Exercises using the field list

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Exercises using the field list

You have already created a pivot table using the ribbon command Insert | group Tables | Pivot table pivot_table_range_icon. The field list with the upper field section and the lower areas section is on the right-hand side, but the target range of the pivot table (the pivot table report) is still blank.

This section explains step-by-step how to drag items from the fields section to the areas section in the field list, in order to display significant results with different characteristics in the pivot table report.

If you are already familiar with the structure of a pivot table, you can skip this section.

Tip 1: You can drag the fields to the desired area with the mouse. It is also possible to place a check mark in front of the relevant field in the fields section. PlanMaker then automatically assigns the field to an area in the areas section. Fields with numbers are placed in the values area; all other formats, such as text and date, are placed in the row labels area.

Tip 2: Fields can be dragged back and forth not only between the fields section and the areas section, but also between the individual areas of the areas section and within the areas themselves, so you can easily swap the position of the fields.

Exercise 1: Adding a field to the "Values" area

In the fields section, place a check mark in front of the Amount field or drag the field with the left mouse button down directly to the Values area of the areas section.

pivot_field_list_exc1

On the left the unchanged source data, in the middle the result of the pivot table, and on the right the field list with the selection of the fields for Exercise 1

The field element "Sum of Amount" appears in the Values area of the field list.

In the pivot table report, the value field with the header "Sum of Amount" now appears instead of the blank report.

All items from the Values field are summed up to a grand total in the pivot table report.

Exercise 2: Adding a field to the "Row labels" area

Now place an additional check mark in front of the Employee field in the fields section or drag the field with the left mouse button down directly to the Row labels area.

pivot_field_list_exc2

On the left the result of the pivot table, and on the right the field list with the selected fields for Exercise 2

The field element "Employee" appears in the Row labels area of the field list.

In the pivot table report, a row field with the header "Row labels" is displayed and the employees are arranged by rows. Each name appears only once here.

The value field with the header "Sum of Amount" in the pivot table report displays the expenses summed up and broken down by employee.

Exercise 3: Adding a field to the "Column labels" area

You can also display the result by columns instead of by rows. To do this, drag the same Employee field to the Column labels area.

pivot_field_list_exc3

On the left the result of the pivot table, and on the right the field list with the selected fields for Exercise 3

The field element "Employee" appears in the Column labels area of the field list.

In the pivot table report, a column field with the header "Column labels" is displayed and the employees are arranged by columns. Each name appears only once.

The expenses are summed in the pivot table report in the value field "Sum of Amount" and broken down by employee.

Exercise 4: Adding a second field to the "Row labels" area

Drag the Employee field back into the Row labels area, and now place an additional check mark in front of the Order field.

pivot_field_list_exc4

On the left the result of the pivot table, and on the right the field list with the selected fields for Exercise 4

In the pivot table report, employees are grouped with their totaled order types under "Row labels". Since the Employee field is at the top of the row labels area, it is the primary criterion and is therefore displayed as the higher-level field in the pivot table report.

The amounts for purchased orders are broken down by employee in the "Sum of Amount" value field in the pivot table report and partial results are displayed as subtotals per employee.

Note: It could be that the orders in the pivot table report are grouped as an indented column to the right of the employees. The structure of the results shown here is based on the PlanMaker default settings. See section Configuring pivot tables: Field settings to find useful information on how to customize the form.

Exercise 5: Using "Column labels" and "Row labels" together

Drag the Order field to the Column labels area, the Employee field remains in the Row labels area.

pivot_field_list_exc5

On the left the result of the pivot table, and on the right the field list with the selected fields for Exercise 5

You will see the same results as in Exercise 4, but shown as a cross-classified table. The intersecting fields without existing values (e.g. Anna did not buy sweetener) are displayed as empty cells.

Exercise 6: Using "Column labels" and "Row labels" together with multiple fields

Now also drag the Date field to the Row labels area below the Employee field.

pivot_field_list_exc6

On the left the result of the pivot table, and on the right the field list with the selected fields for Exercise 6

The date of the orders purchased by employees is also displayed in the pivot table report, in this example grouped directly below the employees. A grouping of the orders as an indented column to the right of the employees could also appear, depending on the settings in PlanMaker.

Note 1: You can drag multiple fields into the row and/or column labels for reporting purposes, but you will also quickly reach the limits of clarity.

Note 2: If there are several fields in one area, the order of the fields determines the structure of the outline levels displayed in the pivot table report. You can change this order at any time by dragging the field up or down within the area.

Exercise 7: Adding a field to the "Report filter" area

Drag the Date field from the Row labels area to the Report filter area and the Order field back to the Row labels area.

pivot_field_list_exc7

On the left the result of the pivot table, and on the right the field list with the selected fields for Exercise 7

A Report filter has been added for the Date field, which is integrated as a new row above the pivot report.

Above the pivot report you can open a dropdown menu to the right of (All items) filter_arrow and filter by date values displayed in the list. Initially, all date values are selected, indicated by the check mark in front of them. You can filter out the date items from the pivot report that you do not want to be displayed by removing the check marks.