Five common and annoying Excel pivot table problems, and how to solve them. Links to detailed instructions.

1. Annoying
Excel
Pivot Table
Problems
and how to solve them

2. Old Items in Pivot List
1
Problem #
No Central
data, still
in list

3. Change Pivot Setting
• Pivot Options - Data tab
• Change Retain Items to “None”
1
Fix #

4. GetPivotData Formula
2
Problem #
Link to
pivot cell
creates
GetPivotData
formula

5. Turn Off GetPivotData
• Ribbon – Options tab
2
Fix #

6. Show Sum Not Count
3
Problem #
Some
values
show
Count not
Sum

7. Blanks & Text
• Blank or text items cause problem
• Fix data or change in pivot table
3
Fix #

8. New Data Missing
4
Problem #
New data
added,
not in
pivot
table

9. Use Table for Data
• Build pivot from Formatted Table
• Automatically expands
4
Fix #

10. Show All Items
5
Problem #
Show all
Cities for
all Products
even if no
sales

11. Pivot Field Setting
• Layout & Print –
Show Items With No Data
5
Fix #

12. Excel Pivot Table Links
1. Clear old data from drop downs
2. Turn off GetPivotData
3. Change Count to Sum
4. Include all new data
5. Show items with no data
5

13. http://www.contextures.com/xlPivotAddIn.html
Visit Contextures.com