What is INSERT Tab in Microsoft Excel & It's Uses

In this article, we will learn What is INSERT Tab in Microsoft Excel & It's Uses.

Scenario:

In excel, we usually have the ribbon, and in this ribbon, we have many tabs available for us to work smoothly. To work efficiently in excel, we need to know what are the features available with each and every tab. Almost all the tabs are important to be an expert in excel, so in this article, we will take you through the INSERT tab in excel. In excel, the INSERT tab plays an important role in analyzing the data, so in this article, we will take a look at the INSERT tab in detail.

Note : If you are unsure what the function of a feature is, let your cursor hover over the button (in Excel) to see a pop-up box explaining the feature. If you want to collapse the ribbon so that none of the buttons are displayed, double-click the name of the tab.

Tables
PivotTable - Displays the Create PivotTable dialog box. In 2010 there was a button with a drop-down. The drop-down contained the commands: PivotTable and PivotChart. The PivotTable displayed the Create PivotTable dialog box and the PivotChart displayed the Create PivotTable and PivotChart dialog box.
Recommended PivotTables - Displays the Recommended PivotTables dialog box. This shows a list of customised pivot tables that are best for your data. If there are no recommendations then a blank pivot table is created.

Table - Displays the Create Table dialog box. When you define your data as a table it makes it easier to sort, filter and apply formatting. Ctrl + T (Keyboard shortcut)

Illustrations

Pictures - Displays the Insert Picture dialog box allowing you to browse to a file.

Online Pictures - Find and insert pictures from a variety of online sources.

Shapes - Drop-Down. The drop-down contains the commands: Recently Used Shapes, Lines, Rectangles, Basic Shapes, Block Arrows, Equation Shapes, Flowchart, Stars and Banners and Callouts.

Icons - Displays the Insert Icons dialog box. Insert an icon to visually communicate using symbols.

3D Models - Drop-Down. Insert a 3D model so you can rotate it and see it from all angles. The drop-down contains the commands: From a File and From Online Sources.

SmartArt - Displays the Choose a SmartArt Graphic dialog box which lets you choose from the following different types of smartart: List, Process, Cycle, Hierarchy, Relationship, Matrix, Pyramid, Picture and Office.com 

Screenshot -  Drop-Down. The drop-down contains the commands: Available Windows and Screen Clipping.

Clip Art - (Removed in 2013). Toggles the display of the Clip Art task pane to let you insert drawings, movies, sounds, photos etc.

Add-ins
Get Add-ins - Displays the Office Add-ins window allowing you to see all the add-ins in the Office store.
My Add-ins -  Button with Drop-Down. Displays the Office Add-ins window showing you all the add-ins you have currently installed.

Store - Renamed to Get Add-ins in 2016.

My Apps - Renamed to My Add-ins in 2016.
Note:
In Excel 2019 this group was moved to the Home Tab and renamed to Ideas.

Charts
You can quickly display the Insert Chart dialog box by selecting your data and clicking on the dialog box launcher in the bottom right corner of the group. If a chart is active the Change Chart Type dialog is displayed.

Recommended Charts - Displays the Insert Chart dialog box (Recommended Charts tab).

Column or Bar - Drop-Down. The drop-down contains the commands: 2-D Column, 3-D Column, 2-D Bar, 3-D Bar and More Column Charts.

Line or Area - Drop-Down. The drop-down contains the commands: 2-D Line, 3-D Line, 2-D Area, 3-D Area and More Line Charts.

Pie or Doughnut - Drop-Down. The drop-down contains the commands: 2-D Pie, 3-D Pie, Doughnut and More Pie Charts.

Hierarchy - Drop-Down. The drop-down contains the commands: Treemap, Sunburst and More Hierarchy Charts.

Statistics - Drop-Down. The drop-down contains the commands: Histogram, Box and Whisker and More Statistical Charts.

Scatter XY or Bubble - Drop-Down. The drop-down contains the commands: Scatter, Bubble and More Scatter Charts.

Waterfall or Stock - This drop-down contains the commands: Waterfall (6), Funnel, Stock, Surface, Radar and More Stock Charts.

Combo - The drop-down contains the commands: Combo and Create Custom Combo Chart.

Maps - Drop-Down. The drop-down contains the commands: Filled Map and More Map Options.

PivotChart - Button with Drop-Down. The button displays the Create PivotChart dialog box. The drop-down contains the commands: PivotChart and PivotChart and PivotTable.

Surface or Radar - The drop-down contains the commands: Surface, Radar and More Charts.

Other Charts - Drop-Down. Provides access to other chart types. The drop-down contains the commands: Stock, Surface, Doughnut, Bubble, Radar and All Chart Types.

Note:
In Excel 2016 the Power-Map functionality was fully integrated whereas In Excel 2013 this functionality was made available by installing the Power Map add-in.

3D Map - Button with Drop-Down. The button displays the Power Maps for Excel window. The drop-down contains the commands: Launch Power Map and Add Selected Data to PowerMap. Allows you to create data visualisations in your workbooks. You must enable the Data Analysis add-ins to use this feature. This feature use DirectX 10 ?

Reports
In Excel 2016 this group was removed.

In Excel 2013 this group is only displayed if you have the Power View add-in loaded.

Sparklines
Line - Displays the Create Sparklines dialog box which lets you insert a line chart within a single cell.
Column - Displays the Create Sparklines dialog box which lets you insert a column chart within a single cell.

Win/Loss - Displays the Create Sparklines dialog box which lets you insert a win/loss chart within a single cell.

Filters
Slicer - Filter dates in your Tables. Exactly the same command can be found on the Table Tools - Design Tab.
Timeline -  Filter dates in your tables, pivot tables and pivot charts.
Links
In Excel 2007 this group appears immediately after the Charts group.
This is because the Sparklines and Filter groups were added in Excel 2010.

Link -  Button with Drop-Down. (Ctrl + K). Displays the Insert Hyperlink dialog box. The drop-down contains a list of recent items.

Hyperlink - Renamed to Link in 2017.
Comments
Comment - Insert a note into the active cell.

Text
Text Box - Inserts a textbox that can be positioned anywhere on the page.
Header & Footer - Switches to Page Layout view and automatically puts your cursor in the header box. This will then display the Header & Footer Tools - Design contextual tab. To exit just click out of the header or footer.

WordArt - Drop-Down. Gives you a choice of Word Art styles to insert. The drop-down contains a gallery of different styles.

Signature Line - Button with Drop-Down. The button inserts a signature line that specifies the individual who must sign. The drop-down displays the commands: Microsoft Office Signature Line and Add Signature Services.

Object - Displays the Object dialog box allowing you to insert embedded objects.
Symbols
Equation -  Drop-Down. The drop-down contains the commands: Area of Circle, Binomial Theorem, Expansion of a Sum, Fourier Series and Insert New Equation.
Symbol - Displays the Symbol dialog box.

Hope this article about What is Insert Tab in Microsoft Excel & Its use is explanatory. Find more articles on calculating values and related Excel formulas here. If you liked our blogs, share them with your friends on Facebook. And also you can follow us on Twitter and Facebook. We would love to hear from you, do let us know how we can improve, complement or innovate our work and make it better for you. Write to us at info@exceltip.com.

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