Microsoft Excel Excel Pivot Charts — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the main difference between a PivotChart and a standard Excel chart?
- A PivotChart cannot display a legend
- A PivotChart is linked to a PivotTable and updates as fields change (Correct answer)
- A PivotChart only supports pie charts
- A PivotChart cannot be formatted
Correct answer: A PivotChart is linked to a PivotTable and updates as fields change
PivotCharts are bound to PivotTable data and include interactive field buttons.
A PivotChart visualizes a PivotTable and stays synchronized with it. Changing fields, filters, or sorting in either the table or the chart updates both. Standard charts reference fixed ranges and lack the interactive field buttons that PivotCharts provide.
Question 2: Which ribbon tab contains the command to insert a PivotChart?
- Insert (Correct answer)
- Data
- Home
- Page Layout
Correct answer: Insert
PivotChart is in the Charts group on the Insert tab.
The PivotChart button appears in the Charts group on the Insert tab. From an existing PivotTable you can also use the PivotChart button on the PivotTable Analyze tab. Either path creates a chart linked to PivotTable data.
Question 3: In the PivotChart Fields pane, fields placed in the Axis (Categories) area correspond to which PivotTable area?
- Values
- Columns
- Rows (Correct answer)
- Filters
Correct answer: Rows
Axis categories map to Row fields in the underlying PivotTable.
In a PivotChart, the Axis (Categories) area is the equivalent of the Rows area in a PivotTable. The Legend (Series) area corresponds to Columns. Values and Filters map directly to their PivotTable counterparts.
Question 4: Which chart type is NOT available for a PivotChart?
- Column
- Line
- Pie
- XY Scatter (Correct answer)
Correct answer: XY Scatter
Scatter, bubble, and stock charts cannot be created as PivotCharts.
PivotCharts support most chart types including column, bar, line, pie, and area. However, XY Scatter, Bubble, and Stock charts are unsupported because they require paired numeric values rather than category-based data. To use these types you must chart the PivotTable range with a regular chart.
Question 5: What do the gray buttons displayed on a PivotChart allow you to do?
- Change the chart's color theme
- Filter, sort, and expand fields directly on the chart (Correct answer)
- Print the chart
- Convert the chart to an image
Correct answer: Filter, sort, and expand fields directly on the chart
Field buttons provide interactive filtering and sorting without touching the PivotTable.
PivotChart field buttons appear for Filter, Legend, Axis, and Value fields. Clicking them opens menus to filter or sort the categories shown, and they update the linked PivotTable. You can hide them for presentation through PivotChart Analyze > Field Buttons.
Question 6: What happens to a PivotChart when the underlying PivotTable is deleted?
- The chart is deleted automatically
- The chart becomes a static regular chart with the last data (Correct answer)
- The chart shows an error and cannot be opened
- The chart is unaffected and still updates
Correct answer: The chart becomes a static regular chart with the last data
Without its PivotTable, the chart converts to a standard chart with fixed data.
Deleting the PivotTable behind a PivotChart breaks the connection. Excel keeps the chart but converts it into a regular chart holding the values it last displayed. It will no longer refresh or offer field buttons.
Microsoft Excel Excel Pivot Charts
What is the main difference between a PivotChart and a standard Excel chart?