How to Filter Blank Purchase Values in an Excel Pivot Table
Question details
The user needs to filter an Excel PivotTable to display inventory and adjustment results exclusively when the Purchase field contains a value.
- Product
- Excel
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Analyzing inventory and adjustment data where empty purchase records need to be excluded directly within the PivotTable.
- Observed behavior
- The PivotTable currently includes rows with blank Purchase values, which the user wants to hide without copying data to a separate formula area.
Ensure your source data range is properly formatted as a table and that the 'Purchase' column does not contain hidden spaces that might be read as non-blank values.
Apply a Non-Blank Filter Directly to the PivotTable
Use built-in PivotTable filtering features to hide blank records directly without altering the layout.
This method utilizes native PivotTable tools such as Label Filters or Value Filters to dynamically exclude blank rows. It is the most efficient way to clean up your view without altering your source data.
Click anywhere inside your PivotTable to open the Field List panel. Drag the 'Purchase' field into either the 'Filters' or 'Rows' area depending on your desired layout.
Locate the 'Purchase' field header in your PivotTable or in the report filter area at the top, and click the drop-down arrow next to it.
Scroll to the bottom of the item list, uncheck the box next to '(blank)', and click 'OK'.
If the drop-down list is too long, select 'Value Filters' from the drop-down menu, choose 'Does Not Equal', leave the criteria box empty, and click 'OK'.
Create a Helper Column in the Source Data
Add a formula to the source data to clearly identify non-blank purchase rows, making filtering in the PivotTable easier.
Filter PivotTable Data Seamlessly with WPS Spreadsheet
WPS Spreadsheet provides robust, highly compatible PivotTable features that make filtering blanks, grouping data, and analyzing inventory highly intuitive. It operates smoothly with all standard Microsoft Excel formats.
- 1. Open your workbook: Launch WPS Spreadsheet and open the Excel file containing your inventory PivotTable.
- 2. Access PivotTable fields: Click on the PivotTable to reveal the PivotTable Field List panel on the right side of the screen.
- 3. Apply the filter: Drag the 'Purchase' field to the Filter area. Click the filter icon at the top of the PivotTable and uncheck the '(blank)' option.
- 4. Confirm and analyze: Click 'OK' to instantly update your inventory view without blank records.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does '(blank)' still appear in my PivotTable filter after I deleted the empty rows in my source data?
The PivotTable cache retains old data items even after deletion. To remove '(blank)' from the filter list, right-click the PivotTable, select 'PivotTable Options', navigate to the 'Data' tab, and set 'Number of items to retain per field' to 'None'. Finally, refresh the PivotTable.
Can I filter out zeros instead of blanks in a PivotTable?
Yes. Click the drop-down arrow on the row label in your PivotTable, choose 'Value Filters', select 'Does Not Equal', and enter '0'. This will hide rows where the purchase value is exactly zero.
Will filtering blanks in the PivotTable delete my source data?
No, applying a filter in a PivotTable only hides the specific data points from the current display. Your original source data remains completely intact and unaffected.
How do I filter out blanks if 'Purchase' is a calculated field?
Calculated fields cannot be added to the Report Filter area directly. Instead, apply a Value Filter on the Row Labels by clicking the label drop-down, selecting 'Value Filters' > 'Greater Than', and entering '0' to exclude blanks and zeroes.
