Excel Spreadsheet Formulas » Formulas In Excel
PivotCharts in Excel
Once you have a PivotTable created, you can create a PivotChart. You can also create a PivotChart from scratch, but using an existing PivotTable makes the job much easier.
To create a PivotChart, open the Excel file you created earlier and click somewhere in the PivotTable. The PivotTable toolbar should activate. Click the Chart Wizard button from the PivotTable toolbar or from the Standard Toolbar.
A new worksheet will appear that shows your PivotTable data as well as the buttons you used in the Layout option. The PivotChart will have the same layout as the PivotTable you're working from, so you'll want to have the PivotTable laid out appropriately.
You will format the PivotChart in the same way you format any other chart, except that you'll need to hide the buttons associated with your PivotTable. The chart will automatically update if you change the data display on the chart, but you cannot reformat the table on the fly when the buttons are hidden.
To hide the buttons on the PivotChart, select the PivotChart pull-down menu on the PivotTable Toolbar, and select "Hide PivotChart Field Buttons" from the menu. This is a toggle, so a checkmark will appear when this menu choice is active. To display the buttons again, select "Hide PivotChart Field Buttons" again from the same menu.
The PivotChart is just a graphical representation of the data in a PivotTable, so changes you make in the PivotTable will be reflected in the PivotChart. In the PivotTable we made, we didn't use any functions, other than adding values together, but PivotTables can accept any functions or formulas. You can sort, use functions, add and remove fields, and hide and show items, just as you would in a regular table.
You can also embed a PivotChart into a worksheet. To do this, select the PivotChart by clicking anywhere on it. Right-click the chart to pull-up the contextual menu and select "Location." This will open a dialogue box that allows you to specify a new worksheet, or an existing worksheet in your workbook. The PivotChart (minus the data worksheet) will appear in the location you've designated.
One word of caution when working with a PivotChart: you can break the relationship between a PivotTable and a PivotChart if you aren't careful when moving fields around in the PivotChart. When this happens, you will have to remake the PivotTable, then remake the PivotChart. The best way to avoid making hash out of your PivotTable is to do all of your re-arranging in the PivotTable instead of the PivotChart. The changes will be reflected in the PivotChart and you won't run the risk of unintentionally creating a lot of work for yourself.
Notes for editors: Claire Blinman is the training manager at Computer Training Solutions in Bristol. For more information visit our website at http://www.computertrainingsolutions.co.uk or call 0800 019 6882
Source: www.a1articles.com