XL: "Cannot Open Pivot Table Source..." Converting Crosstab

ID: Q117314

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
• Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 5.0, 5.0c
• Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, 5.0, 5.0a

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel, when you open a Microsoft Excel version 4.0 worksheet that contains a crosstab table, and you convert the crosstab table to a pivot table, you receive the following error message

   Cannot open pivot table source file 'DATABASE.DBF'

CAUSE

This error message appears when you convert a crosstab table that was created from a database that is not contained in a Microsoft Excel worksheet file format (such as dBASE, Lotus 1-2-3, QuattroPro/DOS) and the file that contains the data is not open. This behavior is by design in Microsoft Excel. You cannot convert a crosstab table to a pivot table unless the file that contains the supporting data is either open, or is in the Microsoft Excel worksheet file format.

Note that you normally receive this error message when you create a pivot table if the path you type in the Range box in the PivotTable Wizard is incorrect, or if the file is not available. However, in this case, you can use the Browse button in the PivotTable Wizard to locate the file and continue creating the pivot table.

WORKAROUNDS

To avoid receiving this error message when you convert a crosstab table to a pivot table, do any of the following:

• Open the file that contains the data that you are using in the crosstab table before you choose PivotTable from the Data menu.

      -or-
  

• Create the crosstab table from a database contained in a Microsoft Excel worksheet file.

REFERENCES

For more information about Converting A Microsoft Excel Version 4.0 Crosstab Table To A Pivot Table, choose the Search button in Help and type:

   crosstab tables

Version           : WINDOWS: 5.0,5.0c,7.0,7.0a; MACINTOSH: 5.0,5.0a
Platform          : MACINTOSH WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: February 4, 1998