Pivot table and formatting

[mmartin999]

I am trying to set the auto format table to "off" and preserve formatting to "on" so that each time I refresh the pivot it retains whatever formatting and column widths I have set. NOrmally it returns it back to whatever format was originally set.

My problem when I do this is that the Name cells go blank. when I look at their format details it says it is set to black with white background, but nothing shows up. I can change the background color but when I change the letter color, the titles never appear again. when I look at field settings, it still shows a name in that cell. Its baffling. The only way to get them to appear again is by selecting an auto format.

any ideas?
thanks