how to annotate pivot tables?

miconian

Well-known Member
Joined
Aug 18, 2004
Messages
769
My users spend a lot of time in large pivot tables that are set up in compact view, expanding and collapsing fields by clicking on the plus and minus symbols. As they do this, they want to make notes about individual line items.

However, this is difficult because a) there is nowhere that allows the user to make notes inside the pivot table, and b) if they make notes outside the table, the row their note corresponds to will change when fields are collapsed and expanded. Also, it seems that Excel does not allow comments to be added to cells within pivot tables.

Surely others have had this problem. Is there some obvious workaround I'm missing?

thanks!
 
In the code that I labelled "Module 1" on line 6.

Code:
Public Const noteColumnNames = "Comments|SecondComments"

Change that. So if you want four columns...

Code:
Public Const noteColumnNames = "Column 1|Column 2|Column 3|Column 4"

You can change the name to whatever you want.
 
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Hi Anthony, I copied the code to excel, but it doesn't work. I am sure it must be something basic. I've never used VBA before. Please could you help here.
 
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Hello AnthonyKing8787

This code works great! The only problem remains on when one of the columns has a date.
Do you know how to solve this?

Seems to work fine with date fields in columns when I tested just now.

If you change your PivotTable column fields after leaving comments the comments may be lost... I am assuming that's what is happening?
 
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No, I don't change the column order, nor add or remove a column.

As long as I have a field with a date format (dd/mm/yy), it won't save the comments.
As soon as I change something (lets say I change one of the filters), all the comments will disappear
 
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No, I don't change the column order, nor add or remove a column.

As long as I have a field with a date format (dd/mm/yy), it won't save the comments.
As soon as I change something (lets say I change one of the filters), all the comments will disappear

I am playing around with datefields as many ways as I can think of. No matter what I do I can't reproduce the error you are describing.

Can you provide more detail about the data format, the actions you are taking, or some screenshots perhaps?
 
Upvote 0
No, I don't change the column order, nor add or remove a column.

As long as I have a field with a date format (dd/mm/yy), it won't save the comments.
As soon as I change something (lets say I change one of the filters), all the comments will disappear

I believe I have resolved the issue you are finding. Please find new code below. I changed two lines, so the comparison is now calling on PivotCell.RowItems.Item(i).SourceNameStandard, instead of calling on .Caption. This has the added benefit of keeping comments when row captions are changed by the user.

It seems people above were having trouble with getting the code into excel, so I have also combined the two modules to hopefully make things simpler for folks to implement.



Code for worksheet with PivotTable:

Code:
Option Explicit


Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range)
    Application.ScreenUpdating = False
    Application.Calculation = xlCalculationManual
    Application.EnableEvents = False
    Call WorksheetChanges(Target, Me)
    Application.ScreenUpdating = True
    Application.EnableEvents = True
    Application.Calculation = xlCalculationAutomatic
End Sub


Private Sub Worksheet_PivotTableUpdate(ByVal Target As PivotTable)
'----Refreshes display of PivotTable Notes from the Note database
'--    when the PivotTable is updated (refreshed, sorted, filtered, etc)
    If ActiveSheet.Name <> Me.Name Then
        Exit Sub
    Else: End If
    If Check_Setup(Me) = False Then Exit Sub
 
    Application.ScreenUpdating = False
    Application.EnableEvents = False
    Application.Calculation = xlCalculationManual
 
    Call Refresh_Notes(PT:=Target)
 
    Application.EnableEvents = True
    Application.ScreenUpdating = True
    Application.Calculation = xlCalculationAutomatic
    
End Sub

Module Code:

Code:
Option Explicit


Public Const sRngName = "PT_Notes"
'Names of the columns separated by the "|" character (without spaces)
'WARNING: Using the same column name for multiple comment columns will have unintended results.
Public Const noteColumnNames = "Comments|SecondComments"
Public NoteNumber
Public Note() As String




'---Call Note Naming to Set The Column Headers as Defined by the Constant Declared Above
Public Sub noteNames()
    Dim vntTemp As Variant
    Dim intIndex As Integer
    
    vntTemp = Split(noteColumnNames, "|")




'---Define the number of note columns based on noteColumnNames
    NoteNumber = UBound(vntTemp)




'---Separate the noteColumnNames into a public string array available to other subs
    ReDim Note(NoteNumber)


    For intIndex = 0 To NoteNumber
        Note(intIndex) = vntTemp(intIndex)
    Next
End Sub




'Public Const Named Range Needs to be Unprotected
Public Function Check_Setup(Ws As Worksheet) As Boolean
    Dim rNotes As Range, i As Long
    Dim PT As PivotTable, ptField As PivotField
    Dim tblNotes As ListObject
    Dim wsSave As Worksheet
    Dim CommentSheet As Worksheet
 
