PivotTable Issues

Couple of issues that I have spotted:

Dates - they aren't true dates, they are text.
Layout of data - because the data is in separate columns for each month, the pivot recognises this as another field so if you want another month added you have to add another field.

Possible Resolution
Change dates to proper dates and change layout of the data to have only 5 columns:
  Site
  Product #
  Product
  Date
  Value

You could then have an additional column that determines whether the row is to be included in the pivot, presumably its the last four months that you display; simple IF statement to determine whether date is less than 4 months ago.

Rob I am sorry but I am not following your solution... could you show me what you mean and I can try to implement your recommendation into my full spreadsheet

See attached.
Pivotable.xlsx

Rob there is no date limitation, on the full spreadsheet (what I've included in the question in just a subset of the data) it actually goes out to 24 months and my intention is to group it by quarters.

My question is how did you automatically change the source data from the layout in 'Sheet 1' to the 'newdata' sheet. I assume you did not manually copy and paste?

You can use the Power Query add on (Excel 2010 or 2013) to change the source data from how it is received to how Rob transposed it.  It works very well, and has the ability to save the steps so they are repeatable the next time the source data is updated.

Let me know if you think this is of interest to you.  - Tom

Also you can group by quarter within the pivot table functionality...

OK, I'm way out of my league here and so I apologise for the lack of understanding on my part.

I think its easier if I just attach the 'real' workbook. I have hidden the other pages but basically you can see the table that exists there.

Hopefully Rob or Tom you can quickly set things up correctly for me. What I am trying to achieve is to use that data and create exactly the pivot table that Rob has put together and then each month I simply add data to the background table and the pivottable updates accordingly.
1606---EOM---EcoCycle.xlsx

The first question is do you have Excel 2010 or 2013?  If so do you know how to activate the Power Query add-in?  If not, you can use a macro (which was given to me years ago by one of the Experts here) to change your data to well-formed data for a pivot table.  I will find that macro if you need it.

In short, the dates you show in multiple columns should be shown in one column and not many.  This is a step in normalizing data that is not well-formed.  Once the data is in one column, then the pivot table gives you the reporting you want.

Another suggestion would be to ask for the data in a better format if that is possible.  It may be the provider thinks you prefer the data in a two-dimensional view.  This would be a great solution if you are having to transform the data every time you get it.  Just a thought....

Attached is what you data looks like (Unpivoted Data Tab) using the Power Query Add-In.  I was able to create it with basically four mouse clicks.  From this data, the pivot table is pretty easy.
1606---EOM---EcoCycle-Unpivoted.xlsx

Tom, I have excel 2016 and google tells me Power Query is built in as a result? And agreed, once the data is in that form its childs play.

Unfortunately that is how the data is available. There is essentially no other option without paying for an expensive custom report to be generated from our accounting system.

Are you able to to outline the 4 steps involved that you mention above. Usually I am quite a competent Excel user (albeit this issue has put that to question! haha) so I should be able to follow straight forward steps and do this monthly.

Thanks

Do you see the Power Query Tab at the top of your Excel along with the other Tabs?  If not, go to File>Options>AddIns.  At the bottom change Manage to COM Add Ins.  Then check

Power Query
Power Pivot
Power Map

Don't need all now, but you will eventually want to use.  

Restart Excel and you should see the Power Query tab at the top of the page along with the other tabs.  When you have this let me know and I will give you the remaining steps.

Tom... all 3 are in per the attached
Screenshot-2016-07-25-06.40.12.png

Wow, that truly is insanely easy! A part of me is upset it was that easy and I had no idea! haha

Thanks so much to you both

If you go out to YouTube and watch some videos about Power Query and/or Power Pivot you can begin to get really familiar with the tools.  They really have taken Excel to a different level.  I have not yet found the time to further develop my skills here either.

Thanks, recycleaus.

Tom, thanks for finishing off and with a better solution as well. I have yet to investigate Power Pivot; I still use 2010 at work but do have 2016 at home but don't use it for much.

Regards
Rob

Thanks, Rob, Power Pivot is worth investigating as is Power Query and Power Map.  Though I have not had the opportunity to use them extensively, I have used enough to know they are very powerful.

In short from what I know:

Power Pivot enables you to work with tables that are linked together, and can handle many millions of rows of data.  Not limited to Excel's 1,000,000 rows.

Power Query lets you cleanse data, and I think you can save the query that does it for doing it over and over.

Power Map enables you to visually plot data on maps.