PivotTables - 3 Annoying Things FIXED!

Posted on:  11/16/2022
PivotTables - 3 Annoying Things FIXED!

PivotTables are one of the best features in Excel. PivotTables allow you to summarize, analyze and chart complex data. There are 3 annoying things in PivotTables that users always ask me about.

PivotTable Options - Autofit column widths on update

PivotTable Options - Autofit column widths on update

One of them is after changing the width of a column, on refresh, the PivotTable changes. Another annoying feature is blank or empty fields, and finally, data not repeating when it should. We will look at these annoying features and provide a fix for each one.

Outlook articles

#1 - Autofit columns on update

By default, when you refresh a PivotTable, columns will autofit. This is annoying when you want to change the width of columns; after every update, you must keep changing the width.

Steps to turn off Autofit columns on update

  1. Right-click a cell
  2. Click PivotTable Options...
  3. Remove the check for Autofit columns on update
  4. Click OK

 

Autofit on update - turn off

Autofit on update - turn off

YouTube video

Chapters:

  • 00:00 Introduction
  • 00:19 Convert data to a table
  • 00:36 Item 1 - Prevent Autofit
  • 02:22 Item 2 - Default value for empty fields
  • 03:42 Item 3 - Repeat item labels
  • 05:15 Quick Review
  • 05:46 Closing remarks
PivotTable - For empty cells show

PivotTable - For empty cells show

#2 - For empty cells show

When fields in a PivotTable are empty, they will default to blank. If you want to use 0 (zero) or another text or value, right-click a cell and select PivotTable Options. Make sure you are on the Layout & Format tab, for empty cells, type in 0 or text. 

For empty cells show in Excel's PivotTables

For empty cells show

#3 - Repeat Item Labels

Excel will show items labels once. If you want to repeat the item labels, use Field Settings.

Repeat item labels in PivotTables

Repeat item labels

Steps to Repeat Item Labels

  1. Right-click in the column you want to repeat
  2. Click Field Settings
  3. Go to the Layout & Print tab.
  4. Check Repeat item labels
  5. Click OK

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Chris Menard

Chris Menard is a certified Microsoft Trainer (MCT) and works as a full-time Trainer at BakerHostetler - one of the largest law firms in the US. He runs a YouTube channel with 900+ technology videos that cover various tools such as Excel, Word, Zoom, Teams, Gmail, Google Calendar, and Outlook. To date, the channel has helped over 20 million viewers. Menard also does 2 to 3 public speaking events every year, presenting at the Administrative Professional Conference (APC), the EA Ignite Conference, the Support Staff Conference, the University of Georgia, and CPA conferences. You can connect with him on LinkedIn at https://chrismenardtraining.com/linkedin or watch his videos on YouTube at https://chrismenardtraining.com/youtube.

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