Filters are a convenient and reliable solution for locating and managing data in a spreadsheet. You can use AutoFilter to filter data in Excel 2007. It will allow you to display only data that meets certain criteria. Filtered data can be copied, adapted, and printed without having to move it to a new worksheet. The automatic filter will help you filter data, by selecting certain criteria from a list, by numeric values or by color.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Use a filter
Step 1. Open the worksheet that contains the data to be filtered
Step 2. Prepare your data for the Excel 2007 AutoFilter
Excel filters the data of all selected cells in a range, as long as that selection does not contain any blank cells or columns. If the filter encounters a blank column or cell, it will be terminated. If the data in the range you want to filter is separated by a blank column or cell, remove it before running the autofilter.
- However, if the document contains data that you do not want to include in the filtering, separate that data with a blank cell or column. If the data that you do not want to include in the filtering is under the data to filter, use at least one blank row to delimit the range to filter. If the data that you do not want to include in the filtering is to the right of the data to be filtered, use a blank column.
- It is also recommended to use headers for the columns included in the range of data to be filtered.
Step 3. Click any cell in the range you want to filter
Step 4. Click the Data tab of the Microsoft Excel ribbon
Step 5. Then click Filter in the Sort & Filter group
The arrow of a drop-down menu will appear at the top of each column. If the columns have headers, these arrows will appear next to them.
Step 6. Click on the arrow of the column containing the data to be filtered to make your choices
You can do the following (either one).
- Filter the data according to criteria, then uncheck the box Select all. All other boxes will also be unchecked. Click the boxes of the criteria you want to include in your filtering. Click on OK to filter the range based on the selected criteria.
- Apply a digital filter, then click on Digital filters and click on the comparison criteria you want to apply. The Custom AutoFilter dialog box then appears. To the right of the comparison operation, choose the desired number from the drop-down menu or enter the desired value. To apply a numeric filter with more than one comparison, click either on the radio button And to indicate that the two conditions must be satisfied, either on the radio button Or in which case at least one of the conditions must be satisfied. Then choose the second comparison operation and select or enter the desired value in the field to the right. Click on OK to apply this numeric filter to the range.
- To filter data by color, click Filter by color. Click on the desired color in the list that appears. The data will then be filtered by color.
Method 2 of 2: Remove a filter
Step 1. Click the arrow to bring up the drop-down menu in the range that contains the filter
Then click on Clear the column header filter to remove the single column filter.
Step 2. Click the Data tab of the Microsoft Excel ribbon
Then click on Wipe off to remove all filters.
Advice
- When you define filters, you can also organize the data as you want. You can either sort the data in ascending alphanumeric order by clicking on Sort from A to Z, or in descending alphanumeric order by clicking on Sort from Z to A. You can also sort the data by color.
- To update the results of the data filtering, click on the tab Data the Microsoft Excel ribbon and click Reapply.