Hi all~
I've got a strange one here - thinking it is an Excel settings or version issue? I have a student who has created an Excel dashboard from Data Model. They have created 2 pivot charts from the data model. First chart was created by clicking the PivotChart button from within PowerPivot. The second chart was created by clicking PivotChart button from Insert tab in Excel, and using the data model as the data source. Both charts were connected to the slicers on the page and working fine.
Student then saved and closed the file. When they opened the file again, the second chart has lost its connection to data source, and when you check the data source for the chart it is empty.
I have opened the same file on my computer, added a chart from data model using Insert tab in Excel > PivotChart > from data model (same method student used for second mystery chart). I saved, closed, opened again. My chart is fine. Student's chart is still a mysterious chart with columns but no data source.
Student can make PivotChart from data model by clicking the PivotChart option from within Power Pivot and those save and reopen with no problem, but cannot create a chart by clicking the PivotChart option from Excel Insert tab, those save and reopen with empty data source. This happens every time.
I am hoping someone has had this problem before and that it's just a simple update of add-in or ribbon or other Excel setting?
Thanks!
I will also attach the file here with the broken chart - Purple column chart by city, even though I can't replicate the broken chart it may be helpful for you to at least see it?
UPDATE:
The default setting for the student's new PivotChart button is set to do two things:
1) Untick ALL the field button options
2) Select the Hide All option in the field button options
If I do both of these things in order on a PivotChart in my Excel, close, save and reopen, the chart also loses connection to the Data Model.
How do we change the default PivotChart options on the Insert tab in the ribbon?
Hi Allison,
I've not come across that problem before and I couldn't reproduce it. You can't change the default settings on inserting of the chart, you'll need to change the default settings prior to inserting the chart.
One thing I noticed about this file is that it was originally created in maybe Excel 2007 or 2010? It has old style formatting relating to one of those versions. I'm not sure what version they are using, but if it's later than Excel 2010 then they may want to try creating a new file from scratch to see if that helps.
Mynda
Thanks for the quick reply Mynda,
Good point about the Excel version. I have just done a quick test with a new Excel file and I can still 'break' it with a new file. I should also note the data source is Excel.CurrentWorkbook - haven't tested yet if that matters. But if you insert a PivotChart and then untick ALL the options for field buttons and then ALSO TICK the Hide all field buttons. Save, Close and reopen the file, the chart converts to a standard chart with no data source and I can't relink to the Data Model.
How do you change the default settings prior to inserting the chart- that's what I'd like to know how to do. I'm not sure why the student's default settings are set to untick all field buttons and tick the Hide all...
Hi Allison,
I was able to reproduce it using Power Query to load the data to Power Pivot. I found if I unchecked the 'Hide all field buttons' option before saving the file, it didn't corrupt it. I've reported it to Microsoft as a bug, but I don't expect anything to be done about it in a hurry, so best to use the workaround of deselecting Hide All before saving.
There are PivotTable default settings in the File tab > Options > Data > Edit Default Layout, but I expect some of it applies to the charts too (I haven't tested it). Otherwise they will have changed the chart template in their default workbook.
Mynda
