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Courses/Office Productivity/MS Excel

PivotTables Part 1: Introduction to Excel PivotTables

Transform overwhelming data into clear, dynamic reports without writing complex formulas. Master drag-and-drop techniques that let Excel do the heavy lifting for you.

Created byDavid Ringstrom
5.0
(6 reviews)
BeginnerUpdated Jan 30, 2026
PivotTables Part 1: Introduction to Excel PivotTables

What You'll Learn

check_circlePrepare source data for analysis.
check_circleBuild reports via drag and drop.
check_circleModify layouts and number formats.
check_circleFilter data visually with Slicers.
check_circleRefresh data and future-proof sources.
check_circleGenerate instant reports using AI.

About This Course

Led by David Ringstrom, CPA, this course is designed to demystify one of Excel’s most intimidating yet efficient features. While many users feel that PivotTables are difficult to master, they are actually a straightforward report-writing tool that allows you to transform vast lists of data into meaningful summaries simply by dragging and dropping. Whether you are a novice looking to get started or an experienced user aiming to fill in knowledge gaps, this session will help you turn the tide and get Excel to do the heavy lifting for you.

Throughout this presentation, you will learn how to overcome the quirks and nuances of the PivotTable interface, manage information overload, and create instant reports without writing complex formulas. David shares decades of strategic consulting experience to help you establish a solid foundation, covering everything from proper data structure to advanced filtering techniques. By the end of this course, you will be able to build robust reports, avoid common data integrity issues, and utilize automation features to streamline your workflow.

Course topics and key learning outcomes include:

  • Data Preparation and Integrity: Learn the rules for ideal data structure, including the importance of unique column headers, contiguous cells, and avoiding blank rows to ensure your PivotTables function correctly.
  • Creating and Structuring PivotTables: Master the basics of creating a PivotTable from a data range, navigating the field list, and arranging fields into rows, columns, and values to visualize your data effectively.
  • Formatting and Layouts: Discover how to rename fields, apply number formatting, and switch between Compact, Outline, and Tabular forms to improve the readability of your reports.
  • Filtering and Sorting: Explore various ways to drill down into your data using report filters, value filters (such as Top 10), and the visual Slicer feature to manage information overload.
  • Future-Proofing Your Work: Understand the critical difference between building PivotTables from standard data ranges versus Excel Tables, and learn how using Tables eliminates the need to manually resize your data source when new records are added.
  • AI-Based Features: utilize modern tools like Recommended PivotTables and the Analyze Data feature to let Excel’s artificial intelligence suggest optimal report layouts for you.

This course demonstrates techniques in Microsoft 365 for Windows, but also addresses functionality differences for Mac users. By mastering these skills, you will be able to efficiently summarize data, minimize repetitive tasks, and produce accurate, dynamic reports with confidence.

Your Instructor

David Ringstrom
David Ringstrom

CPA, Author, Professional Excel Spreadsheet Trainer and Consultant

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star1,099 reviews

David H. Ringstrom, CPA, is the author of Microsoft 365 Excel for Dummies, and a nationally recognized instructor who has taught over 2,500 live webinars. His Excel courses are based on over 30 years of consulting and teaching experience. David’s catchphrase is “Either you work Excel, or it works you,” so he focuses on what he sees users don’t, but should know about Microsoft Excel. His goal is to empower you to use Excel more effectively. David has authored or co-authored 10 books, including Exploring Microsoft Excel's Hidden Treasures, QuickBooks Online for Dummies, and Idiot's Guide to Introductory Accounting.

Credit Information

Do these courses count toward my professional development requirements?

This portal is provided as a training and development resource for City of Markham employees. Every course is delivered by a qualified subject matter expert or learning organization, is quantifiable in hours, and is verifiable — you receive a documented certificate of completion for every course you finish, stored on LearnFormula indefinitely.

If you hold a professional designation (for example in engineering, accounting, human resources, or law), courses may be counted as professionally relevant, verifiable learning activities toward your continuing professional development. Individual practitioners are responsible for confirming that an activity meets the requirements of their professional body. For questions about the City of Markham's training and development policies, please speak with your people leader or Human Resources.

What Students Are Saying

5.0
Student's Choice
6 reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

We are a registered provider with 327+ associations and regulatory bodies worldwide. We operate across 29 global markets including Canada, the US, Australia, and the UK. Every course page clearly displays its specific accreditations. Upon completion, you receive a professional certificate that can be validated online. Our certificates include all necessary accreditation details, credit hours, and completion dates, and are formatted specifically to meet the submission requirements of most global regulatory bodies.