How to Use the DB Function in Excel

Excel and Google Sheets are powerful tools for database management, providing comprehensive capabilities for sorting, filtering, and data manipulation. This guide will delve into how to utilize these functionalities in both Excel and Google Sheets to effectively handle databases.

Sort and Filter Data

Sorting and filtering data is a fundamental operation when managing databases to locate specific information or to organize data systematically.

In Excel, the SORT function can be applied as follows:

=SORT(A2:B10, 2, TRUE)

This formula sorts the range A2:B10 based on the second column in an ascending order.

Google Sheets uses the same SORT function:

=SORT(A2:B10, 2, TRUE)

To filter data in Excel, the FILTER function is used. For example:

=FILTER(A2:B10, B2:B10>10)

This formula filters the range A2:B10, displaying only rows where the values in the second column exceed 10.

The FILTER function in Google Sheets follows the same syntax:

=FILTER(A2:B10, B2:B10>10)

VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP

Looking up specific information within a dataset is another common database management task. Both Excel and Google Sheets provide the VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP functions for this purpose.

Example of VLOOKUP in Excel:

=VLOOKUP("search_key", A2:B10, 2, FALSE)

This formula looks for “search_key” in the first column of A2:B10 and returns the corresponding value from the second column.

The VLOOKUP function operates similarly in Google Sheets:

=VLOOKUP("search_key", A2:B10, 2, FALSE)

The HLOOKUP function is available for horizontal lookups in both Excel and Google Sheets.

Summarize Data with Pivot Tables

Pivot tables are an effective tool for summarizing and analyzing large datasets. Both Excel and Google Sheets allow you to create pivot tables to generate reports and insights quickly.

In Excel, create a pivot table by selecting your data range, navigating to the “Insert” tab, and choosing “Pivot Table.” From here, you can drag and drop fields to customize your data summary.

In Google Sheets, create a pivot table by selecting “Data” > “Pivot table.” Similar to Excel, fields can be dragged and dropped to arrange the data as required.

Conclusion

Excel and Google Sheets are equipped with a robust array of functions to facilitate effective database management. By mastering tools such as SORT, FILTER, VLOOKUP, HLOOKUP, and pivot tables, you can manage and interpret your data with efficiency and precision.

More information: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/db-function-354e7d28-5f93-4ff1-8a52-eb4ee549d9d7

Other functions

ACCRINT

Returns the accrued interest for a security that pays periodic interest

ACCRINTM

Returns the accrued interest for a security that pays interest at maturity

AMORDEGRC

Returns the depreciation for each accounting period by using a depreciation coefficient

AMORLINC

Returns the depreciation for each accounting period

COUPDAYBS

Returns the number of days from the beginning of the coupon period to the settlement date

COUPDAYS

Returns the number of days in the coupon period that contains the settlement date

COUPDAYSNC

Returns the number of days from the settlement date to the next coupon date

COUPNCD

Returns the next coupon date after the settlement date

COUPNUM

Returns the number of coupons payable between the settlement date and maturity date

COUPPCD

Returns the previous coupon date before the settlement date

CUMIPMT

Returns the cumulative interest paid between two periods

CUMPRINC

Returns the cumulative principal paid on a loan between two periods

DDB

Returns the depreciation of an asset for a specified period by using the double-declining balance method or some other method that you specify

DISC

Returns the discount rate for a security

DOLLARDE

Converts a dollar price, expressed as a fraction, into a dollar price, expressed as a decimal number

DOLLARFR

Converts a dollar price, expressed as a decimal number, into a dollar price, expressed as a fraction

DURATION

Returns the annual duration of a security with periodic interest payments

EFFECT

Returns the effective annual interest rate

Returns the future value of an investment

FVSCHEDULE

Returns the future value of an initial principal after applying a series of compound interest rates

INTRATE

Returns the interest rate for a fully invested security

IPMT

Returns the interest payment for an investment for a given period

IRR

Returns the internal rate of return for a series of cash flows

ISPMT

Calculates the interest paid during a specific period of an investment

MDURATION

Returns the Macauley modified duration for a security with an assumed par value of $100

MIRR

Returns the internal rate of return where positive and negative cash flows are financed at different rates

NOMINAL

Returns the annual nominal interest rate

NPER

Returns the number of periods for an investment

NPV

Returns the net present value of an investment based on a series of periodic cash flows and a discount rate

ODDFPRICE

Returns the price per $100 face value of a security with an odd first period

ODDFYIELD

Returns the yield of a security with an odd first period

ODDLPRICE

Returns the price per $100 face value of a security with an odd last period

ODDLYIELD

Returns the yield of a security with an odd last period

PDURATION

Returns the number of periods required by an investment to reach a specified value

PMT

Returns the periodic payment for an annuity

PPMT

Returns the payment on the principal for an investment for a given period

PRICE

Returns the price per $100 face value of a security that pays periodic interest

PRICEDISC

Returns the price per $100 face value of a discounted security

PRICEMAT

Returns the price per $100 face value of a security that pays interest at maturity

Returns the present value of an investment

RATE

Returns the interest rate per period of an annuity

RECEIVED

Returns the amount received at maturity for a fully invested security

RRI

Returns an equivalent interest rate for the growth of an investment

SLN

Returns the straight-line depreciation of an asset for one period

SYD

Returns the sum-of-years' digits depreciation of an asset for a specified period

TBILLEQ

Returns the bond-equivalent yield for a Treasury bill

TBILLPRICE

Returns the price per $100 face value for a Treasury bill

TBILLYIELD

Returns the yield for a Treasury bill

VDB

Returns the depreciation of an asset for a specified or partial period by using a declining balance method

XIRR

Returns the internal rate of return for a schedule of cash flows that is not necessarily periodic

XNPV

Returns the net present value for a schedule of cash flows that is not necessarily periodic

YIELD

Returns the yield on a security that pays periodic interest

YIELDDISC

Returns the annual yield for a discounted security; for example, a Treasury bill

YIELDMAT

Returns the annual yield of a security that pays interest at maturity