Hi- I am trying to calculate the difference in columns by using "previous", but it is taking the number from the row above. What am I doing wrong?
Hi Erika,
Welcome to our forum. The columns look like they're different fields to me. In which case, you need to do this with a calculated column.
Mynda
I am not following.. Sorry. What do you mean by different fields? They are accounting fields and different amounts each year but categorized the same way. That is why I needed the difference between the two years.
If you look at the PivotTable field list you'll see these are the columns in your source data. i.e. a field in the PivotTable field list = a column in your source data.
In your PivotTable screenshot it looks like the labels going across the top row are separate PivotTable Fields/source data columns, in which case you need to use the Calculated Field technique to find the difference. You can't use Show Values As > Previous...
Mynda
Ok, I just got to that topic in section 8 and now understand. Now I am trying to calculate the difference and I keep getting this error. I have tried revising the formula and took out the apostrophes that the program added when inserting the fields, but it still doesn't like it.
What's the error?
Sorry, the attachments didn't upload. 
Hi Erika,
Your column names should be surrounded in single quotes/apostrophes. I usually just double click the fields to add them to the formula. That way they come in with the correct syntax.
Mynda
