(Exception: Stat/Transfer will by default ignore anything after a blank row. The file should not include titles, notes, or other metadata other than a row of variable names-any needed metadata can be placed in an accompanying file.
Do not use more than one worksheet per file. File StructureĮach Excel file should contain exactly one matrix of data. Ideally the process will be 100% reproducible with no opportunity for human error. Your goal should be to create a machine-readable file that can be read into your preferred statistical package by a program, without human intervention beyond starting that program. Just be sure the instructions you give them will lead them to create files that can be used by statistical packages. (Don't use Excel as a way to avoid becoming an expert user of your chosen statistical package.) However, if your research group includes people who enter data but do not do analysis and thus don't know a statistical package, Excel can be a good tool for them. In general, once you know a statistical package, use it rather than Excel whenever possible. Some statistical packages can be used for data entry just as easily as Excel, and then you'll never have to worry about conversion issues. This article will describe best practices that can help avoid problems in doing so. Research groups sometimes find it useful to enter data in Excel and then convert it to the format of the statistical software package they'll use for analysis later.
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