Pivot Table Data Headings - disappear when changed

[KB]

Hi All,
I have a sheet of data, and a pivot table on another sheet that uses the
data. When I change the name of a data field, the data field disappears from
the pivot. I would have thought that the name would just update. The new
data name is in the field list, but having to go into the field list and
drag it out to the pivot is not very practical.

Has anyone noticed this issue? Is there a way to make this work?

Essentially the pivot is filled with place holder data names (Data1, Data2,
etc.). The real names are filled in later after the workbook is distributed
around the company, so the manipulation of the pivot is out of my hands, and
multipled many times over (over 50 workbooks go out).

Thanks for any advice,

KB

 

[Nick Hodge]

KB

It should. How are you updating it? I simply double-click the header and
change it in the resultant dialog

--
HTH
Nick Hodge
Microsoft MVP - Excel
Southampton, England
www.nickhodge.co.uk
(e-mail address removed)

 

[Conrad Carlberg]

Hi KB --

I'm guessing that when you say you "change the name of a data field," you're
doing so in the underlying data list, not using the various pivot table
tools. Nick's advice is right: if possible given your situation, change the
name of the field in the Pivot Table Field dialog box. Too, this is a useful
method for getting rid of unwanted labels such as "Sum of ..." or "Average
of ..." so long as you also do something such as adding a blank space at the
end of the name; else, you can get the error message "Pivot Table field name
already exists."