When creating a pivot table, it can be helpful to learn how to format empty cells, add a calculated field, and group similar data together. In this tutorial, we will cover how to create a pivot table in Excel. This method can compare the sales totals of a series of products.
Create a pivot table in Excel
To create a pivot table in Excel, you must select data from a data source. A pivot table is a data visualization that lets you drill down to individual data points. For example, you could drill down to the sales of individual employees or departments and then view the information in detail.
Once you’ve selected data, you can add more rows to your PivotTable. Select the data source and click Change. In the Data Source dialog, enter a new date range. The PivotTable will update to reflect the unique rows. For example, you can change the date range to view updated data.
To change the value field, click the I next to it. This option will change the default value. After that, you can save your work and use your data.
Add calculated field
In this Excel pivot table tutorial, we’ll learn how to add a calculated field to a Pivot Table report. Select the Pivot Table report and click the contextual Ribbon tabs to add a computed lot. In the Calculated Fields group, click the Add button. Next, enter a descriptive name for the calculated field.
Once you have a table with several dimensions, you can add subtotals. Adding subtotals is an effective way to make your pivot table more organized. It will result in fewer rows and columns and will save space. You can add subtotals below or above a group. This will give you a compact layout and prevent a column from taking up more space than needed.
You can add more than one calculated field to an Excel pivot table. You can add a lot to multiple columns and use it as a subtotal. A computed area will affect the subtotals and grand totals.
Format empty cells
There are several options for empty formatting cells in an Excel pivot table. You can format empty cells automatically or manually, depending on your needs. For example, if you want a column or row to be open, click the PivotTable Options tab and select Empty Cells As. You can manually format empty cells by clicking the Cell Values tab and selecting the appropriate cell value.
You can use conditional formatting to hide the data if you have many empty cells. Conditional formatting lets you apply different formats for a cell based on criteria. For example, you can select cells in the top N values and cells in the bottom 10. You can also specify a range in which specific cells are hidden.
Group similar data
One way to organize your data into groups is using the pivot table. You can do this by adding a helper column to your source data. Then you can assign grouping labels to each group. After that, you can add the helper column to your pivot table as a column or row field.
Once you have grouped the items, you can refresh the pivot table by right-clicking on them. This will update the values and group them by week, month, quarter, or year. You can also change the start or end date and click OK to close the dialog box. The resulting table will look like the image below.
If you have duplicate rows or columns, you cannot group them. Instead, you have to select several Items that match. Otherwise, Excel will not group them. For example, you cannot group items with blank cells or text data. You may also encounter problems when trying to group numbers and dates.
Update a pivot table
Using VBA, you can update a Pivot Table in Excel. Doing so will automatically account for any new data in your pivot table. You can also use the “Create Table” dialog box to select the data you want to use for your pivot table. Once you create the table, you can update it manually or with VBA.
Alternatively, you can use the “Refresh All” button in the Data tab to refresh all pivot tables in your workbook. This option can be configured to refresh all pivot tables in your workbook each time you open it. Check “Refresh Data When Opening a File” to enable this option.