 
 '---Call Note Naming to Set The Column Headers as Defined by the Constant Declared Above
 Call noteNames
 
 
 '---Check if not exactly one PT on Worksheet- exit
    If Ws.PivotTables.Count <> 1 Then GoTo StopNotes
    Set PT = Ws.PivotTables(1)
 
 
'---Check if not at least one RowField and one DataField- exit
    If PT.DataFields.Count = 0 Or PT.RowFields.Count = 0 Then GoTo StopNotes




'---Check if Named Range "PT_Notes" doesn't exist- define it
    If Not NameExists(sRngName, Ws.Name) Then
        With PT.TableRange1
            Set rNotes = Intersect(PT.DataBodyRange.EntireRow, _
                    .Resize(, NoteNumber + 1).Offset(0, .Columns.Count))
        End With
        Set rNotes = rNotes.Resize(rNotes.Rows.Count _
            + PT.ColumnGrand)
        Ws.Names.Add Name:=sRngName, RefersTo:=rNotes
        Ws.Names(sRngName).Visible = False
        Call Format_NoteRange(rNotes)
    End If
    
    
'---CHECK IF NAMED RANGE "PT_Notes" OVERLAPS PIVOT TABLE, IF IT DOES REDEFINE
    If OverlappingRanges(PT.TableRange2, Ws.Range(sRngName)) Then
        With PT.TableRange1
            Set rNotes = Intersect(PT.DataBodyRange.EntireRow, _
                    .Resize(, 1).Offset(0, .Columns.Count))
        End With
        Set rNotes = rNotes.Resize(rNotes.Rows.Count _
            + PT.ColumnGrand)
        Ws.Names.Add Name:=sRngName, RefersTo:=rNotes
        Call Format_NoteRange(rNotes)
    End If




'---Check if "|Notes" Worksheet doesn't exist- add it
    If Not SheetExists(Left(Ws.Name, 25) & "|Notes") Then
        Set wsSave = ActiveSheet
        Sheets.Add
        ActiveSheet.Name = Left(Ws.Name, 25) & "|Notes"
        ActiveSheet.Visible = xlVeryHidden
        wsSave.Activate
    End If
    
    Set CommentSheet = Sheets(Left(Ws.Name, 25) & "|Notes")
 
 
'---Check if Notes DataTable doesn't exist- add it
    With CommentSheet
        On Error Resume Next
        Set tblNotes = .ListObjects(1)
        If tblNotes Is Nothing Then
            .Cells(1) = "KeyPhrase"
            For i = 0 To NoteNumber
                .Cells(1, i + 2) = Note(i)
            Next i
            Set tblNotes = .ListObjects.Add(xlSrcRange, _
                .Range("A1:" & Cells(2, NoteNumber + 2).Address(False, False)), , xlYes)
        End If
        .Visible = xlSheetVeryHidden
    End With




'---Check if any PT fields are not Table Headers - add
'---Also check that note column names defined by user exist in worksheet. If not, add them.
    With tblNotes
        For Each ptField In PT.RowFields
            If IsError(Application.Match("Key|" & ptField.SourceName, .HeaderRowRange, 0)) Then
                .ListColumns.Add Position:=2
                .HeaderRowRange(1, 2) = "Key|" & ptField.SourceName
            End If
        Next ptField
        For i = 0 To NoteNumber
            If IsError(Application.Match(Note(i), .HeaderRowRange, 0)) Then
                .ListColumns.Add Position:=.ListColumns.Count + 1
                .HeaderRowRange(1, .ListColumns.Count) = Note(i)
            End If
        Next i
    End With




'---Setup is now valid
    Check_Setup = True
    Exit Function
    
StopNotes:
    If NameExists(sRngName, Ws.Name) Then
        Application.EnableEvents = False
        Call Clear_Notes_Range(Ws)
        Ws.Names(sRngName).Delete
        Application.EnableEvents = True
        Check_Setup = False
        Exit Function
    End If
End Function
 
Private Function Format_NoteRange(rNotes As Range)
Application.EnableEvents = False




Dim i As Integer




 '---Call Note Naming to Set The Column Headers as Defined by the Constant Declared Above
 Call noteNames




'---Format body
    With rNotes
        .Interior.Color = 16316664
        .Font.Italic = True
        .HorizontalAlignment = xlLeft
        .IndentLevel = 1
        .Borders(xlInsideHorizontal).LineStyle = xlDot
        .Borders(xlInsideVertical).LineStyle = xlDot
        .Borders(xlBottom).LineStyle = xlDot
        .WrapText = True
        .Locked = False
    End With
 
