To create a total row in an Excel table, what action should you take?

To create a total row in an Excel table, navigating to the Design tab and selecting the total row option is the correct approach. This feature is specifically designed for tables, allowing users to quickly add a row at the bottom of the table that can display summary calculations like sums, averages, counts, and more for each column.

When using the Design tab, you gain access to table-specific options not available through other tabs. This ensures that the total row is formatted and functions correctly within the context of the table. The total row allows for quick and easy summarization of data that is already contained in the table, which can be particularly useful for analysis and reporting.

In this scenario, the other options are not focused on adding a total row specifically to an Excel table. For instance, using the data menu does not directly provide the necessary functionality to add a total row. Similarly, while inserting a table is an essential first step in organizing data, it does not directly address the action needed for displaying totals. Lastly, utilizing the home tab does not include the total row option, as that functionality is tailored to the Design tab specific to tables.