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EXCEL DATA ANALYSIS

CREATE A PIVOTCHART FROM

AN EXTERNAL DATABASE

PivotChart combines the dynamic, cross-tabulation You can use any external database that Excel supports to
ability of the PivotTable with the visual aspect of a create a PivotChart. When you do so, you actually import
A chart. This allows you to dynamically analyze your the data fields from the selected database. Therefore, you
data values in a chart format and to quickly spot any trend. must use a database that you can access and have clearance
Although you can use PivotCharts with data from any from the database administrator. If you intend to share the
source, they are best suited for smaller sets of data, because workbook containing the PivotChart with other people,
if you try to show too much data on a chart, it becomes make sure that they can also access the database. If not,
difficult to interpret. For more on PivotTables, see you should consider importing the database table into the
Chapter 7. workbook before creating the PivotChart. See Chapter 5 for
more information on importing an external database table.
You create a PivotChart using the PivotTable and PivotChart
Wizard, which gives you the option of creating just a You must specify the location of the external database, on
PivotTable, or a PivotTable with a PivotChart. With the later the second page of the PivotTable and PivotChart Wizard.
option, Excel creates a PivotChart placing each of the fields You specify the database information with the Query
you add to the chart on the corresponding PivotTable. You Wizard, which displays when you import a database table.
can change field locations either on the PivotChart or You specify the data source, or the type of database. You
PivotTable. can open only databases that match the data source that
you select. After locating the database, you can select the
fields that you want to include in your PivotChart.

CREATE A PIVOTCHART FROM AN EXTERNAL DATABASE

⁄ Click Data ➪ PivotTable ■ The PivotTable and ‹ Click the PivotChart
and PivotChart Report. PivotChart Wizard opens. report (with PivotTable
report) option.
¤ Click the External data
source option. › Click Next.
■ Alternatively, you can
select an Excel list or
142 database.