Pivot Table error: the range you picked cannot be used as a data source

[Mr2017]

Hi

I downloaded a file from the web, but when I tried to create a Pivot Table with it, I got an error message that said "the range you picked cannot be used as a data source."

This happened when I selected the block of data in the Excel file on this site (Pivot Tables in Excel Tutorial - Pivot Tables in Excel - the link is around 14 lines down from the top) then clicked on "Recommeneded Pivot Tables" in the ribbon.

The error message did NOT come up if I clicked on "Pivot Table" instead of "Recommended Pivot Tables" in the ribbon, however.

Has anyone experienced this before? If so, do you know why it would happen?

TIA

 

[GlennUK]

I should imagine you selected the wrong sheet area as the source.