Can't rename Group in Excel Pivot Table

[Danzo]

I am using Excel 2003 and Windows XP. My issue is that I can't rename a group within a Pivot Table I'm using. Other groups within the level can be renamed, but the one I am having trouble with just goes back to it's original name (e.g., Group6) or something like that. If I enter a leading apostrpohe, it will take the new name, but the apostrope shows.

I've tried un-grouping and re-grouping everything, checking to make sure the data was all the same format and a variety of other things, but nothing works. This has happened to me intermittently in different spreadsheets. Why can't this one group be re-named when other groups within the sub-group can be re-named?

 

[PKTEE]

Dear Danzo,

Possible to print screen of pivot table problem as not sure why ?

 

[Richard Schollar]

Hi

Maybe it is a problem with what you are trying to rename it to? Or does it simply not allow you to rename it to anything (eg a meaningless block of characters like "qwerty")?

 

[Matty]

Hello,

The name you're trying to use may already exist, hence why you're having the problem.

You could "cheat" and simply add an empty space at the end of the name (bit like what you did with the apostrophe, but the space won't show). But I would advise checking further to make sure the name doesn't already exist to avoid potential issues further down the line.

Matty

 

[wsjackman]

check to see if you are using a header name. excel pivot tables won't let you do this.

 

[ccourtois]

check to see if you are using a header name. excel pivot tables won't let you do this.

click in the cell with the group name and press F2, then you can type the new name for the group.

 

[rcosta]

I am using Excel 2003 and Windows XP. My issue is that I can't rename a group within a Pivot Table I'm using. Other groups within the level can be renamed, but the one I am having trouble with just goes back to it's original name (e.g., Group6) or something like that. If I enter a leading apostrpohe, it will take the new name, but the apostrope shows.

I've tried un-grouping and re-grouping everything, checking to make sure the data was all the same format and a variety of other things, but nothing works. This has happened to me intermittently in different spreadsheets. Why can't this one group be re-named when other groups within the sub-group can be re-named?

Hi,

To rename the group you should first delete the "groupped" variable in the pivot table by following these steps:

• Right click a cell in your data table
• Pivot Table options
• Select Data Tab
• In Retain Items Section select None in the drop down box
• Hit ok
• Refresh your Pivot Table

Then you can create again the groupped variable and renamed.

 

[orehovka]

Hi,

To rename the group you should first delete the "groupped" variable in the pivot table by following these steps:

• Right click a cell in your data table
• Pivot Table options
• Select Data Tab
• In Retain Items Section select None in the drop down box
• Hit ok
• Refresh your Pivot Table

Then you can create again the groupped variable and renamed.

It's great that someone answered this question eight years (!) after it was posted here - because 3 months later I have the same query. Thank you, this solution worked for me!