Analyse Data like a Super Hero

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In mid May, Anup47 asked a question in the Chandoo.org forums about the use of a VBA macro to run a number of iterations of a variable against two sets of X values, you can see the post here. It turns out that the number of iterations was 500 columns of data with each column having 27 values.

On examination of the problem, it was going to be a straight forward matter of setting up a statistical function Linest and then using the Data Table command to run each set of data through the function.

The Linest will take the input data and return the statistics that Anup wanted.

The Data Table function will feed in the source data and tabulate the Input and Output data.

This Post follows through a worked example which you can follow along, download the Sample file to suit Sample File 97/2003 or Sample File 2007/10 version. The Sample File contains a worked example of the completed model as well as a Practice Page of the original data. Download the Excel 95/2003 or 2007/10 version above.

Please note that the sample file only contains 14 sets of data as opposed to the 500 Anup47 wanted to process.

Setup

There are a few things that needed setting up before the work starts.

  • Headers
  • Linest Area
  • Link Area
  • Data Table Area

Once these areas are setup we simply use the Excel Data Table function.

Once the Data Table function has run, the results can be processed or analysed as required.

Headers

The original data was just that, a tabulation of raw data. The two X sets of Data were in Columns 1 & 2. Each Column from D onwards has a set of Y data that was to be processed.

 

The first thing that was required was some Headers for the Input Data.

This isn’t strictly required but it is good practice and makes it easier to tabulate and analyse results later.

Insert a Row above the first line

Put X1, X2 in A1, B1 and Y1 in D1 and then drag the lower right Black Handle across top to the right and Excel will autofill the remaining cells.

Linest Area

To get the statistics which Anup wanted we will use the Excel Linest function.

Linest is a Statistical Function that takes a set of data and compares it, in this case to two sets of X Values and produces a set of statistical measure relevant to the correlation between the data sets.

This post isn’t going to explain the intricacies of Linest and I refer you to the Links section at the end where you can read more about the Linest function at your leisure.

For our purposes we need to know that Linest is an Array Formula and requires a 5 Row x 5 Column area to be entered into. For now we will just Array Enter the function =Linest($D$2:$D$28,A2:B28,True,  True) into B32:F36.

To do that select the range B32:F36, Press F2 and type/paste the equation in, then Array Enter with Ctrl Shift Enter.


Link Area

To Link the Linest equation to a Data Table we need a link cell, which we will put just above the Linest area.

For now just enter a 1 in it.

We can now go back to the Linest area and link the Linest equation to our link area using the equation, =LINEST(OFFSET($C$2:$C$28,,$B$30),A2:B28,TRUE,  TRUE)

To do that select the range B32:F36, Press F2 and type/paste the equation in, then Array Enter with Ctrl Shift Enter.

What this does is allow the Linest formula to access different columns Y1 to Y500 depending on the value of the Link cell B30 which is now 1.


Data Table Area

To setup a Data Table area we need a column of Inputs which will be the Run Numbers and the Row Inputs will be links to the Input and Output Cells.

In a range J33:J46 put the values 1 to 14. These will be the Run Numbers. ie Run No 1, Run No 2 etc (Green in the example below).

Across the top of the Data Table area we can put a number of links and associated labels (Yellow and Blue)

In this case there are 4 Output links =B31, =C31, =B34 and =B33 and their associated labels above them, as well as 2 Input equations and there Labels. The Input equations are simple Offset function that retrieves a value from Rows 1 or 2 based on the value of the Link Cell B30.

These are technically not required but make data analysis and identification of individual results later on a lot simpler.


Run Data Table

We can now run the data Table by selecting the Data Table area: J32:P46

Noting that we will be using a Column Input cell and that it will link to $B$30, the Link cell for the Linest command.

What this does is takes the first value from the Column J32:J46 and puts it into B30, then the Linest command will be calculated and the results put into the Data Table area along with the Inputs.

This is repeated for each cell in J32:J46 automatically.

The final Data Table is now populated as below:

You can see by extending the Data Table input column from 14 to 500 that the full 500 columns of Input Data could easily be processed.


Results

You now have a set-off data that can be analyzed using normal statistics, Min, Max, Std Deviation etc, or can be fed into a Pivot Table/Chart for analysis etc.


