Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here: Refreshing PivotTable Data.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated March 3, 2021)
This tip applies to Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
Excel PivotTables provide a powerful tool you can use to analyze your data, as you have learned in other ExcelTips. Whenever you change the information in your source data list, you will need to update the PivotTable. There is no need to recreate the table, instead you simply select a cell in the PivotTable and then select Refresh Data from the Data menu, or click on the Refresh Data tool on the PivotTable toolbar.
Updating changes is simple enough, but there is probably an additional step you will want to take if you have added records to your data table. If you have added information at the end of the list, either manually or using a data form, you will want to redefine the data range used to create the PivotTable. To do this, select a cell in the PivotTable and invoke the PivotTable and PivotChart Wizard. When it is displayed, navigate through the steps back to Step 2. (This is the step that allows you to specify the cell range to use for the PivotTable.) Make sure the cell range reflects accurately the range you want included in the PivotTable.
You should note that if you are adding rows in the middle of the PivotTable's data range, or if you delete rows, you do not need to be concerned about the cell range reflected in the PivotTable Wizard. Excel will make sure it is adjusted correctly. (You only need to be concerned when you add rows or columns to the end of the cell range.)
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (2471) applies to Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Excel (Excel 2007 and later) here: Refreshing PivotTable Data.
Dive Deep into Macros! Make Excel do things you thought were impossible, discover techniques you won't find anywhere else, and create powerful automated reports. Bill Jelen and Tracy Syrstad help you instantly visualize information to make it actionable. You’ll find step-by-step instructions, real-world case studies, and 50 workbooks packed with examples and solutions. Check out Microsoft Excel 2019 VBA and Macros today!
If you ever try to edit a PivotTable and get an error that tells you that the "underlying data was not included," it can ...
Discover MoreWhen you create a PivotTable based on data that contains lots of text, you may be surprised to find that your text is ...
Discover MorePivotTables are a great way to process huge amounts of data and make sense of that data. If you have a number of ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
Got a version of Excel that uses the menu interface (Excel 97, Excel 2000, Excel 2002, or Excel 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here:
Comments