+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 7 of 7

Pivot Table - Way to reduce filters

  1. #1
    Registered User
    Join Date
    03-04-2015
    Location
    Toronto, Ontario
    MS-Off Ver
    2013
    Posts
    7

    Pivot Table - Way to reduce filters

    Hi, I've been playing around with Pivot tables in an attempt to learn them. Already finding them very useful. I have a large spreadsheet that has a format of something like this.

    Spreadsheet.PNG

    I create a Pivot and filter by the locations like this.

    Filter.PNG

    It works but I have 4 filters (even more with my real spreadsheet that has 30 locations) Is there a way to merge these locations into one filter. Say a top level like Location and then be able to dig down each level from there?

    Example

    Location
    • North
      A
    • South
      B
    • East
      A
    • West
      B


    Hope that makes sense. Been googling but can't find any way to do that. If it's even possible would appreciate if someone could point me into the right direction as to what I should be researching to achieve this.

  2. #2
    Valued Forum Contributor Eastw00d's Avatar
    Join Date
    02-29-2020
    Location
    Breda, NL
    MS-Off Ver
    2016, 2019
    Posts
    833

    Re: Pivot Table - Way to reduce filters

    Hi, you could rearrange your data like in my sheet:
    Name, number, location, region

    Cheers
    Erwin
    Attached Files Attached Files
    I started learning VBA because I was lazy ...
    Still developing.... being more lazy...

  3. #3
    Registered User
    Join Date
    03-04-2015
    Location
    Toronto, Ontario
    MS-Off Ver
    2013
    Posts
    7

    Re: Pivot Table - Way to reduce filters

    Thanks Eastw00d that's exactly what I'm trying to do the problem is I can't seem to find a way to put the data in that way. it's a raw dump into excel and little more complicated than I presented (my bad). The challenge is some names of the names are listed under multiple regions. So in my pivot I want to dig down to Region and Category.

    This would be a better example of the data. So for example in my Pivot, I would want to select Region 2, Category B and see Steve and Bob

    Attachment 732634

  4. #4
    Forum Moderator alansidman's Avatar
    Join Date
    02-02-2010
    Location
    Steamboat Springs, CO
    MS-Off Ver
    MS Office 365 Version 2403 Win 11 Home 64 Bit
    Posts
    23,811

    Re: Pivot Table - Way to reduce filters

    Will you please attach a sample Excel workbook? We are not able to work with or manipulate a picture of one and nobody wants to have to recreate your data from scratch.

    1. Make sure that your sample data are REPRESENTATIVE of your real data. The use of unrepresentative data is very frustrating and can lead to long delays in reaching a solution.

    2. Make sure that your desired results are also shown (mock up the results manually).

    3. Make sure that all confidential data is removed or replaced with dummy data first (e.g. names, addresses, E-mails, etc.).

    4. Try to avoid using merged cells as they cause lots of problems.

    Unfortunately the attachment icon doesn't work at the moment, so to attach an Excel file you have to do the following: just before posting, scroll down to Go Advanced and then scroll down to Manage Attachments. Now follow the instructions at the top of that screen.

    Please pay particular attention to point 2 (above): without an idea of your intended outcomes, it is often very difficult to offer appropriate advice.
    Alan עַם יִשְׂרָאֵל חַי


    Change an Ugly Report with Power Query
    Database Normalization
    Complete Guide to Power Query
    Man's Mind Stretched to New Dimensions Never Returns to Its Original Form

  5. #5
    Registered User
    Join Date
    03-04-2015
    Location
    Toronto, Ontario
    MS-Off Ver
    2013
    Posts
    7

    Re: Pivot Table - Way to reduce filters

    Sorry, Thanks for the advice alansidman

    Ok here's an attachment of a spreadsheet with same data. It has a Pivot I created and a mock up of what I'm trying to achieve (or something similar) that doesn't involve me having 10 filters for Regions.
    Table on the left is what I currently have, one on the right is what I'm trying to achieve.

    Ideal.PNG
    Attached Files Attached Files

  6. #6
    Forum Moderator alansidman's Avatar
    Join Date
    02-02-2010
    Location
    Steamboat Springs, CO
    MS-Off Ver
    MS Office 365 Version 2403 Win 11 Home 64 Bit
    Posts
    23,811

    Re: Pivot Table - Way to reduce filters

    Attached is a Power Query Solution using Parameters to filter for both the Region and Position.

    Power Query is a free AddIn for Excel 2010 and 2013, and is built-in functionality from Excel 2016 onwards (where it is referred to as "Get & Transform Data").

    It is a powerful yet simple way of getting, changing and using data from a broad variety of sources, creating steps which may be easily repeated and refreshed. I strongly recommend learning how to use Power Query - it's among the most powerful functionalities of Excel.

    - Follow this link to learn how to install Power Query in Excel 2010 / 2013.

    - Follow this link for an introduction to Power Query functionality.

    Make your parameter selections in the data validation tables to the right on the Unpivot Sheet. On the Data Tab of the Ribbon, select Refresh All.
    Attached Files Attached Files
    Last edited by alansidman; 05-15-2021 at 05:52 PM.

  7. #7
    Registered User
    Join Date
    03-04-2015
    Location
    Toronto, Ontario
    MS-Off Ver
    2013
    Posts
    7

    Re: Pivot Table - Way to reduce filters

    That's exactly what I'm looking for. Thanks, will start reading up on Get & Transform/Power Query

    A big Thank You!

+ Reply to Thread

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. [SOLVED] Macro to select multiple pivot table filters, based on values in a table
    By Portuga in forum Excel Programming / VBA / Macros
    Replies: 11
    Last Post: 12-03-2018, 06:42 PM
  2. Macro to update pivot table filters from multiple pivot tables of different data sources
    By groblerdn85 in forum Excel Programming / VBA / Macros
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 11-24-2017, 05:10 AM
  3. [SOLVED] Pivot Table Filters
    By reedersketer in forum Excel Charting & Pivots
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 10-12-2017, 08:41 AM
  4. How to Reduce Filtered Results in Pivot Table?
    By clayjm in forum Excel Charting & Pivots
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 10-19-2015, 04:42 PM
  5. Replies: 1
    Last Post: 07-16-2015, 05:46 AM
  6. [SOLVED] reduce size of pivot table file
    By zapadias in forum Excel General
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 05-19-2006, 05:10 AM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts

Search Engine Friendly URLs by vBSEO 3.6.0 RC 1