how to annotate pivot tables?

miconian

Well-known Member
Joined
Aug 18, 2004
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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!
 
Thanks very much for your quick reply, Jerry. I did try the debugger and ended up with a Runtime error 424: Object needed -- though actually this isn't my biggest priority at the moment. I've had a little more success with the earlier version of the code (the first one posted in this thread) but have experienced another problem that I can't figure out.

By the way, I'm using Excel 2011 on a Mac.

Joel, Thanks for sending your file. The current version of this code worked correctly on your workbook using Excel 2010 (Windows) but fails using Excel 2011 for Mac. The problem is that Excel 2011 Mac doesn't support two features used by the code: The PivotCell Object and the Worksheet_PivotTableUpdate event.

Below is modified code that doesn't use those features. I understand that you've tried this version on your Mac and it works although it is slower than the version that works on Windows.

I'm posting this here for any other Mac users that might benefit from the code.

Paste into the Sheet Code Module of the sheet with the pivottable....
Code:
Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range)
'----When changes are made in the named range displaying
'--    PivotTable Notes, the Note database table
'--    will be updated with each New or Revised note.

    Dim rNotesChanged As Range, c As Range
    Application.ScreenUpdating = False
    Application.EnableEvents = False
    If Check_Setup(Me) = False Then GoTo CleanUp
    Set rNotesChanged = Intersect(Target, _
        Range(sRngName))
    If Not rNotesChanged Is Nothing Then
        For Each c In rNotesChanged
            '---Update each changed note cell unless the change was due to
            '      being overlapped by a resized PivotTable
            If Not isPivotCell(c) Then _
                Call Update_Note_Database( _
                    PT:=Me.PivotTables(1), _
                    rNote:=Intersect(c.EntireRow, Range(sRngName)))
        Next c
    End If
    If Not Intersect(Target, Me.PivotTables(1).TableRange1) Is Nothing Then
    '----Refreshes display of PivotTable Notes from the Note database
    '       -- when the PivotTable is updated (refreshed, sorted, filtered, etc)
           Call Refresh_Notes(PT:=Me.PivotTables(1))
    End If
CleanUp:
    Set rNotesChanged = Nothing
    Application.EnableEvents = True
    Application.ScreenUpdating = True
End Sub

Paste into a Standard Code Module....
Code:
Public Const sRngName = "PT_Notes"

Public Function Check_Setup(ws As Worksheet) As Boolean
    Dim rNotes As Range, i As Long, bCompact As Boolean
    Dim PT As PivotTable, ptField As PivotField
    Dim tblNotes As ListObject
    Dim wsSave As Worksheet

'---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(, 2).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(ws.Name & "|Notes") Then
        Set wsSave = ActiveSheet
        Sheets.Add
        ActiveSheet.Name = ws.Name & "|Notes"
        wsSave.Activate
    End If
 
'---Check if Notes DataTable doesn't exist- add it
    With Sheets(ws.Name & "|Notes")
        On Error Resume Next
        Set tblNotes = .ListObjects(1)
        If tblNotes Is Nothing Then
            .Cells(1) = "KeyPhrase"
            .Cells(1, 2) = "Note1"
            .Cells(1, 3) = "Note2"
            Set tblNotes = .ListObjects.Add(xlSrcRange, _
                .Range("A1:C2"), , xlYes)
        End If
    End With
 
'---Check if any PT fields are not Table Headers - add
    With tblNotes
        For Each ptField In PT.RowFields
            If IsError(Application.Match(ptField.Name, .HeaderRowRange, 0)) Then
                .ListColumns.Add Position:=2
                .HeaderRowRange(1, 2) = ptField.Name
            End If
        Next ptField
    End With
    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)
'---Format body
    With rNotes
        .Interior.Color = 16316664
        .Font.Italic = True
        .HorizontalAlignment = xlLeft
        .IndentLevel = 1
        .Borders(xlInsideHorizontal).LineStyle = xlDot
        .Borders(xlBottom).LineStyle = xlDot
    End With
 
