Show Excel Pivot Table Subtotals Top or Bottom

When you create a new pivot table, and add multiple fields to the row or column area, subtotals are automatically created. For Row fields the automatic subtotals usually appear at the top, and you can move them to the bottom, if that’s your preference. There are a few limitations though, which you can see in the video and the written notes below.

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Copy PivotTable Format to Different Excel File

You can create custom PivotTable Styles in an Excel workbook, to fine tune the appearance of your pivot tables. Later, if you want to use those custom styles in a different Excel file, you’ll have to manually copy them, using the steps shown below.

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Pivot Table Calculated Field Counting Problem

A pivot table calculated field always uses the SUM of other values, even if those values are displayed with another summary function, such as COUNT. That can cause results that look wrong, but the video below shows a workaround to fix the problem.

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Don’t Get Stuck in a Pivot Table Rut

Pivot tables are a quick way to summarize your data, and they have another advantage too. After you build the pivot table, it’s easy to change the pivot table layout, to get a different type of summary. Watch the two videos below, to see a few examples.

Try Different Pivot Layouts

Pivot tables help you organize and understand your data. They make it easy to summarize tons of information quickly, and you can change the layout to see different types of summaries.

So don’t get stuck in a rut with your Excel pivot tables, by using the same layout, over and over again. Try new things!

After you create a new pivot table, try out different layouts to see which one works best. With just a few clicks, you can tweak the layout of your pivot table to showcase your data in a whole new light.

  • Tip: Make a copy of the original pivot table worksheet, so you can go back to that version later, if you want to!

To help you get started, here are two videos that show examples of pivot tables in action. Try something different today!

Video: Create Quick Pivot Table and Change Layout

In the video below, you’ll see the steps to create a quick pivot table with Excel’s Recommended Pivot Tables feature.

Then, make simple changes to the layout, to get a different view of your data.

Video Timeline

  • 0:00 Introduction
  • 3:04 Create an Instant Pivot Table
  • 1:26 Pivot Table Field List
  • 2:12 Add and Remove Fields
  • 2:51 Add a Column Field
  • 3:31 Add Another Value Field
  • 4:11 Move the Value Fields
  • 4:55 Reposition the Value Fields
  • 5:15 Change Your Pivot Table
  • 5:30 Get the Sample File

Video: Arrange Multiple Value Fields

If you have 2 or more fields in the Values area of the pivot table, Excel automatically creates a new field in the layout, called “Values”.

Watch this short video, to see how use the Values button, to move the data fields in an Excel pivot table. With these steps, you can change the pivot table layout from vertical to horizontal, or change from horizontal to vertical.

In the screen shot below, the pivot table is in Outline Form layout, and the Value fields have been moved to the Rows area.

pivot table Value fields in Rows area

Video Timeline

  • 00:00 Introduction
  • 00:21 Move Values to Row Labels
  • 00:44 Change to Compact Layout
  • 01:01 Move Values to Top
  • 01:10 Move Values to Column Labels

Get the Sample Files

You can get the sample files for these videos, and more about pivot table layout changes on my Contextures website.

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Don’t Get Stuck in a Pivot Table Rut

Don't Get Stuck in a Pivot Table Rut

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Excel GetPivotData Formula Love It or Turn It Off

Do you love the Excel GetPivotData formula, that appears automatically, when you click on a pivot table value? Or do you want to know how to turn that annoying setting off? In the two videos below, see how to turn GetPivotData off or on, and see an enhanced formula, that pulls data from a specific pivot table in your workbook.

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