Clean Data Set for Pivot Table

• When your data is not clean
• How to clean your data.

Exercise Workbook:

STEP 1: Here is our data set, select the data and go to Insert > Tables > PivotTable

STEP 2: Select Existing Worksheet and pick a cell inside the same worksheet to insert our Pivot Table. Click OK.

STEP 3: Drag the DATA column into Rows and Values

You will notice that how come IN123C104Z is appearing as 3 rows? This is caused by our dirty data!

STEP 4: If you inspect the data table closely, you will see that they have extra spaces. This is what’s causing our Pivot Table to have weird outputs!

STEP 5: Let us clean those extra spaces! Select the entire column of your data and go to Data > Data Tools > Text to Columns

STEP 6: Click Next

STEP 7: Make sure Space is ticked and select Finish. This will remove the extra spaces as a result.

STEP 8: Right click anywhere on your Pivot Table and select Refresh to reflect our data cleanup.

Now that’s looking much better!

Bryan

Bryan Hong is an IT Software Developer for more than 10 years and has the following certifications: Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD): Web Developer, Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS): Windows Applications, Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) and Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA).

He is also an Amazon #1 bestselling author of 4 Microsoft Excel books and a teacher of Microsoft Excel & Office at the MyExecelOnline Academy Online Course.