Excel Tip: PivotTable Formatting

Janey, from Maine, asks, "When I'm working with PivotTables, I like to add specific formatting. But, when I update the PivotTable, my formatting is removed. Is there a way to keep the formatting?"

The answer is yes, and it is really quite simple.

On the Analyze Ribbon (from the PivotTable Ribbons that open when in a PivotTable), click the Options drop-down.

In the Dialog box, make sure that the "Preserve cell formatting on update" is checked.

Then click the "OK" button.

The next time you have updates to the PivotTable, the formatting is preserved.

It really is that simple!