References

Linest References

http://chandoo.org/wp/2011/01/26/trendlines-and-forecasting-in-excel-part-2/

http://newtonexcelbach.wordpress.com/2011/01/19/using-linest-for-non-linear-curve-fitting/

Data Table References

http://chandoo.org/wp/2010/05/06/data-tables-monte-carlo-simulations-in-excel-a-comprehensive-guide/

 

How can the Data Table command help you become a data processing super hero?

How can the Data Table command help you become a data processing super hero?

Let us know in the comments below:

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28 Responses to “2010 Calendar – Excel Template [Downloads]”

  1. [...] Download and print the calendars today. You can add notes to individual dates or complete … [...] Uni Ego / Free 2010 Calendar – Download and Print Year 2010 Calendar today [...]

  2. William says:

    Afternoon,

    I have one similar calander that I added conditional formatting to so that I could highlight any planned factory holidays. I think i "borrowed" the formula from another calander so I won't post it here.

    I also added week numbers to it using the formula =WEEKNUM(MAX(C6:I6)) Where C6:I6 is the range of dates in that give week. It works fine on most of the months but return strange values on other months (Week 6 in October?) I can't see any logic behind why it does this.
    Any suggestions for an alternative formula to give the week numbers?

    Regards,

    William

  3. Miguel says:

    Hi Chandoo,
    I've added a new feature on your spreadsheet.
    This control can be useful for all the sheets where you need to check dates.

    Cheers

    http://cid-69a78592a23a8438.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/.Public/2010-calendar%5E_Miguel.xls

  4. Nimesh says:

    Hi Chandoo,

    Nice calendar.
    Till now whichever calendar I saw in Excel, it contained only the outline sheet.
    Good to see monthly views and the mini view too.
    Liked the mini view much. 🙂

    -Nimesh

  5. Chandoo says:

    @William: This weeknum may be because the input dates to max are not properly formatting as excel dates.

    Good tip on the conditional formatting and holidays btw...

    @Migueal: Now that is super awesome. This is the reason why I love to blog. Readers will always one up me with such cool alternatives. Thank you for sharing this with us.

    @Nimesh: You are welcome 🙂

  6. Shish says:

    is it possible to get the Notes section on the outline page to display the notes added to the month page for a specific date?

    So if you add thing for January 2nd, and then select January 2nd those notes appear on the outline page

  7. Chandoo says:

    @Shish... You can do that using some formula magic. I would not recommend pushing excel to that as outlook / google calendar / icalc etc. do exactly that much more elegantly.

  8. Jörg says:

    Happy christmas to all of you!
    This is really awesome. The nicest calender I've seen for Excel. I also like Miguels version of the sheet.

    Just one "feature" is missing to me. As I live in Germany - where weeks start on Monday - I'd like to change this. Could someone please give me a hint how to do this?

    Thanks in advance

    Jörg

  9. Pedro says:

    Hi Chandoo, I’ve added some new features on your spreadsheet with your permission.

    Check it here:
    http://cid-6b219f16da7128e3.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/.Public/Calendar%5E_Pedro.xlsm

    Miguel, this calendar is translated to Spanish language.

    Jörg, this new approach allows us to start weeks on Monday.

    Also it's possible to start weeks on Sunday if you enable Excel macros and push the arrows.
    Best Regards,
    Pedro.

  10. Chandoo says:

    @Pedro.. superb stuff.. thanks for sharing the file with all of us.

  11. Pedro says:

    Hi Chandoo, for dates before March 1, 1900 our calendars are wrong.
    In Microsoft Excel, DATE, EOMONTH, WEEKDAY functions return an incorrect result between Monday, January 1, 1900 and Wednesday, February 28, 1900.
    See this page: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/214326/en-us/
    Microsoft Excel incorrectly assumes that the year 1900 is a leap year in all Excel versions.
    That's the reason why our calendar versions only work from March, 1, 1900 until December, 31, 9999.
    Your comments are welcome.
    Pedro.

  12. Chandoo says:

    @Pedro.. Thanks for pointing that out. wow... This reminds me of the Joel Spolsky's first BillG review - http://www.joelonsoftware.com/items/2006/06/16.html (read it, I am sure you would love it.) when Bill out of blue asks about date time implementations for VBA (which Joel is the program manager for...)

    Thanks for sharing the URL too... Here is a specially made, chocolate sprinkled, extra fluffy donut for you 🙂

  13. Pedro says:

    Hi Chandoo, thanks a lot for the donut but I prefer it without chocolate!

