Chapter 37: Adding Formulas to Power Pivot
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Hiding calculated columns from end users
Because calculated columns can reference each other, you can imagine creating col-
umns simply as helper columns for other calculations. You may not want your end users
to see these columns in your client tools. In this context, the term client tools refers to
PivotTables, Power View dashboards, and Power Map.
Similar to hiding columns on an Excel worksheet, Power Pivot allows you to hide any col-
umn (it doesn’t have to be a calculated column). To hide columns, simply select the columns
you want hidden, right-click the selection, and then choose the Hide from Client Tools
option (illustrated in Figure 37.5).
FIGURE 37.5
Right-click and select Hide from Client Tools.
When a column is hidden, it will not show as an available selection in your PivotTable
Fields list. However, if the column you are hiding is already part of the PivotTable report,
meaning that you already dragged it onto the PivotTable, hiding the column in the Power
Pivot window will not automatically remove it from the report. Hiding merely affects the
ability to see the column in the PivotTable Fields list.
You’ll note in Figure 37.6 that Power Pivot recolors columns based on their attributes.
Hidden columns are subdued and grayed out, while calculated columns that are not hidden
have a darker (black) header.