The source data in this example is a list of individual sales for each salesperson.
Before using the PivotTable and PivotChart Wizard to create a PivotTable report, here are a few important things to look for in your source data:
- The first row must have a heading for each column. The wizard will use these column headings as names for the fields (its word for data groupings) that you can drag and drop onto the PivotTable layout area.
- There should be no empty rows or columns within the range of data used for the report. For example, blank rows used to separate one block of data from another should be removed.
- Each column should contain only one kind of data—for example, include text in one column and numeric values in a separate column.
- Excel automatically creates subtotals and grand totals in a PivotTable report. If the source data contains automatic subtotals and grand totals created with the Subtotals command on the Data menu, use that command to remove them before you create the report.
Data with automatic subtotals and grand totals created with the Subtotals command is outlined so that you can see its structure.
Note The courses in this series cover source data from Microsoft Excel lists or databases instead of external data sources requiring either Microsoft Query and Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) or data source drivers. For more information about data sources, see Microsoft Excel Help.
