Many people encounter the term “pivot table” when using Excel spreadsheets for example. Some are aware of the functions of the pivot table while others are not familiar of what it can actually do for a particular spreadsheet. Pivot tables actually serve a good purpose when used in Spreadsheets. They actually perform various functions in terms of summarizing various data indicated on the spreadsheet. The data summary provided by the pivot table may in the form of sorting. Through the sorting feature, numerous data on the spreadsheet may be sorted depending on the user’s preferences. Sorting may be based on alphabetical letters or by different codes on different cells or fields. Through the pivot table, consolidation and presentation of some data can easily be achieved.
Another use of the pivot table is its counting or averaging feature. since spreadsheets are mostly used to store and display various numerical values, the best way to create a summary of these numbers in terms of count and average is the use of pivot tables. Through pivot tables data on the main spreadsheet can be summarized and displayed on another table that works independently. With summarized data indicated on a separate table, people will basically have an easier time to understand the contents of a particular spreadsheet. The pivot tables become some form of a snapshot of the entire spreadsheet with summarized data that is considered important and relevant.
The best thing about pivot tables is that they work and function independently from the main spreadsheet. Data contained and summarized in a pivot table does not affect the data on the main spreadsheet. Any computation or summarizing that is applied on the pivot table does not affect any computation or formulas on the main spreadsheet. With the use pivot tables in spreadsheet programs, data can be organized and summarized separately and independently.