Pivot Tables (and Pivot Charts) to
the Rescue!
Dereck Norville, MSSW
Hostos Community College – City University of New York
DC Data Summit
July 7th, 2014
• Overview of the sections of the training workshop:
• Part 1 - Pivot Table Overview
• Part 2 - Pivot Chart Overview
• Part 3 - Question-based Approach to Analysis via Pivot
Tables (extracting the significance)
• Excel Training – Part 1
• Excel Training – Part 2
• Excel Training – Part 3
Training Workshop Agenda
• By the end of the workshop, participants will …
• Better understand the utility of using Pivot Tables to extract
significant findings from their datasets.
• Be able to construct Pivot Tables and Pivot Charts.
• Be able to create a simple interactive dashboard using
slicers in Pivot Charts.
• Be able to apply a research methodology to data analysis
activities.
Learning Objectives
• Topics covered in this section may include:
• Definition of a pivot table
• Overview of the components of a pivot table (e.g. fields,
column labels, row labels, values, report filters, and slicers)
• Rearranging fields in a pivot table
• Changing data summary calculations
• Displaying values as a percentage
• Renaming headings in the table
• Introducing filters and slicers
• Drill-down functionality
Part 1 – Pivot Table Overview
• Topics covered in this section may include:
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Multiple ways to create a pivot chart
Altering chart types, formats, and layouts
Filtering Pivot Charts
Hiding Pivot Chart elements
Using “slicers” to create dashboards from Pivot Charts
Part 2 – Pivot Chart Overview
• Topics covered in this section may include:
• Determining questions to answer (based on the pre-assigned
dataset);
• Determining the variables from the dataset that will be
needed to create the pivot table;
• Creating the appropriate pivot table to determine the
answer; and
• Deciding on an appropriate visualization via Pivot Charts.
Part 3 - Question-based
Approach to Analysis
• Pivot tables are one of Excel's most powerful features. A pivot table
allows you to extract the significance from a large, detailed data set. Its
primary purpose is to summarize data and reveal patterns and trends.
One of the best features is its drill-down capabilities.
• There are several components to a pivot table:
• Fields – This is where the list of variables that you selected will be housed for
you to use in your tables.
• Column Labels – dragging a field into this box will set the values in that
field as your column labels.
• Row Labels - dragging a field into this box will set the values in that field as
your row labels.
• Values – Whatever field(s) you drag into this box will populate the values
(counts, averages, sum, max, min, etc.) for that field (variable).
• Report Filter – whatever field(s) you drag into this box allows you to filter
your table results by the values in that field (variable)
• Slicers – Allows you to “slice” your data by any criteria found in one of your
variables (e.g. this function would allow me to slice overall workshop
participation by race – Race being the slicer).
Intro to Pivot Tables