The simplest way to chart a PivotTable is to click on a cell in the pivot table, and then click the chart button on the PivotTable toolbar, or on the Standard toolbar.

 

 

A basic column chart is created on a new worksheet. This particular chart shows profits generated by each salesman broken down over regions.

 

Any changes or rearranging of field values in the PivotTable will be automatically reflected in the PivotChart. If there are changes made to the source data for the PivotTable, clicking the refresh (!) button on the PivotTable toolbar will update both the PivotTable and the PivotChart. This makes the PivotChart every bit as malleable as the PivotTable upon which it is based.

 

If a basic column chart is not what you are after, you can select another chart type by using the Excel chart wizard. First, click on a blank cell out side the PivotTable area. Then click the chart button on the standard toolbar to invoke the chart wizard dialogue.

 

 

In step 1 of the chart wizard, select the type of chart that you want to use for your PivotTable data. (3-D stacked bar chart is selected in this example)

 

When you click the next button, step 2 of the wizard will require you to enter the range of data for the chart. Make sure your cursor is in the Data range text box and click on a cell in the PivotTable. The PivotTable range should be automatically entered into the Data range text box, and you should see a preview of the chart in the upper half of the dialogue box.

 

 

Here you can see a preview of the chart in the upper half of the dialogue box. You can also see the PivotTable data range entered into the Data range text box.

 

If you click the next button you can use step 3 and step 4 of the chart wizard to add titles and axis labels to the PivotChart, and to specify its location on an existing worksheet or a new one.

 

 

Here you can see the PivotTable, PivotChart, and the source data all on the same worksheet. Once again, any rearranging done to the PivotTable will be reflected in the PivotChart as well. Refreshing the PivotTable will also refresh the PivotChart.

 

You can also create a PivotChart and a PivotTable at the same time by using the PivotTable PivotChart Report wizard. To do this, click on a cell in the block of source data, choose Data->PivotTable and PivotChart Report from the menu bar, and select the PivotChart Report (with PivotTable) radio button in Step 1 of the wizard.

 

 

In step 2 of the wizard, make sure the data range for the table and chart are correct, and in step3, specify the location of the PivotTable that is associated with the PivotChart.

 

 

 

You can choose to place the PivotTable on a new worksheet or an Existing worksheet. The PivotChart will be created and placed on a new worksheet regardless of where you place the PivotTable.