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Excel PivotTable FAQ’s

You are here: Home / Excel PivotTables / Excel PivotTable FAQ’s
March 4, 2015 by Mynda Treacy

After having thousands of people recently attend our free PivotTable webinar we found there were 3 questions that were asked again and again, which are:

  1. How do I format my data in an Excel Table so I can refresh my PivotTable and it automatically picks up any new data added?
  2. How do I change the PivotTable values from Count of… to Sum of… etc.?
  3. How do I format the PivotTable values area and make it stay that way?

Here are the answers which are video extracts from our Xtreme PivotTable course:

1. Tables

Your browser does not support modern web standards. Please update it.

For more on Tables and how to use Structured References in your formulas check out these tutorials:

  • Excel Tables
  • Structured References

2. Change Count of to Sum of

Your browser does not support modern web standards. Please update it.

3. Predetermined Number Formatting

Your browser does not support modern web standards. Please update it.

Bonus tip: If you want to format columns in your Values area differently e.g. some as currency, some as percentages etc. then choose a cell in the column you want to format > right-click > Value Field Settings > in the Value Field Settings dialog box (see image below) click the 'Number Format' button > choose your formatting then click OK, then OK again.

PivotTable Value Field Settings format numbers

This will set the format for the field so whenever you use it, in any PivotTable that shares the same Pivot Cache, it will retain the formatting.

Rinse and repeat for the other fields in your Values area.

Want More?

If you’re ready to take your PivotTable skills to the next level and stand apart from the crowd then check out John’s Xtreme PivotTable course.

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Category: Excel PivotTables
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Chaman jha

    June 11, 2017 at 4:55 pm

    Good Excel Tricks

    Reply
  2. Rodney Jones

    April 18, 2015 at 4:48 pm

    I watched your Excel Dashboards webinar last night, and I have re-watched it this morning. I just wanted to say that this is the best and clearest explanation of Excel Dashboards that I have ever seen.

    Although this was just an overview of the power of Excel Dashboards, it demonstrated some really exciting (and really useful) new Excel skills which I will be practicing and then using on a day-to-day basis.

    Currently, I am not in a financial position to sign up for your Excel Dashboards Course, but as soon as I attain a new job and my finances improve I will definitely be signing-up for it. Who knows – I may even get my new employer to pay for it !

    So, I just want to say a big thank-you for sparking my “Excel imagination” once again. It was thoroughly enjoyable and is something I will highly recommend to others.

    Rod Jones – North Wales – United Kingdom 18 April 2015.

    Reply
    • Mynda Treacy

      April 18, 2015 at 5:10 pm

      Hi Rod,

      Thanks for your kind words about my Excel Dashboard webinar. I’ts wonderful to know it has sparked your interest in Excel once again.

      All the best with your search for a new job and happy dashboarding 🙂

      Kind regards,

      Mynda

      Reply

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mynda treacy microsoft mvpHi, I'm Mynda Treacy and I run MOTH with my husband, Phil. Through our blog, webinars, YouTube channel and courses we hope we can help you learn Excel, Power Pivot and DAX, Power Query, Power BI, and Excel Dashboards.

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