using variables with the PivotItem class

match_pt,
You can't set the visible property of an item to true if the field is custom sorted. If this is the case, set the pivot field autosort property to manual, set the item visible property to true and then reset the pivot field back to it's original setting.
Something like this.
<font face=Courier New><SPAN style="color:#00007F">Sub</SPAN> test()
<SPAN style="color:#00007F">Dim</SPAN> PivotWeek1 <SPAN style="color:#00007F">As</SPAN> <SPAN style="color:#00007F">String</SPAN>
PivotWeek1 = Sheets("Activity by Status").Range("C1").Value
<SPAN style="color:#00007F">With</SPAN> ActiveSheet.PivotTables("PivotTable4").PivotFields("Week")
    .AutoSort xlManual, .Name
    .PivotItems(PivotWeek1).Visible = <SPAN style="color:#00007F">True</SPAN>
    .AutoSort xlAscending, .Name <SPAN style="color:#007F00">'Adjust these settings to previous settings.</SPAN>
<SPAN style="color:#00007F">End</SPAN> <SPAN style="color:#00007F">With</SPAN>
<SPAN style="color:#00007F">End</SPAN> <SPAN style="color:#00007F">Sub</SPAN></FONT>

Perfect! Thanks!