Excel tip: Analysing data by date using PivotTables

One of the simplest changes in Excel 2016 relates to date data when you’re working in a PivotTable. In prior Excel versions date data was added to the PivotTable as is.

In this video there’s a set of data to analyse in a PivotTable – dates data relating to transactions.

 

Excel 2013

  • Navigate to the PivotTable Fields area > drag Date into Columns. You will see that all the dates are added as is into the column headings.
  • Right click the dates and select Group > select Months, Quarters, Years > Ok. The data will now be analysed and produced in a more meaningful way.

Excel 2016

  • Navigate to the PivotTable Fields area > drag Date into Columns. You will see that it automatically groups the data – dates are usually grouped by months, quarters and years.
  • If you do not want your dates to be grouped in Excel 2016 > navigate to the PivotTable Fields area > remove Years and Quarters > right click on month > select Ungroup and you’re back to how you were.

 

A simple but effective change in Excel 2016 if you work with date data.

 

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