PCWorld

Excel Pivot Tables: How to create better reports

Excel created pivot tables to improve upon its convoluted, weak reporting features (which are still available). The pivot table is actually a collection of tools that Excel uses to help you create better reports from complex, multi-file spreadsheet data. You filter, sort, reorganize, calculate, and summarize your spreadsheet databases, then extract specific information into a report.

For example, your spreadsheet may contain 25 field columns, but you only need four of these fields for your report. The Pivot Table tools allow you to sift that data in, literally, seconds—a huge improvement over Excel’s previous reporting capabilities.

To make it easier for you to practice the tasks we’re about to describe, go to (go. ) and follow the

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from PCWorld

PCWorld2 min read
PCWorld
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Matt Egan EDITOR IN CHIEF, CONSUMER BRANDS Jon Phillips DESIGN DIRECTOR Robert Schultz EXECUTIVE EDITORS Brad Chacos, Gordon Mah Ung SENIOR EDITOR Mark Hachman, Alaina Yee ASSOCIATE EDITOR Ashley Biancuzzo EDITOR, PCWORLD, AUSTRALI
PCWorld1 min read
41 Years Later, Windows Notepad Finally Gets Spell Check
Though it’s intentionally simple and there are some excellent alternatives, Microsoft’s humble Notepad text editor has gained a massive following through sheer ubiquity. Today it finally gets a feature that even the best writers (and also I) can’t li
PCWorld3 min read
Lexar SL500 USB SSD: 20Gbps Storage Cut Thin To Win
Physically, Lexar’s SL500 portable USB 3.2×2 SSD makes its SL600 and SL660 stablemates look like chunky monkeys. Actually, measuring a mere 0.3-inches thick (less than 0.2 at the edges), by 2.1-inches wide, by 3.3-inches long, the SL500 make nearly a

Related