Alternatives to Power Query for appending multiple tables

Forgive this, as I know I have an answer in PQ but I need to get others using Excel in a way that means I'm not the only one doing this so I'm looking for a lower barrier to entry for this activity.

I seem to remember a few ways in which you can stack multiple tables with the same headings in a robust manner that allows things to be added to the tables (and then once refreshed) will reflect in a pivot that aggregates all this information together:
- Power Query: works but the set-up is alien to many and won't be maintainable
- Using the Data Model: I can't remember if this does what I need
- Using Vstack: this works, but the pivot is inefficient/lazy as it captures the entire column of the Vstack to capture any new lines that get added to the individual tables

I'd like some feedback on the these, in particular the data model, as this isn't something I've used too much so I don't know if I understand how it works or if it can do this.

Using Vstack: this works, but the pivot is inefficient/lazy as it captures the entire column of the Vstack to capture any new lines that get added to the individual tables

So use it in conjunction with FILTER, then.

If you want assistance, please provide a sample workbook.

Thanks. You haven't explained how you want the VSTACKed data filtering - what is the criterion?

You have the latest 365 beta version, so why not try the PIVOTBY or GROUPBY function?

For example (and this could be further refined), try this in any empty cell:

=LET(v,VSTACK(Table1,Table2,Table3,Table4),GROUPBY(HSTACK(INDEX(v,,4),INDEX(v,,1),INDEX(v,,3)),INDEX(v,,2),SUM,,,1))

I'd not seen these features, I'll give that a shot. Thank you

Glad to have helped.

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