Using CTRL+L

Make certain that your data does not contain any row or column breaks and each column has a heading name. Click in any cell within your data and press CTRL+L, afterwards a Create List dialog box will appear, click OK and your data will be converted to a list complete with Filter drop-down arrows next to each column heading name. Excel will also add a List toolbar containing a Toggle Total Row button. Use this button to turn on a total row for your list in order to perform quick calculations on your data. 

Using your new list

When you convert your data to a designated list the list will be contained within a colored border, each column heading will have a Filter, denoted by a drop-down arrow next to each column name. In addition, an empty row (denoted by an asterisk) will be added to the bottom of the list. Use this row to add new records to the list. After data is converted to a list Excel also displays the List toolbar where you can use the Toggle Total Row button to toggle a total row on and off within you list. Use the total row to summarize data in each column within the list. Tip: You can right-click a cell within your list and select List>Total Row to turn the total row on and off.

Using the Filters feature within your list

Each column now has a filter down arrow. You can now filter data within your list based upon any one of the columns (also known as fields).

Using the Total Row

Use the Toggle Total Row button located on the List toolbar to turn the total row on and off. When the total row is turned on you can perform quick calculations on any column within your list. To do so, click in a cell within the total row beneath any desired column to obtain a drop-down list of aggregate functions and choose the function you wish to use.

Note: The drop-down list with aggregate functions is available for each total row cell.

Convert a designated list back to a normal range

Right-click inside your list and Choose List>Convert to Range and click Yes.

In Excel 2007 the List feature is now called a Table and the shortcut is CTRL+T. Make certain you are in a cell within your data before pressing CTRL+T.