"This Pivot Table report is invalid"

I created an Excel workbook that queries a SQL Server database that returns around 500,000 to 600,000 rows. He then refreshes a Pivot Table references query data. He can successfully refresh the Pivot Table immediately after the data refresh. When he saves the workbook and reopens it, though, attempting to work in the pivot table returns the error:

This Pivot Table report is invalid. Try refreshing the data.

He can dutifully refresh the data, but it doesn't make the problem go away. It seems that if he re-creates the Pivot Table from scratch, it works for one more work session, the problem recurs when he opens the workbook. It's a fairly complex pivot table, so rebuilding it all the time isn't making him happy.

A few Google searches turn up information on some other Pivot table problems with field names, but not for the whole Pivot table report being invalid.

Any information on that error?

It’s been my experience that when I am able to reproduce an error in a sandbox and winnow out all the extraneous noise the problem I’m seeking to solve disappears. Unfortunately, can’t even reproduce the problem, although the user gets it consistently. All I have to go on is the error message.

I’m looking for is any experience of the error and how it might be addressed. No ‘..spreadsheet rebuilding...’ required. If you’ve never seen nor heard of the error, then please say so. If you have no idea where I might find some explication of error, please say so.

Thanks.

Erwin —

That’s exactly what it was looking for! Thanks!