 
'---Format optional header
    With rNotes.Resize(1).Offset(-1)
        For i = 0 To NoteNumber
            .Cells(1, i + 1).Value = Note(i)
        Next i
        .Interior.Color = 16316664
        .Font.Italic = True
        .Font.Bold = True
        .HorizontalAlignment = xlCenter
        .Borders(xlBottom).LineStyle = xlContinuous
        .WrapText = True
        .Locked = True
    End With
Application.EnableEvents = True
End Function
 
Private Function Clear_Notes_Range(Ws As Worksheet)
'---Clear existing notes range
    On Error Resume Next
    Dim c As Range
    With Ws.Range(sRngName)
        With .Offset(-1).Resize(.Rows.Count + 1)
            If Intersect(Ws.PivotTables(1).TableRange2, _
                    .Cells) Is Nothing Then
                .ClearContents
                .ClearFormats
            Else 'PT overlaps notes
                For Each c In .Cells
                    c.ClearContents
                    c.ClearFormats
                Next c
                On Error GoTo 0
            End If
        End With
    End With
End Function
 
Public Function Refresh_Notes(PT As PivotTable)
    Dim sField As String, sKey As String, sFormula As String
    Dim ptField As PivotField
    Dim tblNotes As ListObject
    Dim rNotes As Range, c As Range
    Dim rLabels As Range, rLabelsAll As Range
    Dim vFields As Variant, vReturn As Variant
    Dim lPosition As Long, lOffset As Long
    Dim i As Long, lIdx As Long, lrow As Long, lCol As Long
 
 
'---Call Note Naming to Set The Column Headers as Defined by the Constant Declared Above
    Call noteNames
    
    
'---Clear existing notes range
    Call Clear_Notes_Range(Ws:=PT.Parent)




'---Redefine and format notes range
    With PT.TableRange1
        Set rNotes = Intersect(PT.DataBodyRange.EntireRow, _
            .Resize(, NoteNumber + 1).Offset(0, .Columns.Count))
    End With
    Set rNotes = rNotes.Resize(rNotes.Rows.Count + PT.ColumnGrand)
    PT.Parent.Names(sRngName).RefersTo = rNotes
    Call Format_NoteRange(rNotes)
 
 
'---Make array of rowfields by position to trace each row in hierarchy
     With PT.RowFields
        ReDim vFields(1 To .Count)
        For lIdx = 1 To .Count
            vFields(PT.RowFields(lIdx).Position) = "Key|" & PT.RowFields(lIdx).SourceName
        Next lIdx
    End With
 
 
'---Build formula to use as Match KeyPhrase
    Set tblNotes = Sheets(Left(PT.Parent.Name, 25) & "|Notes").ListObjects(1)
    
    With tblNotes
        On Error Resume Next
        sFormula = "="
        
        For i = 2 To .HeaderRowRange.Columns.Count
            If Left(.HeaderRowRange.Cells(1, i), 4) <> "Key|" Then Exit For
            sFormula = sFormula & "RC" & i & "&""|""&"
        Next i


        sFormula = Left(sFormula, Len(sFormula) - 1)
        Intersect(.DataBodyRange, .ListColumns(1).Range).FormulaR1C1 = sFormula
    End With




'---Match KeyPhrases for each visible row of PT
    Application.EnableEvents = False
    With PT.TableRange1
        lOffset = .Column + .Columns.Count - PT.DataBodyRange.Column + 1
    End With


    With PT.DataBodyRange.Resize(, 1)
        For lrow = 1 To .Rows.Count + PT.ColumnGrand
            If .Cells(lrow, lOffset - 1).Value <> "" Then
                sKey = GetKey(rPC:=.Cells(lrow), vFields:=vFields, tblNotes:=tblNotes)
                vReturn = Evaluate("=MATCH(""" & _
                    sKey & """," & tblNotes.Name & "[KeyPhrase],0)")
                If (Not IsError(vReturn)) Then
                    For i = 0 To NoteNumber
                        .Cells(lrow, lOffset + i) = Evaluate("=INDEX(" & tblNotes.Name & "[" & Note(i) & "]" & "," & vReturn & ")")
                    Next i
                End If
            End If
        Next lrow
    End With
    Application.EnableEvents = True
End Function




Private Function GetKey(rPC As Range, vFields As Variant, tblNotes As ListObject) As String
    Dim i As Long, vIdx As Long
    Dim sNew As String


    With tblNotes.HeaderRowRange
    
        GetKey = ""
        
