The Structure of a List or Database

A rectangular range of data in an Excel worksheet can be used as a list or database. A database consists of a number of records, each of which can contain a number of fields. For example, a compilation of physical properties of organic compounds, such as the one in the CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, is a database the row of data for a particular compound is a record and the values for the melting point, boiling point, solubility, etc. are the data fields within the record. In Excel, a list or database must be arranged in tabular form, with row or column labels that s the only requirement. 

Most fields in a database will contain values that have been entered as text, numbers or dates. A database may also contain calculated fields, containing values that are calculated by using Excel formulas. 

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