How to Create a Data Model in Excel – 3 Methods

Method 1- Using the Relationships Tool to Create a Data Model in Excel

Use the Relationships toolbar to create a data model.

Steps:

• Select a value in the dataset.
• Go to the Insert tab.
• Select Table.

• In Create Table, select the entire dataset as table data.
• Click OK.

• Go to Table Design.
• Name the created table.
• Repeat the process for the rest of the dataset.

• Go to the Data tab.
• In Data Tools, select Relationships.

• In Manage Relationships, select New.
• The Create Relationship prompt will be displayed.

• Select the table you want to analyze. Here, Sales.
• Select the column that is common to both tables as Column(Foreign). Here, ID. It may contain duplicates.
• Select the look-up table as Related Table. Here, Executives.
• Select the common column as Related Column(Primary). Here, ID. It must contain unique values.
• Click OK.

• A window displays the relationship.
• Click OK.

• Go to the Insert tab.
• Click PivotTable.
• Select From External Data Source.

• In the PivotTable from an external source window, select Choose Connection.

• In the Existing Connections window, go to Tables.
• Excel has listed the two previously connected tables in the Relationships toolbar.
• Choose Tables in Workbook Data Model.
• Click Open.

• In the PivotTable from an external source window select New Worksheet.
• Check Add this to the Data Model.
• Click OK.

• A pivot table is created using the data model.
• Here, you can relate the two tables:  you can select the executives’ names in the Executive table and find their sales numbers in the Sales table.

Read More: How to Get Data from Data Model in Excel

Method 2 – Creating a Data Model with the Excel Power Query

Steps:

• Select a value in the dataset.
• In Insert, select Table.

• Select the entire dataset as table data in Create Table.
• Click OK.

• Select Table Design and name the created table.
• Repeat the process for the other datasets.

• Go to the Data tab and select From Table/Range.
• The Power Query window will be displayed.

• In the Power Query Editor, select the Home tab.
• Choose Close & Load.
• Select Close & Load To… .
• The Import Data window will be displayed.

• Choose Only Create Connection and check Add this to the Data Model.
• Click OK.
• Repeat this process for the rest of the tables.

• Go to the Data tab and choose Data Tools.
• Select  Manage Data Model.

• In the new window, select the Home option.
• Select View and choose Diagram View.

• You will see the tables as diagrams.
• Connect the common columns of the two tables. Here, ID.
• The connection displays 1 on one side and an asterisk on the other: the tables have a One to Many relationship. 1 means that the Executive ID column has no duplicate values. On the other hand, the  ID column in the Sales table has duplicate values.

• Go to the Insert tab.
• Select PivotTable.
• Select From Data Model.

• Select New Worksheet.
• Click OK.

• The data model was used to create a pivot table: you can relate the two tables. For example, choose the names of the executives in the Executives table and look up their sales numbers in the Sales table.

Read More: Excel Data Model vs. Power Query: Main Dissimilarities to Know

Method 3 – Applying a Power Pivot to Make a Data Model in Excel

Steps:

• Select a cell in the dataset.
• Go to the Insert tab and choose Table.

• In Create Table, select the entire dataset.
• Click OK.

• Go to Table Design and name the created table.
• Repeat the process to create other tables.

• Go to the Power Pivot tab and select Add to Data Model.

• In the Power Pivot window, go to the Home tab.
• In View, select Diagram View.

• Connect the two common columns from the two table diagrams. Here, ID.
• The two tables are connected in a One to Many relationship.

• Go to the Home tab and choose PivotTable.

• In Create PivotTable, select New Worksheet.
• Click OK.

• A pivot table with two tables will be displayed.
• A data model relates the two tables.

Read More: How to Add Table to Data Model in Excel

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