Microsoft Excel 365 Bible

CHAPTER 26Introducing PivotTables

IN THIS CHAPTER

• Understanding PivotTables
• Identifying types of data appropriate for a PivotTable
• Getting clear on PivotTable terminology
• Creating PivotTables
• Looking at PivotTable examples that answer specific questions about data

The PivotTable feature is perhaps the most technologically sophisticated component in Excel. With only a few mouse clicks, you can slice and dice data in dozens of different ways and produce just about any type of summary you can imagine.

If you haven't yet discovered the power of PivotTables, this chapter provides an introduction, and Chapter 27, “Analyzing Data with PivotTables,” continues with many examples that demonstrate how easy it is to create powerful data summaries using PivotTables.

About PivotTables

A PivotTable is essentially a dynamic summary report generated from a database. The database can reside in a worksheet (in the form of a table) or in an external data file. A PivotTable can help transform endless rows and columns of numbers into a meaningful presentation of the data—and do it so quickly you'll be amazed.

Perhaps the most powerful aspect of a PivotTable is its interactivity. After you create a PivotTable, you can rearrange the information in almost any way imaginable and even insert special formulas that perform new calculations. You even can create post hoc groupings of summary items (for example, combine Northern Region totals with Western Region totals). With a few mouse clicks, ...