Force column hearders in pivot table?

[Big Pat]

I know that in an Access crosstab query, I can force column headers to display even if there's no applicable data. Is there a way to get an Excel pivot table to do the same? I'm using Excel 2003 by the way.

For instance, my categories will be "<=30 Complete", ">30 Complete", "<=30 Incomplete", ">30 Incomplete"

Depending on the period of data that I select not all categories may apply, but for formatting reasons I want them all to appear anyway. I've looked through various menus but I can't find such an option. Does it exist?

If not, I may end up linking the data source to Access and doing a crosstab query, but it would begood if I could skip those steps.

Thanks
Pat

 

[plog]

You can force excel pivot tables to have columns by putting blank rows in your dataset:

Timeframe, Volume
"<=30 Complete", 0
">30 Complete", 0

Just put 0 values into your dataset along with the category you want to appear.

 

[Big Pat]

Thanks for the suggestion. So I'd always need one dummy record for each of the 4 categories? Yeah, maybe I could do that, though that in itself might throw up other issues. There's nothing I can do in the pivot table itself then, it has to be done by manipulating the data?

 

[plog]

Not to my knowledge. I know if you want to add a column of data you can insert a calculated field, but that's only for columnular data. For a row I don' think there is any way other than dummy data.

 

[godsspeed]

Im going to echo what has been said in regards to row labels............... i havent come across any other 'solution'. but you've got my wheels spinning, so if i dig something up, i'll let you know.

 

[Big Pat]

OK. I kinda thought that might be the answer. Thanks for your input. My data is already linked to an Access db anyway, so it's no big deal to do a crosstab query instead. I'l need to resequence a couple of processes, is all.

godsspeed - good to know I got your wheels spinning!