“Report Layout” The Secret Behind A Neat Excel Pivot Table Looks Like Regular Tables

Step 2: Optimize Pivot Table Formatting

After setting up the Pivot Table view with Report Layout, the next step is to make sure the visual format of the table looks professional, neat, and easy to read. Formatting is not just about aesthetics; a good display will speed up the understanding of the data and reinforce the message in the report.

To make the Pivot Table look like  a regular professional table, follow these design practices:

1. Add a Border

• Select the entire area Pivot Table
• Press Ctrl + 1 to open the Format Cells dialog box
• Navigate to the Border tab
• Add horizontal and vertical lines across data areas
• Use thin lines for a minimalist and neat feel

2. Adjust the Alignment (Text Alignment)

• Align left for columns of text, such as categories or names
• Right-align for a number column, such as total sales or quantity
• Use the Align Left and Align Right features in the Home Excel tab

3. Enable Banded Rows

• Still inside the Design tab, check the Banded Rows option
• This will provide a striped row color intermittent effect that improves the readability of the data, especially on large tables

Step 3: Combine with Other Features for Maximum Results

After successfully changing the Pivot Table view to resemble a regular table with Report Layout and optimizing its formatting, it’s time to improve the functionality and interactivity of your tables with a combination of additional features from Excel.

This combination not only enriches the user experience but also strengthens the ability to analyze data in real-time without sacrificing the aesthetics of the display.

1. Conditional Formatting

• Use the Conditional Formatting feature from the Home tab
• Apply rules such as: Greater Than to mark sales above the target, Color Scales to indicate the intensity of the value
• Result? Your pivot table is not only informative, but also visually communicative

2. Slicer

Slicer is one of the favorite features of data professionals because it provides interactive filtering capabilities with a clean and easy-to-use interface.

How to Add a Slicer:

1. Click on the Pivot Table area
2. Go to the PivotTable Analyze tab → Click Insert Slicer
3. Select a field such as Region, Month, or Category
4. Place the slicer next to the Pivot Table, and use it to filter the view of the data with a single click

By taking advantage of Report Layout, Banded Rows, and additional features like Conditional Formatting and Slicer, you’ve transformed a rigid Pivot Table into a dynamic and elegant table without losing its basic functionality.