Hi Nicky, great to see you again. I have an important question I need to ask. >> Hi, Prashan. What is that? >> So over the last few weeks, we have added all these calculations and Named Ranges. But now, let's say, I add another transaction at the bottom of the data. I don't want to have to manually update all the Named Ranges and copy down the formulas. Are we going to look at a way of automating this? >> That is exactly the right question. And I'm sure a lot of our learners are wondering the same thing. For efficiency and correctness, this process definitely needs to be automated. Now, some organizations will use macros to do this, but macros come with their own problems. So we're going to look at a far superior and simpler solution called a table. And that's what this week is all about. >> Tables are one of my favorite features in Excel, but the name may be a bit confusing to people who haven't used them before, because a spreadsheet looks a lot like a table with columns rows and cells. So how would you explain the difference? >> Well, although Excel provides a grid layout for us to work in, this is called a range. It's not structured way of storing data. We can put any information anywhere, and they do not need to be related in any way. When we talk about a table in Excel, we mean more like a database table, which contains a set of related information, like all our HR data. >> In other words, each column in a table holds one type of information, like the employee ID, and each row represents one record. For example, all the information about one particular staff member. >> Yeah, that's exactly right. >> The problem with databases is they can be quite complex to work with. Are we going to find tables as complex? >> Actually, quite the opposite, one of the reasons we work with tables in Excel is they make it much easier to work with our data. >> Can you just give us some examples? >> Well, you'll see this in the practice videos. Tables are very easy to create. And once your data is in a table, it becomes much easier to format, select, and even sort and filter. They also offer the opportunity to add a total row where you literally put a row at the bottom. You can just, from a drop-down, pick the operation you want, and it will do the calculation for you. So it's really cool. >> And can you perform calculations with data in tables, like you would in a normal range? >> Yeah, I mean, a table, you can continue to work with your data in a table exactly as you would in a normal range. But you will find the formulas do look slightly different, because tables use yet another form of referencing calleds "structured referencing". >> Are structured references a bit like named ranges? >> Yeah, conceptually, they're very similar, but they use square brackets. So they look a little bit different, and they aren't absolute like Named Ranges. Structured references refer to a single cell in a table are relative, and structured references that refer to entire column are more like mixed. They remain absolute when you drag your form is down, but they're relative if you drag across. >> So tables are a good idea for storing and working with structured data. But coming back to my original question, how are they going to solve our automation needs? >> Well, that's the best bit. When you add data directly underneath or to the right of a table, it automatically extends or grows to include that new data, and all your formulas, your formatting, your data validation, even your conditional formatting extend with it. And of course, so do your Named Ranges. >> So that means a table basically behaves like a dynamic Named Range, and that any calculations referring to those Named Ranges will automatically pick up the new values. >> Exactly. And it works for charts too. So as you add or remove data from the table, any charts looking at that data automatically adjust. So the simple step of converting your data to a table totally automate your workbooks. So tables are really important when you start working with pivot tables, for example. And we look at those in the next course. And when you get into more advanced topics, like Power Pivot, then you're really going to need to use tables. >> Really powerful stuff. I'm sure our learners can't wait to get started. We have five great videos for you this week that will cover the following topics, creating, naming and removing tables, formatting and selecting in tables, sorting and filtering tables, performing calculations with structured references, and then automating processes with tables. Don't forget to download this week's workbooks, so you can practice the skills as you go. We've got the usual quizzes for you to test your skills and another great practice challenge. Have fun with it. And now, it's over to you.