How to Create a One-Variable Data Table in Excel 2013
When creating a one-variable data table in Excel 2013, you designate one cell in the worksheet that serves either as the Row Input Cell (if you’ve entered the series of possible values across columns of a single row) or as the Column Input Cell (if you’ve entered the series of possible values down the rows of a single column).
Below you see a 2014 sales projections spreadsheet for which a one-variable data table is to be created. In this worksheet, the projected sales amount in cell B5 is calculated by adding last year’s sales total in cell B2 to the amount that it is expected to grow in 2014 (calculated by multiplying last year’s total in cell B2 by the growth percentage in cell B3), giving you the formula
=B2+(B2*B3)
Because the Create From Selection command button is clicked on the Ribbon’s Formulas tab after making A2:B5 the selection and accepted the Left Column check box default, the formula uses the row headings in column A and reads:
=Sales_2013+(Sales_2013*Growth_2014)
As you can see below, a column was entered of possible growth rates ranging from 1% all the way to 5.5% down column B in the range B8:B17. To create the one-variable data table that plugs each of these values into the sales growth formula, follow these simple steps:
Copy the original formula entered in cell B5 into cell C7 by typing = (equal to) and then clicking cell B5 to create the formula =Projected_Sales_2014.
The copy of the original formula (to substitute the series of different growth rates in B8:B17 into) is now the column heading for the one-variable data table.
Select the cell range B7:C17.
The range of the data table includes the formula along with the various growth rates.
Click Data→What-If Analysis→Data Table on the Ribbon.
Excel opens the Data Table dialog box.
Click the Column Input Cell text box in the Data Table dialog box and then click cell B3, the Growth_2014 cell with the original percentage, in the worksheet.
Excel inserts the absolute cell address, $B$3, into the Column Input Cell text box.
Click OK to close the Data Table dialog box.
As soon as you click OK, Excel creates the data table in the range C8:C17 by entering a formula using its TABLE function into this range. Each copy of this formula in the data table uses the growth rate percentage in the same row in column B to determine the possible outcome.
Click cell C7, then click the Format Painter command button in the Clipboard group on the Home tab and drag through the cell range C8:C17.
Excel copies the Accounting number format to the range of possible outcomes calculated by this data table.
A couple of important things to note about the one-variable data table created in this spreadsheet:
If you modify any growth-rate percentages in the cell range B8:B17, Excel immediately updates the associated projected sales result in the data table. To prevent Excel from updating the data table until you click the Calculate Now (F9) or Calculate Sheet command button (Shift+F9) on the Formulas tab, click the Calculation Options button on the Formulas tab and then click the Automatic Except for Data Tables option (Alt+MXE).
If you try to delete any single TABLE formula in the cell range C8:C17, Excel displays a Cannot Change Part of a Data Table alert. You must select the entire range of formulas (C8:C17 in this case) before you press Delete or click the Clear or Delete button on the Home tab.

Excel Glossary
active cell
The worksheet cell that contains the cell cursor. Each worksheet can have only one active cell.

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A feature that looks at the entries that you make in a worksheet column and automatically duplicates them in subsequent rows whenever you start a new entry that begins with the same letter or letters as an existing entry in that column.

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AutoCorrect
A feature that alerts Excel 2007 to common typing errors and your own typing errors (that you specify) and tells the program how it should automatically fix them for you.

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AutoFill
An Excel 2007 feature that quickly creates a series of entries based on the data you enter in one or two cells. AutoFill works with days of the week, months of the year, yearly quarters; consecutive series of numbers; and formulas. You also can add your own custom AutoFill series.

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cell
The intersection of a column and row in the worksheet.

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cell address
The cell identifier, determined by its column letter(s) followed by the row number, as in cell A1, the very first cell of each worksheet at the intersection of column A and row 1.

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cell cursor
The black border that surrounds the active cell in a worksheet.

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clip art
Readymade drawings, illustrations, and photos offered by Microsoft for use in Microsoft Office applications.

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Compatibility Checker
A utility in Excel 2007 and 2010 that you use to find potential compatibility issues if you plan to save an Excel workbook file in the older Excel 97–2003 file format.

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current cell
The worksheet cell that contains the cell cursor. Each worksheet can have only one current cell.

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data table
A range of cells in a worksheet in which you enter a series of possible values that Excel plugs into a formula so you can perform what-if analysis on the data.

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dialog box
A rectangular window with settings and commands that appears when you click a dialog box launcher or certain other commands on the Ribbon.

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dialog box launcher
A small icon in the lower-right corner of a group of command buttons on the Ribbon that you click to access a dialog box with additional related settings and commands.

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function
A part of a formula that takes a number of specific arguments and then returns a single value based on those arguments.

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gallery
A drop-down list of thumbnail selections that appears when you click certain command buttons on the Ribbon.

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group
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hyperlink
Specially formatted text that anyone can click to jump to Web sites, move to other cells or workbooks, or create an e-mail message.

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keyboard shortcuts
A combination of keys that you can press to execute certain commands, as opposed to finding and clicking the commands' buttons on the Ribbon or elsewhere.

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A feature in Excel 2007 that enables you to point to thumbnails on a drop-down gallery to see how a new font, font size, table style, or cell style would look on your selected data before you actually apply it.

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macro
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The left-most section of the Formula bar that displays the address or name of the current cell.

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Ribbon
A new feature of the Excel 2007 interface that replaces the menus and toolbars of previous versions; appears at the top of the Excel window, just below the title bar.

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A small window that displays descriptive text when you point to but don't click a command on the Ribbon or other objects in a worksheet.

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Small tabs near the bottom of a worksheet that you click to move between the worksheets in a workbook. You can assign descriptive names to sheet tabs.

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A type of graphic object in Excel 2007 that gives you the ability to quickly and easily construct graphical lists and diagrams in the worksheet.

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sparklines
Tiny graphs (miniature charts) that fit within a single cell in the worksheet, used to show basic trends in data.

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Status bar
A horizontal bar that appears at the bottom of the Excel 2007 window and keeps you informed of Excel's current mode. In addition, you can use the Status bar to select a new worksheet view and to zoom in and out on the worksheet.

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tabs
The various "pages" of Excel 2007's Ribbon interface that you click to display command buttons relating to the tab's name, such as Page Layout and Formulas.

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A pre-designed worksheet that can be used as a basis for creating new worksheets.

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Stylized text objects that you use to add pizzazz and emphasis to headings and other text in Excel 2007 worksheets.

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workbook
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worksheet
The main document that you work in when you enter data into cells within Excel 2007. A worksheet is stored in a workbook file.

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The portion of an Excel 2007 worksheet in which you enter cell data and add objects such as charts and graphics.

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An object on the Status bar in Excel 2007 that enables you to increase the magnification in a worksheet or shrink it down to get an overall picture of the worksheet data.