How to create and use one-input data tables in Microsoft Excel

How to organize the input values in a column

1. Create a new workbook.
2. In cells B3:B6, type the following data:

        Cell       Value
        ----------------
        B3           10
        B4           13
        B5           14
        B6           19
   						

   These values are the variables that Excel will substitute into the formulas.
3. In cell C2, type the following formula:
   =B1+2
   NOTE: In this formula, B1 is the column-input cell. This column-input cell represents the variable value in the formula. This cell must be located outside the table (it may or may not contain data). Because this table is set up in cells B2:E6, and B1 is outside the table, B1 is a valid column-input cell.
4. In cell D2, type the following formula:
   =B1*2
5. In cell E2, type the following formula:
   =INT(B1/2)
6. Select cells B2:E6.
7. On the Data menu, click Table.
8. In the Column Input Cell box, type B1. Because this is a one input table, leave the Row Input Cell box blank.

One-Input table with input values in a column (with formulas displayed)
=======================================================================

      | A |  B  |    C         |     D        |      E
   ---|---|-----|--------------|--------------|-----------
    1 |   |     |              |              |
    2 |   |     |=B1+2         |=B1*2         |=INT(B1/2)
    3 |   |   10|{=TABLE(,B1)} |{=TABLE(,B1)} |{=TABLE(,B1)}
    4 |   |   13|{=TABLE(,B1)} |{=TABLE(,B1)} |{=TABLE(,B1)}
    5 |   |   14|{=TABLE(,B1)} |{=TABLE(,B1)} |{=TABLE(,B1)}
    6 |   |   19|{=TABLE(,B1)} |{=TABLE(,B1)} |{=TABLE(,B1)}


One-Input table with input values in a column (with values displayed)
=====================================================================

      | A | B |  C  |  D |   E
   ---|---|---|-----|----|--------
    1 |   |   |     |    |
    2 |   |   |#+2  |#*2 |INT(#/2)
    3 |   | 10|   12|20  |       5
    4 |   | 13|   15|26  |       6
    5 |   | 14|   16|28  |       7
    6 |   | 19|   21|38  |       9
				

1. Select cell C2.
2. On the Format menu, click Cells.
3. Click the Number tab.
4. In the Category list, click Custom.
5. In the Type box , type "#+2" (with the quotation marks).
6. Click OK.
7. Repeat steps 1-6, but select cells D2 and E2 in step 1, and enter the formats as "#*2" and "INT(#/2)" respectively (including the quotation marks).

How to organize the input values in a row

1. In cells C9:F9, type the following data:

        Cell       Value
        ----------------
        C9         19.95
        D9         20.98
        E9         13.50
        F9         10
   						

   These values are the variables that Excel will substitute into the formulas.
2. In cell B10, type the following formula:
   =A10*7.8%
   NOTE: In this formula, A10 is the row-input cell. The row-input cell represents the variable value in the formula and must be located in a cell outside the table. This cell may or may not contain data. Because this table is set up in cells B9:F11, and A10 is outside the table, A10 is a valid row-input cell.
3. In cell B11, type the following formula:
   =A10+A10*7.8%
4. Select cells B9:F11.
5. On the Data menu, click Table.
6. In the Row Input Cell box, type A10. Because this is a one-input table, leave the Column Input Cell box blank.

One-Input table with row input cell (with formulas displayed):
==============================================================

   | A |     B       |      C        |     D        |     E        |    F
---|---|-------------|---------------|--------------|--------------|-----------
   |   |             |               |              |              |
 9 |   |             |        19.95  |       20.98  |        13.5  |         10
 10|   |=A10*7.8%    |{=TABLE(A10,)} |{=TABLE(A10,)}|{=TABLE(A10,)}|{=TABLE(A10,)}
 11|   |=A10+A10*7.8% |{=TABLE(A10,)} |{=TABLE(A10,)}|{=TABLE(A10,)}|{=TABLE(A10,)}


One-Input table with row input cell (with values displayed):
============================================================

      | A |   B  |   C  |   D  |   E  |   F
   ---|---|------|------|------|------|-----
      |   |      |      |      |      |
    9 |   |      |19.95 |20.98 |13.50 |10.00
    10|   |Tax   | 1.56 | 1.64 | 1.05 | 0.78
    11|   |Total |21.51 |22.62 |14.55 |10.78
				

1. Select cell B10.
2. On the Format menu, click Cells.
3. Click the Number tab.
4. In the Category list, click Custom.
5. In the Type list, type "Tax" (with the quotation marks).
6. Click OK.
7. Repeat steps 1-6, but select cell B11 in step 1, and type the format as "Total" (with the quotation marks).