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Pivot tables · Basics
Creating a pivot table
Summarizes a table of rows into totals by any combination of fields, without formulas.
When to use it
A pivot table summarizes a flat table of records into totals by any combination of fields, without writing a formula. It is the fastest way from raw rows to an answer, and the starting point for every other feature here.
The shape of it
- How
Click inside the data, Insert, PivotTable, choose a new or existing sheet, then drag fields into Rows, Columns, Values, and Filters.
Worked examples
First pivot
Click inside the data, Insert, PivotTable, New Worksheet, OK → An empty pivot and the fields pane on a new sheet
Then drag Region to Rows and Sales to Values.
From a Table
Ctrl + T on the data first, then Insert, PivotTable → A pivot whose source grows with the Table
New rows appear on refresh without changing the source.
On this sheet
Insert, PivotTable, Existing Worksheet, pick a cell → The pivot on the current sheet
For dashboards with several pivots.
Worth knowing
- Convert the source to a Table first (Ctrl + T) so the pivot picks up new rows on refresh.
- Convert the source to a Table first (Ctrl + T) so the pivot picks up new rows on refresh.
- One header row, one record per row, no blank header cells.
- Alt, N, V is the keyboard route.
Where it goes wrong
- A blank header cell stops creation with "The PivotTable field name is not valid".
- Placing a pivot over existing cells overwrites them.
Related
Learn the moves here — or let Wauvel run them on your numbers.
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