Chapter 30: Analyzing Data with PivotTables
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The PivotTable is certainly easier to interpret than the raw data, but the trends would be
easier to spot in a chart.
To create a PivotChart, select any cell in the PivotTable and choose PivotTable Tools
Analyze ➪ Tools ➪ PivotChart. The Insert Chart dialog box appears, from which you can
choose a chart type. For this example, select a Line chart and then click OK. Excel creates
the PivotChart shown in Figure 30.27. The chart makes it easy to see an upward sales trend
for the Western division, a downward trend for the Southern division, and relatively flat
sales for the Eastern division.
FIGURE 30.27
The PivotChart uses the data displayed in the PivotTable.
A PivotChart includes field buttons that let you filter the chart’s data. To remove some
or all of the field buttons, select the PivotChart and use the Field Buttons control in the
PivotChart Tools Analyze ➪ Show/Hide group.
When you select a PivotChart, the Ribbon displays a new contextual tab: PivotChart Tools.
The commands in the Design and Format tabs are virtually identical to those for a standard
Excel chart, so you can manipulate the PivotChart any way you like. The Analyze tab con-
tains selected commands from the PivotTable Tools Analyze tab, such as Refresh and Insert
Slicer.
If you modify the underlying PivotTable, the chart adjusts automatically to display the new
summary data. Figure 30.28 shows the PivotChart after the Date grouping is changed to
quarters.