How do I use pivot tables?

Pivot tables are one mysteries found in MS Excel. With pivot tables, you can create reports that sort and finds the sum of your independent data (if you want to compare one part of your data with another, for example).

To create a pivot table, open the workbook with your data. Keep the headers on your data, this helps you organize your pivot table. Go to the Data menu and click on Pivot Table and PivotChart Report. The PivotTable and PivotChart Wizard should pop up, you will be asked to enter in a range you want to compare in your pivot table. I found it easiest to select the columns using your mouse, instead of entering in the range (it makes it easier deciding what data you want to compare). After you’ve selected your data, click next. Then click on “New Worksheet” and hit Finish.

A table that is seperated into a column, row, and data boxes. A tool panel called “PivotTable Field List” will pop up with the data you selected. Click on your a data set and drop it into the row. Click on the other data set and drop it into the column. Now your table is defined by the two data sets you’re trying to cross tabulate. Depending on what you want to find the sum of, you take that data set and drop it into the data. The data will give you the sum of all the data you’re trying to compare. To see the break down, go to the “PivotTable Field List” and double click on the data set you places into the data field.

Here’s a useful site with pictures to guide you through: http://www.cpearson.com/excel/pivots.htm