0Before you begin consolidating the data, make sure that there is consistency across the data sources. This means that the data is arranged as follows:
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Each range of data is on a separate worksheet.
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Each range of data is in list format, with labels in the first row.
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Additionally, you can have labels for the categories, if applicable, in the first column.
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All the ranges of data have the same layout.
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All the ranges of data contain similar facts.
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There are no blank rows or columns within each range.
In case the data sources are external, ensure usage of a predefined layout in the form of an Excel template.
Suppose you have the sales data of various commodities from each of the regions East, North, South, and West. You might need to consolidate this data and present a product wise summary of sales from time to time. Preparation includes the following:
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One worksheet per region – i.e. four worksheets with names East, North, South, and West. These could be in the same workbook or different workbooks.
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Each worksheet has same layout, representing the details of product, number of units, and amount.
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You need to consolidate the data product wise. Hence, ensure that the column with the label Product is the first column and it contains the Product labels.
