4 Benefits of Using Conditional Formatting in A Pivot Table

Conditional Formatting In Pivot Table

Conditional formatting in pivot tables is good for users to format cells. And these can be based on specific conditions. This feature is available in most spreadsheet applications. Such as Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets. In this article, we will discuss the benefits of using conditional formatting in pivot tables. Also we will look at how to use it  and keep it as data changes over time.

Benefits of Using conditional formatting in a pivot table: How to apply conditional formatting to pivot table

Pivot tables are an incredibly useful tool especially if you are analyzing large sets of data in Excel. They quickly summarize and manipulate data. So, different audience can understand it better. One powerful feature of pivot tables is conditional formatting. Like you do it in normal tables, you can highlight data that meets specific criteria visually in pivot tables as well. Even it is a dynamic data, conditional formatting rules can stay.

Conditional Formatting In A Pivot Table

how to add conditional formatting in pivot table?

Conditional formatting in pivot tables is an excellent way to highlight important information and trends. When you use it, you can quickly identify cells meeting specific criteria. Such as sales figures are above or below a certain threshold. This can help you make better decisions. Also, you will identify areas where you need to focus your attention.



How to Use Conditional Formatting in Pivot Tables

Here, you must first create a pivot table. Once pivot table is ready, you can apply conditional formatting to any column or row. To do this, you can select the column or row you want to format. And then, you will click on Conditional Formatting button in the home menu.

From here, you can choose from a variety of formatting options. Such as changing the font color, highlighting cells or applying data bars. You can also set up specific conditions for the formatting rules. These can be values that are above or below a certain number for instance.

Advanced Techniques to add conditional formatting to pivot table

While basic conditional formatting can be useful, there are many advanced techniques to stand out data presentation even more. For example, you can use icon sets to display graphical indicators. And thse represent specific values or ranges.

Another advanced technique is to use custom formulas to create more complex conditions for formatting. This can be useful when you need to format cells based on multiple criteria. Or when the built-in formatting options don’t meet your needs.

How to Modify Conditional Formatting Rules:

If you need to modify an existing conditional formatting rule in your table, you can do so by following these steps:

  1. You can select the cells you want to modify.
  2. Then, you will click the Conditional Formatting button and choose Manage Rules.
  3. So, you can select the rule you want to modify.
  4. And now you make changes to the rule settings.
  5. Lastly, you should click OK to save the changes.

The Benefits of Using Conditional Formatting in Pivot Table:

  • Makes it easier to identify trends and outliers in your data.
  • Helps you quickly spot important information
  • Provides a visual representation of your data
  • Makes it easier to communicate your findings to others

how to keep conditional formatting in pivot table

To ensure your conditional formatting in a pivot table stays put even after refreshing your pivot table, you can follow these steps.

  1. You Should Apply the Rule to the Entire Range: When setting up your conditional formatting rule, you will make sure to apply it to the entire range of cells. So if you want the formatting to appear, rather than just the current visible data, you should apply it to all cells. This will allow the rule to automatically adjust as your data changes.
  2. Check the “Apply Rule To” Setting: In the conditional formatting rule editor, you should look for a setting letting you specify the range of cells. You can select the appropriate option to ensure the rule applies to all relevant cells.   
  3. Refresh Your pivot table conditional format: After making these adjustments, you can refresh your pivot table. The conditional formatting should update automatically to reflect the new data.

In case you are following these steps, you can keep your pivot table conditional format, even as your pivot table data evolves in time.

How to Apply Conditional Formatting?

To add conditional formatting to pivot table, you can use below summary steps.

  1. First as always, you should select the cells for conditional formatting.
  2. You will now click the Conditional Formatting button on the Home.
  3. Now, you select the type of formatting rule to apply.
  4. Again you should configure the rule settings and then click OK.

Different Types of Formatting Rules

  • Highlight Cells Rules: Highlights cells that meet specific criteria.
  • Top/Bottom Rules: Highlights the top or bottom values in a range of cells.
  • Data Bars: This one Adds a bar to each cell to represent its value.
  • Color Scales: It applies a gradient color scale to the cells based on their values.
  • Icon Sets: While this adds icons to each cell based on its value.



Conclusion: pivot table conditional format

This formatting options can help you identify important points in data tables. Or best part is you can compare different values or differentiate people names or outliers in a sequence. When you use this feature, you can make your data more visually appealing and easier to understand. With the techniques, you can take your conditional formatting skills to the next level and create pivot tables that truly stand out.

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