How to Pivot Text Values in Excel - Get Text Into a Pivot Table

📗 Free template with queries here: »» https://cutt.ly/up4v2102M01FD
🎯 Pivot Tables can't show text results, so how did I get combined text into this one…find out here using this special technique. Get text results into your pivot table.

🕑 Video Timings:
00:00 What are we learning
00:43 Recommended Video
01:38 Pivot Tables won't pivot text
02:41 Power Query does the job
04:46 Remove your duplicate rows
06:20 Prepping your PowerQuery data
07:47 Turning tables into lists
09:41 Pivoting the list data
10:28 Your results as a linked table

Here’s what you’ll learn in the video:

1. The Problem with Standard Pivot Tables and Text Values
I explain the limitations of Excel pivot tables when dealing with text values. Pivot tables are great for summarizing numerical data, but when it comes to text (like dates, names, or months), the results are typically unsatisfactory. I highlight how simply trying to summarize sales data by a text value like a month or a product name results in repeated numeric summaries rather than the desired text.

2. Creating a Table in Excel
I show how to convert your data into a structured table in Excel by using the Control + T shortcut. Properly formatting your data as a table is crucial for the next steps, especially when working with Power Query. This will enable dynamic updates to your data, making future changes much easier to handle.

3. Loading Data into Power Query
I guide you through how to load your table into Power Query, where you can begin transforming the data. This step is necessary because Power Query allows for far more advanced data manipulation compared to a standard pivot table.

4. Handling Duplicate Rows in Power Query
One challenge in preparing your data for analysis is dealing with duplicates. I explain how to group your data by various columns to remove duplicates effectively, ensuring that you don’t end up with repeated values like multiple instances of a month or product name.

5. Grouping Data in Power Query
You’ll learn how to group your data by the relevant columns, such as product names or months, while ensuring that each group contains only unique records. This is crucial for creating clean, readable pivot tables with accurate text representations.

6. Using Custom Columns in Power Query
I show how to create a custom column in Power Query that extracts a specific field, such as the month, from a table. This allows you to isolate and display only the text data you need, avoiding clutter and making your pivot tables more readable.

7. Pivoting Data in Power Query
Next, I demonstrate how to pivot your data in Power Query, grouping it by a text field like the month and summarizing it either by the first or last value alphabetically. This technique allows you to extract meaningful text data and use it effectively in your reports, making it much easier to analyze patterns or trends over time.

8. Closing and Loading the Data
Once your data is correctly grouped and pivoted, I show you how to load it back into Excel. I emphasize that Power Query keeps your data live and dynamic, meaning that any new data you add will automatically be reflected in your pivot table with a simple refresh.

9. Refreshing Data for Future Updates
A key advantage of using Power Query is the ability to refresh your data easily when new data is added. I demonstrate how simple it is to refresh your pivot table and have it automatically update with new text values, ensuring that your reports stay up-to-date without needing to re-do all the steps.

10. Final Thoughts and Practical Applications
Finally, I explain the practical implications of this method for real-world data analysis. Whether you’re working with large datasets, such as sales records that span thousands of rows, or small ones, this technique will save you time and make your pivot tables much more informative. You can use it to display any text-based data in your pivot tables, such as months, product names, or customer IDs, without the limitations of standard pivot tables.

Throughout the video, I focus on showing you how to apply this method quickly and efficiently, without unnecessary steps. By the end, you’ll know how to use Power Query to solve a common Excel problem and make your pivot tables more powerful and flexible. This method will significantly improve your data analysis skills, particularly when working with text in pivot tables, allowing you to summarize and present your data in a more meaningful way.