'---Format optional header
    With rNotes.Resize(1).Offset(-1)
        .Cells(1).Value = "Note1"
        .Cells(2).Value = "Note2"
        .Interior.Color = 16316664
        .Font.Italic = True
        .Font.Bold = True
        .HorizontalAlignment = xlCenter
        .Borders(xlBottom).LineStyle = xlContinuous
    End With
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
    Dim lRow As Long, lCol As Long

'---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(, 2).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) = PT.RowFields(lIdx).Name
        Next lIdx
    End With
 
'---Build formula to use as Match KeyPhrase
    Set tblNotes = Sheets(PT.Parent.Name & "|Notes").ListObjects(1)
    With tblNotes
        On Error Resume Next
        sFormula = "="
        For lIdx = LBound(vFields) To UBound(vFields)
            lCol = Application.Match(vFields(lIdx), .HeaderRowRange, 0)
            sFormula = sFormula & "RC" & lCol & "&""|""&"
        Next lIdx
        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
            sKey = GetKey(rPC:=.Cells(lRow), vFields:=vFields)
            vReturn = Evaluate("=MATCH(""" & _
                sKey & """," & tblNotes.Name & "[KeyPhrase],0)")
            If (Not IsError(vReturn)) Then
                .Cells(lRow, lOffset) = Evaluate("=INDEX(" & tblNotes.Name & "[Note1]," & vReturn & ")")
                .Cells(lRow, lOffset + 1) = Evaluate("=INDEX(" & tblNotes.Name & "[Note2]," & vReturn & ")")
            End If
        Next lRow
    End With
    Application.EnableEvents = True
End Function

Private Function GetKey(rPC As Range, vFields As Variant) As String
    '---for use with Excel 2011 for Mac
    
    Dim sFieldCurr As String, sFieldPrev As String, sNew As String, sField As String
    Dim rLabels As Range
    Dim lIdx As Long, i As Long, lPosition As Long, lCol As Long

    With rPC.PivotTable.RowRange '--Compact layout
        If .PivotTable.RowFields(1).LayoutCompactRow Then
            lIdx = UBound(vFields) + 1
            Set rLabels = .Offset(1).Resize(rPC.Row - .Row)
            For i = rLabels.Rows.Count To 1 Step -1
                sField = rLabels(i).PivotField.Name
                lPosition = Application.Match(sField, vFields, 0)
                Do While lIdx > lPosition + 1
                    GetKey = "|" & GetKey
                    lIdx = lIdx - 1
                Loop
                If lPosition < lIdx Then
                    GetKey = rLabels(i).PivotItem.Name & "|" & GetKey
                    lIdx = lPosition
                    If lIdx = 1 Then Exit For
                End If
            Next i
        Else    '--Tabular or Outline layout
            For lCol = 1 To .Columns.Count
                With .Cells(rPC.Row - .Row + 1, lCol)
                    sFieldCurr = .PivotField.Name
                    sNew = IIf(sFieldCurr = sFieldPrev, "", .PivotItem.Name)
                    GetKey = GetKey & sNew & "|"
                    sFieldPrev = sFieldCurr
                End With
            Next lCol
        End If
    End With
 End Function

Public Function Update_Note_Database(PT As PivotTable, rNote As Range)
    '---for use with Excel 2011 for Mac
    Dim rLabels As Range
    Dim sField As String, sItem As String
    Dim vFields As Variant, tblNotes As ListObject
    Dim lPosition As Long, lIdx As Long, lCol As Long
    Dim iArray As Variant, i As Integer
    
    '---Make new record of note at top of database table
    Set tblNotes = Sheets(PT.Parent.Name & "|Notes").ListObjects(1)
    tblNotes.ListRows.Add (1)
    tblNotes.ListColumns("Note1").Range(2) = rNote(1).Value
    tblNotes.ListColumns("Note2").Range(2) = rNote(1, 2).Value
    
    If PT.RowFields(1).LayoutCompactRow Then '--Compact layout
    '---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) = PT.RowFields(lIdx).Name
            Next lIdx
        End With
     
