XL5: Chart References to Pivot Table Not Updated Correctly

• Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 5.0, 5.0c
• Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 5.0, 5.0a

SYMPTOMS

In the versions of Microsoft Excel listed above, if you create a chart from data in a PivotTable, and you move either the chart or the PivotTable to another workbook, changes you make to the PivotTable while the workbook containing the chart is closed may not be reflected in the chart.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the versions of Microsoft Excel listed above. The problem was fixed in Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, version 7.0, Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows, and Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition.

WORKAROUND

To avoid incorrect references when you create a chart from a PivotTable, do either of the following:

• Keep the PivotTable and the chart that references the PivotTable in the same workbook.

      -or-
  

• Before you update the references in the chart, open the workbook that contains the PivotTable that the chart references. As long as the workbook that contains the PivotTable is open when you update the references in the chart, the references are correct.

MORE INFORMATION

When you create a chart from a PivotTable, any changes you make to the data or the fields in the PivotTable will be reflected in the chart if both the chart and the PivotTable are open when you make the changes. However, if the chart and the PivotTable are contained in different workbooks, and you add, delete, or move fields in the PivotTable to change the PivotTable range while the workbook that contains the chart is closed, this new range is not reflected in the chart if you update the references in the chart while the workbook containing the PivotTable is closed.

Note that changes to the data in the PivotTable are correctly updated in the chart even if the workbook that contains the chart is not open.

REFERENCES

For more information about creating a chart from a pivot table, choose the Search button in Help and type:

    pivot tables, creating charts from