Can't group pivot table items by month in Excel

i use excel 2004 for mac but have the same problem using 2003 for windows. i
have a pivot table with dates in the rows, names in the columns and count of
quantity in the data section. i want to group the date entries by month. i
follow microsoft's help directions listed below but i am never prompted with
a starting at box, ending at box or by box. the pivot table just groups
whatever i have highlighted and gives me no other options. i would like to
use this smart grouping option. please help.

1. Hold down CONTROL and click the selected date or time items, point to
Group and Outline, and then click Group.
2. If necessary, type the first item to group in the Starting at box, and
type the last item to group in the Ending at box.
3. In the By box, click one or more time periods for the items in the group
To group items by weeks, click Days in the By box, make sure Days is the
only time period selected, and then click 7 in the Number of days box. You
can then click additional time periods to group by, such as Months, if you

There are instructions here that may be easier to follow:

http://www.contextures.com/xlPivot07.html

scott_ensley wrote:
> i use excel 2004 for mac but have the same problem using 2003 for windows. i
> have a pivot table with dates in the rows, names in the columns and count of
> quantity in the data section. i want to group the date entries by month. i
> follow microsoft's help directions listed below but i am never prompted with
> a starting at box, ending at box or by box. the pivot table just groups
> whatever i have highlighted and gives me no other options. i would like to
> use this smart grouping option. please help.
>
> 1. Hold down CONTROL and click the selected date or time items, point to
> Group and Outline, and then click Group.
> 2. If necessary, type the first item to group in the Starting at box, and
> type the last item to group in the Ending at box.
> 3. In the By box, click one or more time periods for the items in the group
> To group items by weeks, click Days in the By box, make sure Days is the
> only time period selected, and then click 7 in the Number of days box. You
> can then click additional time periods to group by, such as Months, if you


--
Debra Dalgleish
Excel FAQ, Tips & Book List
http://www.contextures.com/tiptech.html