Many Excel tools are optional extras, but these six are essentials I rely on in every workbook.

Excel used to be the poor schmuck’s database, with spreadsheets that just sort of sat there. You could create something more sophisticated with LOOKUP functions, but they were a huge hassle to set up.

Excel’s Data Model feature allows you to build relationships between data sets for easier reporting. Here’s how to use it to make data analysis easier. We may earn from vendors via affiliate links or ...