Thread: Sorting pivot tables columns and more...

Hi everyone. I'm JohnLennon and I hope to be posting here more frequently in the near future. I'm a recent college grad who got a job as a financial analyst and needs to beef up his excel skills. I have limited knowledge but am learning new things every day.

First question...

Let me start by showing you how the exported file from my financial database looks like.

x y z
1A
1B
1C
2A
2C
2B
3C
3B
3A

1, 2, 3 are separate Programs.
A, B, C are Projects within each Program.
X, Y, and Z are different types of data for each project.

I want to create a Pivot Table that has the Projects (A, B, C) in a column on the left and the Programs (1, 2, 3) in a row on the top with sub columns for each type of data (x, y, z). I separated the Program and Project by using (LEFT) and (RIGHT) and successfully made the Pivot Table using the wizard…however…

Notice how the Projects are ordered differently in each Program. They are in specific orders because they are hierarchies and have sum points. I need to order the Project column in the Pivot Table by the hierarchy of...lets say Program 3. Also, not every program has the same Projects. I need to find a way to figure out how the hierarchies of programs 1 and 2 are different from 3 and then where to place the additional Projects.

I know you can’t tell me where to place the additional Projects (I'll figure it out after I find them). I just need to know if there is a way I can order my Pivot Table according to Project 3 and also if there is a way that I can see how the other two Program hierarchies differ from Project 3 (as in which projects project 3 has and doesn't have that the others do or don't).

Being far from the level that many of you are at with regards to excel, its hard for me to articulate exactly what I'm trying to ask...but I can only do my best.

Any help is appreciated. Thanks in advance. I hope to contribute to the community in the future.