Creating a pivot table in Google Sheets is straightforward. Google spreadsheets provide everyone the opportunity of organizing, displaying and analyze data or information. Beginner users can be baffled at the beginning about how pivot tables can be exceptionally great tools for handling simple to complex data. Creating new pivot tables, editing information, and refreshing your pivot tables are essential skills that will simplify your use of Google sheets.
So How do You Refresh the Pivot Table in Google Sheets?
The quickest way to refresh the pivot table in Google sheet is to click on the cross symbol under filters in the pivot table editor, then make your changes on the Google sheet, and they will automatically be saved.
What Is A Pivot Table?
A pivot table is a table that summarizes data extracted from other tables when it performs data manipulation on the original data. A pivot table can manipulate data in many ways, including averaging, summing, and counting. The pivot table does not end with data manipulation, and it will also group the final data in the best helpful format.
First, you have to create a data table or use an existing data table to create your pivot table. If, for instance, you own a real estate company and sold some houses in different neighborhoods and you want to create a pivot table to keep your financial records. You can create a pivot table, and from that table, you can determine the neighborhoods with the highest average house prices.
Sales information from this pivot table can help you do several things. For instance, you can present the table to your future clients so they can quickly identify neighborhoods that fit into their home pricing budgets.
You may say that the sales information mentioned above can be manually handled, but imagine dealing with lots of sales. You can quickly turn your sales information into a pivot table with a few steps.
How To Create Pivot Tables In Google Sheet
Now that you have all your data in the Google Sheet, the first step towards creating a pivot table is to select and highlight all data, including the headers, by choosing the right bottom corner cell, then press Ctrl and A.
Select your data and then click on Pivot table from the menu at the top of the google sheet. Google sheet will create a new but blank table. From the right menu, you can choose your rows and columns alongside the values and filters you want to use for the pivot table. The sheet will suggest a pre-designed table, and you can choose this and then put the title of the table – for instance, the average price of houses in neighborhoods.
Once you title your pivot table, Google sheet will display the corresponding data in your pivot table. You may want to choose your data set and then create your results as grand totals. With this pivot table, you can also compare a number of variables, including instances and the number of times a value appears, by selecting the matching report from the left pane.
To show your report pane, click anywhere from your pivot table; you will see the numerous configuration options as you play with the data on your pivot table. As a real estate agent, for instance, you can configure your pivot table to show how many houses are sold in each neighborhood and the average prices of houses sold in each neighborhood.
Editing Pivot Tables In Your Google Sheets
You can edit your pivot table in Google sheets just the way you can edit other spreadsheets. In this case, you have to edit the data you are currently using in one particular field to effect changes on the pivot table.
To edit your pivot table, open a Google sheet with the data you are currently using for the pivot table. Edit the data you want to change, and then your pivot table will be automatically updated. Try and avoid changing the data in your pivot table itself because the table may end up corrupt, and you may have to start the entire process over again. All you have to do is modify the data on the sheet being used in the table, and it will take care of itself.
You don’t need a manual process to refresh the pivot table in your Google sheets; once you update the data being used by the table, your pivot table will automatically update. There is no user action needed to keep your pivot table updated.
If there is a filter running in your pivot table, refreshing it may not happen correctly; therefore, you need to open that Google sheet along with your filter table. Choose a column header so that the report editor will show up on the right. Look up the filter field and ensure there is no filter for each. There should be an add field option if there is no filter running.
If filters are running, they select the gray-color X symbol on the right of the window to eliminate them. Keep in mind that you can always re-add a filter when you need it.
How Do You Add Charts To Pivot Table In Google Sheet?
You may add charts to illustrate your findings in a pivot table. To do this, open the Google sheet with your pivot table, then select and click all the columns you want to include in the chart. Select and click on insert and the chart. Choose the chart type before editing the colors, alongside the legends and other elements you want to add. You will see your chart appear once you finish adding all the elements, just like your pivot table.
Ass you change your data, your chart will automatically update, just as your pivot table. There are several other elements you can add to your charts that will be affected immediately, and if you change your core dataset, it will also reflect on your chart. It would be best if you were careful with the addition of new data so as not to render your chart useless.
Common Google Sheets Pivot Table Problems And How To Fix Them
The following are common issues with Google sheet pivot tables and ways to fix them;
1. Why is the Pivot Table Not Refreshing?
Your pivot table should refresh automatically when you make changes to the original dataset. This problem may be due to several issues. First, your pivot table wouldn’t refresh when you add new rows outside of your pivot table’s range. The problem may also occur when the filters on your pivot table are active or your dataset has a formula that requires some calculation.
If your pivot table refresh doesn’t occur as a result of adding new rows outside of the table’s range, you may want to add an extra row for data you will need in the future. This means that other rows you don’t need presently will remain blank until when needed. Keep in mind that your pivot table will display an extra blank row when you open it.
2. Pivot Table Doesn’t Refresh Because the Filters are Active.
If your pivot table doesn’t refresh because the filters are active on it, then you need to remove the filters. You can always add the filters back once you have made your changes. To resolve the issue, click on that cross symbol beside the fields under the filters category in the pivot table editor. Make your changes on your original dataset, then they will reflect on your pivot table. You can click on the add option to add your filters back once your pivot table has refreshed.
3. Pivot Table Doesn’t Refresh Because Some Functions are Active on the Pivot Table.
Certain functions that require refreshing, including; TODAY and RANDOM, don’t work well with the Pivot table. If your original data set comes with functions like this, any changes you make will not reflect on your pivot table.
Unfortunately, there is no solution to this type of problem other than to avoid the use of such functions. Though Google promised they are working hard to resolve issues like this, in the meantime, it will be better to avoid the use of certain functions.
Conclusion
There are many ways you can manipulate your pivot table and other elements like your charts in Google sheet. Sometimes, you just have to keep your additions within range to ensure that your pivot table doesn’t look out of place, except you want to create an entirely new table. The same rule applies to your charts and other elements; extreme adjustment to your core data may change the outlook of these elements immediately. Also, you need to avoid the use of certain functions, except if they are necessary and they are required in your pivot table. The more functions you use, the more complicated your pivot table becomes.
