Data Shaping and Filtering

Data shaping involves restructuring your data so it's in the right format for analysis. Filtering helps you focus on relevant data by excluding unnecessary rows.

Data Filtering

Column Filters:

1. Click the dropdown arrow on a column header
2. Uncheck values you want to exclude
3. Use search box for large lists
4. Applied as a step in "Applied Steps"

Row Filters: • Home → Remove Rows provides several options:

Transforming Columns & Rows

Column Transformations: • Rename Column: Double-click column header or right-click → Rename • Reorder Columns: Drag and drop column headers • Remove Columns: Right-click → Remove (or Remove Other Columns to keep only selected) • Unpivot Columns: Convert column headers to row values (wide → long format) • Pivot Columns: Convert unique row values to column headers (long → wide format)

Row Transformations: • Transpose: Swap rows and columns • Promote Headers: Use the first row as column headers • Demote Headers: Move column headers to the first data row • Sort Rows: Click column header → Sort Ascending/Descending • Group By: Aggregate rows based on column values

Unpivot vs Pivot (Key Concept)

Unpivot (Wide → Long): • Converts multiple columns into two columns: Attribute and Value • Useful when months or categories are spread across columns

Pivot (Long → Wide): • Opposite of unpivot — converts row values into columns • Useful for creating summary tables

Group By

Aggregate data by grouping rows with the same value.

Steps:

1. Select column to group by
2. Transform → Group By
3. Choose Basic or Advanced
4. Define aggregation: Sum, Count, Average, Min, Max
5. Click OK