you to make a decision. The productivity question is:should I upgrade? We bring you the new features and the new reasons to help you... Read More productivity Microsoft Office 2016 Get new features all the time. They are available first to Office Insiders and Office 365 subscribers. We show you the best new features in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook and how... Read More Among those new features is the Quick Scan Function - which I fell in love with the first time I used it.

Quick Analysis is one of the best features of Excel that you are not using

Using the quick scan feature is very simple. Open a spreadsheet containing data, select a group of cells, then click the icon that appears in the lower right corner of your selection (this is the Quick Analysis button). When you click, you will see several possible types of analysis.

The five main categories are:

  • Formatting
  • Letters
  • Totals
  • Tables
  • Sparklines

For example, in the Format category you can hover over Data Bars to preview all number cells filled proportionally by data value. In the Totals category you can exceed Sum to see the summed value of all columns in your selection. If you want the preview to become real, click instead of scrolling.

I first discovered Quick Analysis when I was tracking the nutritional information of everything I ate, and the Sum function was very useful for quickly summarizing and previewing the amount of food for a day without having to use permanent equations and functions.

You can also use Quick Analysis to preview and make graphs and charts in the blink of an eye. It doesn't get more productive than that! Along those lines, we also recommend checking out these other must-have Excel tips 8 Tips to Learn Excel Fast 8 Tips to Learn Excel Fast Not as comfortable with Excel as you'd like? Get started with simple tips for adding formulas and managing data. Follow this guide and you'll be up to speed in no time. Read more.

Have you used the quick scan feature before? If so, what do you use it for? If not, are you going to use it now? How useful does that sound? Share your thoughts with us below!