Access to each of these functions is available via the Audit Tools Menu. The most commonly used function are also available from the Shortcut Tool Bar.

The primary role of these tools is to analyse and extract information from lists of data in Excel spreadsheets.

So far as the ACBA Tools software is concerned a list is

• data held on a spreadsheet arranged in rows (that represent records) and columns (that represent fields)
  
• data should be separated from non-relevant information by a clear row top and bottom and a clear column left and right
  
• there should be no other gaps (or empty cells) within the datablock
  
• the rows (or records) may have a unique identifier ( a 'key field') but this is optional - except for List Comparison
  
• headings for fields must be contained in a single row
  

Remarks:

The characteristics of a list are particularly important because Excel offers freedom to the user to 'improve' the presentation of data by adding in rows and columns to create the impression of space. But so far as the spreadsheets analytical functions are concerned this has the effect of splitting up a list into to two or more lists.

See also: