Getting data from sources in Excel - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What is the purpose of the Get & Transform Data feature in Excel?

It helps you import, clean, and reshape data from different sources like files, databases, or web pages before using it in your spreadsheet.

beginner

Name two common file types you can import data from into Excel.

You can import data from CSV (Comma Separated Values) files and Excel workbooks (.xlsx).

beginner

What does the Data > From Web option do in Excel?

It lets you pull data directly from a web page into your spreadsheet, useful for tables or lists published online.

intermediate

Explain what a query is in the context of Excel's data import.

A query is a set of instructions that tells Excel how to get and transform data from a source before loading it into your sheet.

beginner

Why is it useful to refresh imported data in Excel?

Refreshing updates your spreadsheet with the latest data from the source without re-importing everything manually.

Which Excel tab contains the options to import data from external sources?

A Review

B Home

C Insert

D Data

The Data tab has all the tools for importing and managing external data.

What file format is best for importing simple text data separated by commas?

A .xlsx

B .pptx

C .csv

D .docx

CSV files store data as plain text separated by commas, making them easy to import.

Which feature allows you to clean and reshape data during import?

A Get & Transform (Power Query)

B Pivot Tables

C Conditional Formatting

D Data Validation

Get & Transform (Power Query) lets you prepare data while importing.

If you want to update your spreadsheet with new data from the same source, what should you do?

A Use the Refresh button

B Re-import the data manually

C Copy and paste new data

D Close and reopen Excel

Refreshing updates the data automatically without re-importing.

Which data source can Excel NOT import directly using built-in options?

A Web pages

B PDF files

C SQL databases

D Plain text files

Excel does not directly import PDF files without extra tools or add-ins.

Describe the steps to import data from a CSV file into Excel and prepare it for analysis.

Think about how you find the file and what happens before data appears in your sheet.

Explain why refreshing imported data is important and how it helps keep your spreadsheet up to date.

Consider what happens if your source data changes after you import it.