XL: Error Message "PivotTable Field Name Is Not Valid"

ID: Q141286

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, version 7.0
Microsoft Excel for Windows, version 5.0, 5.0c
Microsoft Excel for Windows NT, version 5.0
Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, version 5.0, 5.0a

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel 97, when you create a new PivotTable or refresh data for an existing PivotTable (by clicking Refresh Data on the Data menu), you may receive the following error message:

   The PivotTable field name is not valid. To create a PivotTable, you
   must use data that is organized as a list with labeled columns. If you
   are changing the name of a PivotTable field, you must type a new name
   for the field.

In Microsoft Excel versions 5.0, 5.0a, 5.0c, or 7.0, you may receive the following error message:

   Pivot table field name is not valid

CAUSE

This problem occurs when the first row of the range from which the PivotTable is attempting to pull data contains one or more empty cells.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, use either of the following methods.

Method 1

Modify the first row so that it does not contain any empty cells.

Method 2

Change the range the PivotTable references to a range where the first row does not contain empty cells. To change or to determine the range an existing PivotTable references, do the following:

1. Select a cell within the PivotTable.

2. On the Data menu, click PivotTable Report (Click PivotTable in

   Microsoft Excel 5.0 or 7.0).

3. Click Back to display the "PivotTable Wizard - Step 2 of 4"

   dialog box.

4. The current range for the PivotTable is displayed. Edit the source data

   range.

5. Click Finish.

REFERENCES

Microsoft Excel 97

For more information about PivotTables, click the Office Assistant, type "pivottable," click Search, and then click to view "Create a PivotTable."

NOTE: If the Assistant is hidden, click the Office Assistant button on the Standard toolbar. If Microsoft Help is not installed on your computer, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q120802
   TITLE     : Office: How to Add/Remove a Single Office
               Program or Component

Microsoft Excel 7.0

For more information about changing the source data for a PivotTable, click the Index tab in Microsoft Excel Help, type the following text

   PivotTables, Updating Source Data

and then double-click the selected text to go to the "Change source data for a PivotTable" topic.

Microsoft Excel 5.0

"User's Guide," version 5.0, Chapter 24 "Creating a Pivot Table"

For more information about "Changing Source Data for a Pivot Table" in Microsoft Excel 5.0, click the Search button in Help, and type:

   Pivot Tables, Source Data

Choose the Show Topics button, select the topic, and choose Go To.

Additional query words: 5.00 5.00a 5.00c 7.00 pivot table xl97

Keywords          : kberrmsg kbtool kbualink97 xlpivot 
Version           : WINDOWS:5.0,5.0c,7.0,97; MACINTOSH:5.0,5.0a
Platform          : MACINTOSH WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: May 5, 1999