PivotTables - 3 Annoying Things FIXED!

Posted on: 11/16/2022

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

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

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

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

#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

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

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Chris Menard

Chris Menard is a Microsoft Trainer (MCT) and works as a full-time Trainer at BakerHostetler - one of the largest law firms in the US. Chris runs a YouTube channel with 900+ technology videos that cover various tools such as Excel, Word, Zoom, Teams, Gmail, Copilot, Google Calendar, and Outlook. To date, the channel has helped over 20 million viewers. Menard also does 2 to 3 public speaking events yearly, presenting at the Administrative Professional Conference (APC), the EA Ignite 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.