Learn how to extract specific data from Excel cells using formulas, tools, and techniques to clean and organize messy datasets.

When working with a large data set, you would be more productive if you knew how to quickly find what you need. Luckily, Excel has a few functions that can help with this.

To extract and sort non-adjacent arrays in your data, nest the CHOOSECOLS or CHOOSEROWS functions inside your SORT or SORTBY ...

Not all sort tasks in Microsoft Excel begin with the characters to the left, but getting around that issue is easier than you think. Susan Harkins shows you how.

Before beginning, here is a quick run down of the Microsoft Excel functions needed for this to work. The SEARCH function is used to find a piece of data in an Excel spreadsheet.

The FILTER function in Excel is a powerful tool that allows you to extract specific data from a range, of data lists or an array based on multiple criteria.

Excel filters help you find exactly what you want, no matter how big your spreadsheet database is. Here's how to set number, text and data filters.