        For i = 2 To .Columns.Count
            If Left(.Cells(1, i), 4) <> "Key|" Then Exit For
            For vIdx = LBound(vFields) To rPC.PivotCell.RowItems.Count
                If .Cells(1, i) = vFields(vIdx) Then
                    sNew = rPC.PivotCell.RowItems.Item(vIdx).SourceNameStandard 'Changed from Caption to SourceNameStandard 2019-05-11
                    If IsDate(sNew) Then sNew = CLng(DateValue(sNew)) 'Avoid Date Formatting Errors - pvanerk March 9, 2017
                    Exit For
                Else: End If
            Next vIdx
            GetKey = GetKey & sNew & "|"
            sNew = ""
        Next i
    End With
 End Function
 
 
Public Function Update_Note_Database(PT As PivotTable, rNote As Range)
    Dim tblNotes As ListObject
    Dim rPC As Range
    Dim iArray As Variant, i As Integer
    Dim empt As Boolean
    
'---Call Note Naming to Set The Column Headers as Defined by the Constant Declared Above
    Call noteNames
    
    empt = True
    


'---Make new record of note at top of database table
    Set tblNotes = Sheets(Left(PT.Parent.Name, 25) & "|Notes").ListObjects(1)
    tblNotes.ListRows.Add (1)
    For i = 0 To NoteNumber
        tblNotes.ListColumns(Note(i)).Range(2) = rNote(1, i + 1).Value
    Next i
        
    Set rPC = Intersect(PT.DataBodyRange.Resize(, 1), rNote.EntireRow)
    With rPC.PivotCell.RowItems
        For i = 1 To .Count
            With .Item(i)
                tblNotes.ListColumns("Key|" & .Parent.SourceName).Range(2) = .SourceNameStandard 'Changed from Caption to SourceNameStandard 2019-05-11
            End With
        Next i
    End With
    tblNotes.Parent.Calculate




'---Remove any previous notes with matching rowfield values
    With tblNotes.Range
        For i = 2 To .Columns.Count
            If Left(.Cells(1, i), 4) <> "Key|" Then Exit For
        Next i
        ReDim iArray(0 To i - 3)
        For i = 0 To UBound(iArray)
            iArray(i) = i + 2
        Next i
        .RemoveDuplicates Columns:=(iArray), Header:=xlYes
    End With
    
End Function




Private Function NameExists(sRngName As String, sSheetName As String) As Boolean
    Dim rTest As Range
    On Error Resume Next
    Set rTest = Sheets(sSheetName).Range(sRngName)
    NameExists = Not rTest Is Nothing
End Function
 


Function OverlappingRanges(objRange1 As Range, objRange2 As Range) As Boolean
    OverlappingRanges = False
    If objRange1 Is Nothing Then Exit Function
    If objRange2 Is Nothing Then Exit Function
    If Not Application.Intersect(objRange1, objRange2) Is Nothing Then
        OverlappingRanges = True
    End If
End Function




Private Function SheetExists(sSheetName As String) As Boolean
    Dim sTest As String
    On Error Resume Next
    sTest = Worksheets(sSheetName).Name
    SheetExists = LCase(sTest) = LCase(sSheetName)
End Function




Sub WorksheetChanges(Rng As Range, Ws As Worksheet)


    Dim rNotesChanged As Range
    Dim ptrows As Integer
    Dim Pvt As PivotTable


    'Avoid error if user changes windows during a worksheet edit
    If ActiveSheet.Name <> Ws.Name Then Exit Sub


    'Avoid error appearing if selection is not a valid range
    If TypeName(Selection) <> "Range" Then Exit Sub


    If Check_Setup(Ws) = False Then GoTo Cleanup
    
    Set Pvt = Ws.PivotTables(1)
    
    ptrows = Pvt.RowRange.Rows.Count
        
    If Pvt.ColumnGrand = True Then ptrows = ptrows - 1
        
    If ptrows > 1 Then
        Set rNotesChanged = Intersect(Rng, _
            Range(sRngName))
    Else: Set rNotesChanged = Nothing
    End If
        
    If rNotesChanged Is Nothing Then Exit Sub
    
    'Limited edits to only one row to prevent program slow down with large ranges and lots of comment columns.
    'Check if area being edited is only in one row, and if the comment will show up beside data, or row headers.
    'Prevented the comment from appearing twice (once at the top with the header and once at the bottom with the subtotal)
    If rNotesChanged.Rows.Count = 1 And Cells(rNotesChanged.Rows(1).Row, Range(sRngName).Columns(1).Column - 1).Value <> "" Then
        Call Update_Note_Database( _
            PT:=Pvt, _
            rNote:=Intersect(rNotesChanged.EntireRow, Range(sRngName)))
    Else
        Call Refresh_Notes(Pvt)
    End If


Cleanup:
    Set rNotesChanged = Nothing


End Sub
 
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