Excel Pivot Tables and Pivot Charts: Your visual blueprint for creating dynamic spreadsheets

Paul McFedries' "Excel Pivot Tables and Pivot Charts: Your visual blueprint for creating dynamic spreadsheets" is a practical and visually oriented guide designed to help users harness the powerful features of Excel pivot tables and pivot charts. This book is part of the "Your visual blueprint" series, known for its step-by-step visual format that makes complex concepts accessible and easy to understand.

The book is structured to cater to both beginners and experienced users, offering a clear, visual approach to learning. Each task is presented with detailed screenshots and concise instructions, making it easy for readers to follow along and apply what they learn directly to their Excel spreadsheets. The visual blueprint format ensures that even complex tasks are broken down into manageable steps, enhancing comprehension and retention.

McFedries begins by introducing the basics of pivot tables and pivot charts, explaining their purpose and benefits. Pivot tables are described as powerful tools for summarising, analysing, and presenting large datasets, while pivot charts are dynamic charts that provide a visual representation of pivot table data. The author emphasises the ease with which users can create and manipulate pivot tables and charts to gain meaningful insights from their data.

One of the core sections of the book focuses on the creation and customisation of pivot tables. McFedries guides readers through the process of selecting data, inserting pivot tables, and configuring their layout. He covers essential features such as sorting, filtering, and grouping data, demonstrating how these functions can be used to organize and analyse data effectively.

The book also delves into more advanced pivot table functionalities, such as calculated fields and items, which allow users to perform custom calculations within their pivot tables. McFedries provides clear examples of how to use these features to enhance data analysis.

In addition to pivot tables, the book provides comprehensive coverage of pivot charts. McFedries explains how to create pivot charts from existing pivot tables and customise them to meet specific needs. He discusses various chart types and their applications, offering guidance on selecting the right chart type to best represent the data.

The author also explores advanced pivot chart features, such as formatting options, adding trendlines, and using slicers to filter data interactively. These features enable users to create visually appealing and informative charts that can enhance reports and presentations.

Throughout the book, McFedries includes practical tips and real-world examples that illustrate the application of pivot tables and pivot charts in various scenarios. These examples help readers understand how to apply the techniques they learn to their own data analysis tasks, making the book a valuable resource for both personal and professional use.

For more experienced users, McFedries explores advanced techniques, such as using Power Pivot to work with large datasets and complex data models. He also provides troubleshooting tips for common issues that users may encounter when working with pivot tables and charts, helping to ensure a smooth and efficient workflow.

"Excel Pivot Tables and Pivot Charts: Your visual blueprint for creating dynamic spreadsheets" by Paul McFedries is an essential guide for anyone looking to master Excel's pivot table and pivot chart features. The book's visual approach, clear instructions, and practical examples make it accessible to users of all levels, from beginners to advanced users. By providing comprehensive coverage of pivot table and pivot chart functionalities, McFedries empowers readers to effectively analyse and visualise their data, enhancing their ability to make informed decisions and create dynamic, impactful spreadsheets.

The key takeaways from this book

1. User-Friendly Visual Learning Approach:

• • The book adopts a visual, step-by-step learning approach that makes complex concepts easy to understand and apply. Each task is accompanied by detailed screenshots and concise instructions, which helps users, especially beginners, to follow along and learn effectively.

2. Comprehensive Guide to Creating and Customising Pivot Tables:

• • McFedries provides thorough coverage of the process of creating and customising pivot tables. Readers learn how to select data, insert pivot tables, and configure layouts. The book explains essential features such as sorting, filtering, grouping, and using calculated fields and items to perform custom calculations, enhancing the user's ability to analyse data effectively.

3. Detailed Exploration of Pivot Charts:

• • The book extends its focus to pivot charts, explaining how to create and customise them from existing pivot tables. McFedries covers various chart types, formatting options, adding trendlines, and using slicers to filter data interactively. This allows users to create visually appealing and informative charts that enhance their data presentations.

4. Practical Tips and Real-World Examples:

• • McFedries includes numerous practical tips and real-world examples throughout the book. These examples demonstrate how to apply the techniques in different scenarios, making the content relevant and useful for both personal and professional data analysis tasks. This practical approach helps readers understand the application of pivot tables and pivot charts in various contexts.

5. Advanced Techniques and Troubleshooting:

• • For more experienced users, the book explores advanced techniques such as using Power Pivot to handle large datasets and complex data models. McFedries also provides troubleshooting tips for common issues that may arise when working with pivot tables and charts. This ensures that users can overcome challenges and maintain an efficient workflow.