How to Keep Conditional Formatting in Pivot Table When Filtering
Pivot tables are a powerful tool in Excel that allow users to summarize and analyze large sets of data. One of the features that makes pivot tables so useful is conditional formatting, which helps users identify trends and patterns in their data. However, when filtering data in a pivot table, the conditional formatting can sometimes be lost. In this article, we will discuss how to keep conditional formatting in a pivot table when filtering.
Firstly, it is important to understand that conditional formatting is applied to individual cells in a pivot table, not to the entire table. When you filter the data in a pivot table, the cells that are not visible will be hidden, and any conditional formatting applied to those cells will also be hidden. To keep the conditional formatting visible when filtering, you need to adjust the settings in your pivot table.
One way to achieve this is by using the “Show Filtered Items” option. This option allows you to display all the data in the pivot table, even when it is filtered. To enable this option, follow these steps:
1. Select the pivot table you want to modify.
2. Go to the “Options” tab in the ribbon.
3. In the “Show/Hide” group, check the “Show Filtered Items” checkbox.
Once you have enabled this option, the pivot table will display all the data, including the cells with conditional formatting. However, you may notice that the conditional formatting is not applied to the filtered data. To fix this, you need to manually apply the conditional formatting to the filtered data.
Here’s how to do it:
1. Click on the “Conditional Formatting” button in the “Options” tab.
2. Choose the conditional formatting rule you want to apply.
3. In the “Edit Formatting Rule” dialog box, select “Use a formula to determine which cells to format.”
4. Enter the formula that applies the conditional formatting to the filtered data.
For example, if you want to apply conditional formatting to cells that contain values greater than 100, you can use the following formula:
“`
=$E2>100
“`
Make sure to adjust the cell reference in the formula to match the column you are filtering.
By following these steps, you can keep the conditional formatting in your pivot table when filtering. This will help you identify trends and patterns in your data, even when you are only viewing a subset of the data.
In conclusion, maintaining conditional formatting in a pivot table when filtering can be challenging, but it is possible by adjusting the settings and manually applying the conditional formatting to the filtered data. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can ensure that your pivot table remains informative and visually appealing, even when you are analyzing filtered data.