    Always it's good to know a little history of Excel.
    The Joel Spolsky’s last BillG Excel review was about the "Hall of Tortured Souls"
    (See this Excel 95 Easter Egg here: http://www.eeggs.com/items/719.html)

    Do not miss the humor!

  14. Pedro says:

    @Chandoo.. I just return with a new calendar version.
    http://cid-6b219f16da7128e3.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/.Public/calendar-pedrowave.xltx

    It helped me to practice conditional formatting, formulas to show check boxes, data validation drop down list, find out Thanksgiving Day's date for any year, how to find dates of public holidays using Excel, all reading your wonderful posts!

  15. Pedro says:

    Perpetual Calendar Spanish version starting weeks on Monday:
    http://cid-6b219f16da7128e3.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/.Public/calendario-pedrowave.xltx
    Main characteristics:
    - Not macros.
    - Select a year from 1900 to 9999 with a dropdown listbox.
    - All date fields with the real date format.
    - Easy language change of day of the week and month names because are also dates.
    - Hide Saturdays and/or Sundays.
    - Week starting on Sunday or Monday.
    - Week and month numbers.
    - Hyperlink between sheets.
    - Consistent colors to Holidays, Diary and Events dates.
    - Easy change of Holidays by country.
    - Include 80 World Days and you can add more.
    - A diary with my birthday and 50 more programable appointments.
    - Check box to hide individual dates or all.
    - Holidays, diary and events text are showed on each month's sheet.
    - Ranges defined with Name Manager variables.
    I'll appreciate if you make me some suggestions to improve this calendar.
    Pedro.

  16. Joco1114 says:

    Please, I need help!
    I like all calendar from Pedro, thank you for them. Let me show my problem:

    I have 2 excel cells (for example AE12 and AE13) which mean the starting and the ending date of my duty. I need a macro to insert sheets with label YEAR. MONTH (for example 2010. August or similar) with the proper datas between the two dates. Is it possible?

    Thank you for reading me and sorry about my terribel english! 🙂

  17. Peter says:

    Hello Pedro,

    Thanks so much for the modified calendar template. I love the extra functionality you added. Is there any way you could upload an unlocked version? I wanted to change some of the comments and data validation so I could use it for one of my applications.

    As for feedback on potential improvements, with all the additions you made the file runs pretty slow. I'm sure this has to do with all the interconnectivity between the various tabs, but if there is a way to use less memory via more efficient formulas or something else I think this would make it easier to use. I have a brand new computer and with it running alone the response was pretty slow. One of the changes I'm making is changing the order of the months to match my company's fiscal year, so maybe something to automate a change like that could be useful.

    Cheers,

    Peter

  18. Pedro Wave says:

    Peter, my calendars are unlocked but you need Excel 2007 and 2010 versions to open them.

    Now I return with a new Programmable Task Calendar:
    http://cid-6b219f16da7128e3.office.live.com/view.aspx/.Public/Calendario%20de%20Tareas.xlsx

    Wath an introductory video here:
    http://pedrowave.blogspot.com/2010/10/programmable-task-calendar.html

    This new calendar allows to select the start month to match the school and fiscal year.

  19. ASA says:

    This is great stuff Chandoo and company

    Wanted to know if someone had built something similar

    I need to store one Excel Sheet on this calendar that has all the holidays

    US Holidays appear in RED
    UK Holidays appear in Blue
    Meetings appear in Green
    Submissions appear in Orange

    Is there a way I can store the list in a separate worksheet and all the calendars get updated with this?

    Thanks

  20. divya says:

    please tell me "how to convert Rs.10000/- in to words through excel formula

  21. [...] is all! http://chandoo.org/wp/2009/12/11/2010-calendar-excel-template-downloads/ See more Templates at http://www.vertex42.com/ Share this:Like this:LikeBe the first to like this [...]

  22. Kerisa says:

    Greetings,

    Thanks for this wonderful excel vacation tracker. I notice that the tracker only has three months November, December and January 2015, however, I would like to add the other ten months for 2014. Can you please instruct me on how I can add the other months?
    Thanking you in advance.

  23. kanu bhatia says:

    Hi Chandoo,
    Calendar: can this be printed as single sheet 8.5x11 inch per month
    kanu

  24. Rahul says:

    WOW! I just searching some of like this, that help me.
    Thank you for sharing.

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