Best approach? Native Excel pivot for a SQL table

We've researched how to have an Excel pivot table use as its source a table
generated by a SQL-based program. There are a number of ways mentioned in
the Excel documentation. At least one seem complicated to even test--like
having to create a data definition. We're happy to do the work but are
unclear which method is best, and whether one or more methods is risky. We
first probably will have to create the pivot table using a sample table with
the right field names, and then ideally will point it somehow at the real
table, which will be on a different system and at a different path.

Thank you!