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External Data Source Connection Error

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    External Data Source Connection Error

    I created a pivot table in a file that I shared with a colleague. When she opened it she received the attached error message. The pivot table is not referring to anything external that I'm aware of.
    She is on a Mac using Office 365 Excel Version 16.11; I am on a PC running Excel 2016.
    How do I fix this?
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  2. #2
    Forum Expert CK76's Avatar
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    Re: External Data Source Connection Error

    Are you generating Pivot Table via PowerQuery (Get & Transform)? I.E. Data is loaded to data model.

    This feature isn't available in Mac version and will cause issues (even when it's based on Excel Table/Range).

    To share the file with Mac user, you'd need to create Pivot Table directly from Range/Table via traditional method.
    ?Progress isn't made by early risers. It's made by lazy men trying to find easier ways to do something.?
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    Re: External Data Source Connection Error

    btw. and update your profile to real excel version

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    Re: External Data Source Connection Error

    Thank you for the reply. I wasn't using PowerQuery or PowerPivot. Just a garden variety "Insert...PivotTable" then used the Create Pivot Table window functions

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    Re: External Data Source Connection Error

    Thank you for pointing that out. I went right out and made lots of profile updates.

  6. #6
    Forum Guru xlnitwit's Avatar
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    Re: External Data Source Connection Error

    If your default settings are to prefer the Data Model, then you would have the same problem. You need to make sure the data is not added to the data model when creating the pivot table.
    Don
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