    '---Make new record of note at top of database table
        lIdx = lIdx + 1

        With PT.RowRange
            Set rLabels = .Offset(1).Resize(rNote.Row - .Row)
            For i = rLabels.Rows.Count To 1 Step -1
                sField = rLabels(i).PivotField.Name
                lPosition = Application.Match(sField, vFields, 0)
                If lPosition < lIdx Then
                    sItem = rLabels(i).PivotItem.Name
                    tblNotes.ListColumns(sField).Range(2) = sItem
                    lIdx = lPosition
                    If lIdx = 1 Then Exit For
                End If
            Next i
        End With
    Else    '--Tabular or Outline layout
        Set rLabels = Intersect(rNote.EntireRow, PT.RowRange)
       
        For lCol = rLabels.Columns.Count To 1 Step -1
            With rLabels(1, lCol)
                tblNotes.ListColumns(.PivotField.Name).Range(2) = .PivotItem.Name
            End With
        Next lCol
    End If
    
'---Remove any previous notes with matching rowfield values
    With tblNotes.Range
        ReDim iArray(0 To .Columns.Count - 4)
        For i = 0 To UBound(iArray)
            iArray(i) = i + 2
        Next i
        .RemoveDuplicates Columns:=(iArray), Header:=xlYes
        If rNote(1).Value = "" And rNote(1, 2).Value = "" Then _
            tblNotes.ListRows(1).Delete
    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
 

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

Public Function isPivotCell(rCell As Range) As Boolean
    '---for use with Excel 2011 for Mac
    On Error Resume Next
    isPivotCell = Not (IsError(rCell.PivotTable))
End Function
 
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Hi Jerry,

This is exactly what I have been looking for since a while.

However, I would like to have the "Notes" columns at the beginning (left hand side) of the Pivot table.

Grateful if you could help. Thanks in advance.
 
Upvote 0
Hi BTFDenver and SalimJ,

I just wanted to let you know that I saw your posts.
I'm in the process of reworking the code to be more robust and efficient. I'll incorporate the use of parameters for the number of columns of notes (BTFDenver's request), and notes on the Left or Right of the Pivot (SalimJ's request).

I hope to finish that up this weekend. Thanks for your feedback and suggestions. :)
 
Upvote 0
Hello Jerry,

Fantastic code! I wouldn't know what to do without it. Works like a charm!

However, I have found a few improvement suggestions that you might want to look into.

1. When I write a comment on the very last row of the comment field, that comment will also show on the row beneath the last comment row if I have Grand total activated. Using Excel Professional Plus 2010, Windows 7.

2. It would be very nice to be able to use filters together with this code. So that the comments would also be connected to any filter that I might have activated. The next step could then also be to be able to use slicers.

Kind regards,
Kris
 
Upvote 0
... it could even be a nice feature to have the text format saved in the comment field. Maybe you want to highlight what you have taken action on for example. Or tick of the comments as "read".

Also, a custom number fo comment columns could be nice. I currently use your code with two columns.

This great code just opens up for a million ideas.

Regards,
Kris
 
Upvote 0
This works beautiful. Would anyone know how to create a new version of this code to allow tabular form of the pivot table please?
 
Upvote 0
This works beautiful. Would anyone know how to create a new version of this code to allow tabular form of the pivot table please?

Hi cswkoko, The version previously posted will should work on Tabular, Outline, Compact layouts (and even PivotTables that combine these forms for different fields).

What version of Excel are you using?
 
Upvote 0
Hi cswkoko, The version previously posted will should work on Tabular, Outline, Compact layouts (and even PivotTables that combine these forms for different fields).

What version of Excel are you using?

I use Excel 2010. Tabular form doesnt work when you start working with the table like doing sorting or refreshing.
 
Upvote 0
It seems to work for me. Could you make a small example file available that shows that not working?

You could either post that to a hosting site like Box.com or send me a Private Message and we'll exchange addresses.
 
Upvote 0

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