Скачать или смотреть Solving the Excel Pivot Table Sorting Issue with Zeroes in PM_Value

Discover how to fix sorting problems in Excel Pivot Tables when zero values appear due to calculation errors. Learn a simple solution using IFERROR to ensure proper order.
---
This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/72885454/ asked by the user 'Lucas' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/12165468/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/72885673/ provided by the user 'Lucas' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/12165468/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

Visit these links for original content and any more details, such as alternate solutions, latest updates/developments on topic, comments, revision history etc. For example, the original title of the Question was: Excel not sorting numbers correctly on pivot table

Also, Content (except music) licensed under CC BY-SA https://meta.stackexchange.com/help/l...
The original Question post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... ) license, and the original Answer post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... ) license.

If anything seems off to you, please feel free to write me at vlogize [AT] gmail [DOT] com.
---
Solving the Excel Pivot Table Sorting Issue with Zeroes in PM_Value

If you've ever created a pivot table in Excel, you know how frustrating it can be when the numbers don’t sort as expected. One common issue users encounter is when Excel fails to sort numbers correctly due to zero values resulting from calculation errors. This guide will address this specific problem and provide a clear, effective solution to ensure your data is sorted accurately.

The Problem: Incorrect Sorting of Numbers in Pivot Tables

Imagine this scenario: you've set up a pivot table from your dataset with the following aim:

Sort data by Year and Week Number.

Sort the Keys according to PM_Value in decreasing order.

However, when you generate the pivot table, you notice that the PM_Value column displays some zeroes (or errors treated as zeroes), throwing off the sorting order. As a result, you see unexpected values at the top or intermixed in your sorted column.

Example Data Structure

A typical view of your dataset might look like this:

YearWeekNumKeyValue 1PM_ValueValue 2202312022-SFS-R757-L05 VAC15.7778336.936202312022-GS7-R125-L054.4078335.292..................The Cause of the Problem

Upon investigating, the root cause is often linked to the calculation method used in the PM_Value field. Specifically, if PM_Value is calculated as a division, and the denominator is zero, Excel will return a DIV/0 error, which it may subsequently represent as zero. This disrupts the sorting process since Excel treats these entries as actual zero values rather than errors.

The Solution: Using IFERROR to Clean Up Your Data

To resolve the sorting issue, you can implement the IFERROR function directly within your calculated field for PM_Value. This simple adjustment ensures that any calculation errors are properly handled.

Steps to Fix the Sorting Issue:

Modify the PM_Value Calculation:

Update the calculation of PM_Value to include the IFERROR function.

Suppose your original formula was something like Value1 / Value2. You can change it to:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Update the Pivot Table:

Refresh your pivot table to apply the changes you made in the dataset.

Check to see if the zeroes are properly managed, ensuring all computations are valid.

Re-sort the Data:

After the update, attempt sorting the pivot table again by Year, WeekNum, and PM_Value in decreasing order.

The zeroes should now correctly appear at the bottom of the sorted column.

Why This Works

By using IFERROR, any division errors that would generally yield a zero are replaced with a designated value (in this case, zero) without encumbering your sorting algorithm. This means Excel will now recognize the legitimate values, allowing for correct arrangement without unexpected placements.

Conclusion

Sorting issues in Excel Pivot Tables, especially those involving calculated fields like PM_Value, can be a source of significant frustration. However, a simple use of IFERROR in the formula can effectively eliminate the disruption caused by DIV/0 errors masked as zeroes. Implement this solution today to ensure that your data remains well-organized and accurately displayed as per your sorting preferences.

If you found this post helpful or have any other questions about Excel pivot tables or sorting issues, feel free to leave a comment below!