How to Take Advantage of Report Filters in Excel Pivot Tables

Starting with Excel 2007, Pivot Tables now include a “drop field” labeled “Report Filters.” The Report Filters area replaces the area labeled the “Pages” drop area in Excel 2003 and earlier. Report Filters is a more descriptive and intuitive name. So , this is a welcome change.

How to Organize Pivot Table

Use Report Filters in Pivot Table

In this lesson, I am responding to an additional request from one of my viewers who wants me to demonstrate how the “Report Filters” drop zone will provide incredible reporting power in a Pivot Table.

Request from a Viewer

In this lesson, my viewer is a “hydrologist” who analyzes average Water Flows by day and by month in a “Water Year.” If you use a “Fiscal Year” reporting structure, you will want to pay attention to this lesson. In this case, the “Water Year” begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. My viewer needs my help in separating out individual Pivot Table Reports organized by Water Year – placed in the Report Filters Drop Zone.The Pivot Tables show the average daily water flow by date. He told me that he is concrned that that Pivot Table Report may not be able to “account for Leap Years.”

Not to worry!

Watch this Excel Video Tutorial, as I demonstrate how to answer my viewer’s query and also give you some “solid tips” to get the results that you need when using Excel!

Watch this Excel Video Tutorial in HD Mode on my YouTube Channel

Here is the link to my YouTube video channel for this video.

Learn how to “Quickly Create Pivot Table Reports!”

How to Generate Multiple Reports from One Pivot Table

You can create an Excel Pivot Table with just a few mouse clicks. And, with just a few more clicks, you can change – or pivot – the design of your report. Most people who use Pivot Tables know this. However, I find that most Excel users do not know that you can generate multiple reports – each one on  a separate worksheet – with just a few clicks. This is a tremendous time-saving tip!

Generate Multiple Reports

Multiple Reports

Pivot Table Report Filters

When you place one or more fields in the “Report Filters” drop zone of your Pivot Table, you will be able to generate multiple reports from one Pivot Table. Report Filters were introduced in Excel 2007. If you use an earlier version of Excel, this drop zone is called, “Pages.” Report Filters allow you to create interactive views of your data. If you use Dashboard Reports, you will want to include Report Filters in your Pivot Table.

In this video, I demonstrate how to generate reports – each on an individual worksheet – for the values in your Report Filter Field. Whenever I demonstrate this technique in a class or to a client, I always get a “gasp of excitement.” Most people say, “That’s incredible. Do that again!”

Create a Calculated Field

I also show you how to Create a Calculated Field in a Pivot Table. You do not need to return to your source data to add additional fields and then recreate your Pivot Table. Why keep redundant data? Rather, create as many Calculated Fields as you need in your Pivot Table.

Copy Your Pivot Table

You can prevent “Pivot Table Bloat” when you make copies of a Pivot Table rather than creating brand new Pivot Tables from the same source data. Watch as I demonstrate how to do this.

Follow this link to learn how you can “Quickly Create Pivot Tables and Charts”

Here is the link to watch this video in High Definition on my YouTube Channel, DannyRocksExcels

Create Dynamic Chart Titles in Excel

A viewer wrote to ask for my help in creating dynamic chart titles in Excel. He has created a series of pivot table reports and pivot charts. He wants the titles for his charts to update dynamically. That is, as he selects a new filter for his pivot table, he wants the title in his pivot chart to match the value label in his filter.

Dynamic Chart Titles
Dynamic Chart Titles

 

Note: 

This technique will work for all Excel Charts and Chart Types. It is not restricted to Pivot Tables.

The solution is rather simple: You link the Chart Title to a formula.

Link Chart Title to Formula

Select a cell that is outside the range of your Pivot Table – let’s say cell H1. An example formula is:

=”Sales for Fiscal Year “&D1

In this case, cell D1 contains the label for the value that you are selecting to filter your Pivot Table Report and Chart – e.g. 2008 as your Fiscal Year.

Notice that in the formula, I include the “TEXT” inside ” ” (double quotation marks. I also use the & (ampersand) to join the text to the cell reference (D1).

Finally, select the Chart Title and then, in the formula bar type =H1 (where H1 is the cell that contains the formula that we just wrote).

As a finishing touch, you can “hide” the formula in cell H1 by changing the FONT COLOR to match the background color for that cell.

It is that easy! Try it yourself after you watch this short (6 minutes) video lesson.

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Shop for The 50 Best Tips for Excel 2007

Shop for The 50 Best Tips for Excel 2007

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Watch Tutorial in High Definition

Follow this link to my YouTube Channel – DannyRocksExcels – where you can watch this video lesson in High Definition, Full-screen mode.