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Data Analysis Intermediate Excel Pivot Tables Building a Pivot Table

Posted by Alexandra Harding
Alexandra Harding
1,044 Points

Why can't I sort the sum of sales in the pivot table unless the total number of units is unchecked?

I can't sort the sum of sales in descending or ascending order until I've unchecked the "units sold" field name in the builder. Why?

1 Answer

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
229,708 Points
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
229,708 Points

I was able to sort by amounts or by units. But there's a trick to it. If you are right-clicking to select the column to sort on, it makes a difference if you select a city total or a state total. Whichever you select, only those values get sorted.

This can be handy, in case you want something like the states sorted largest first and the cities within them smallest first. but if you don't realize how the sort is working, it might seem to not be responding.