Counting frequency in a list of search terms:

(ie; analyzing data collected from a search engine)

Copy your list of terms into Excel
Each term should be on a separate line in its own cell

Highlight the column of terms by clicking on the letter above the top cell

Click on the Data menu

Click on PivotTable and PivotChart Report

A Wizard should appear

Choose the PivotTable radio button

Click Next

Ensure that your column is listed in the Range: window

Click Next

Click on the New Worksheet radio button for where you want your PivotTable

Click Finish

A new worksheet tab will be created

Your available fields will show up in a window

Click and drag your field to the Drop Row Fields Here section of the Table
A unique list of terms should appear in the column

Click and drag your field to the Drop Data Items Here section of the Table
A list of the frequency of each term should appear in the column

Sorting the data:

Highlight the data in both columns that you want to sort

Be sure to begin in the first cell that contains information

NOT the field name cell

Copy the data using Ctrl-C

Click on a tab with a blank worksheet

Right Click in cell A1 and choose Paste Special

Click on the Values radio button

Click OK

Click on the Data menu and choose Sort

Click on the drop down menu to sort by the appropriate column

In this example, it is column B in a descending order to get the highest frequency at the top

Your data should be sorted with the highest frequency at the top

created 09.16.03

for questions or further information contact me