Ravindra BagaleCourses & study guides

7. PivotTables and PivotCharts

7.9 Report Connections, Refresh and Data Source

One slicer can control several PivotTables that use the same source (the same pivot cache).

Steps in Excel

  1. Build two pivots from tblOrders (Sales by City, Orders by Category).
  2. Select the City slicer › Slicer › Slicer › Report Connections (or right-click the slicer › Report Connections…) › tick both PivotTables › OK. Timelines have the same option.
  3. Refresh one pivot: PivotTable Analyze › Data › Refresh (Alt + F5). Refresh everything: Data › Queries & Connections › Refresh All (Ctrl + Alt + F5).
  4. Auto refresh on open: PivotTable Analyze › PivotTable › Options › Data tab › tick Refresh data when opening the file.
  5. Source moved or is a range? PivotTable Analyze › Data › Change Data Source › point to tblOrders.
  6. Keep column widths after refresh: Options › Layout & Format › untick Autofit column widths on update.

Ravindra Bagale's Tip

Even when the source data changes, a PivotTable doesn't update itself – you have to refresh it. Many students send the manager old figures. Always do Refresh All before sending a report, and tick Refresh on open in the options. If a pivot doesn't appear in Report Connections, it was built from a different source/cache – rebuild it from the same Table.

Practice task

Connect one City slicer and one timeline to three PivotTables. Add new rows to tblOrders and use Refresh All. Turn on Refresh on open.