Rename a table or field in a PivotTable or PivotChart Fields list

Renaming a table or field in a PivotTable Fields or PivotChart Fields list is handled by renaming the object at its source. If you're using a Data Model as the basis for your report, the same principle applies: you rename the table or column in the Data Model and the change is picked up automatically by reports throughout the workbook.

1. Make sure Power Pivot is enabled. See Start Power Pivot in Excel add-in for details.

2. In the Power Pivot window, right-click the tab that contains the table that you want to rename, and then click Rename. For columns, double-click the header of the column that you want to rename, or right-click the header and select Rename Column from the context menu.

   Note:  If Power Pivot is unresponsive, switch back to Excel to see if an error message is open. Close any error messages, and then go back to Power Pivot to finish updating any calculations using the renamed object.

3. Update calculations in the Data Model to use the new name:

   • Look for error icons in the tabs at the bottom of the workspace. Calculations that need updating will be flagged accordingly.

   • Edit the calculation to use the new names.

   • If Automatic Calculation Mode is turned on, the calculation will update immediately. Otherwise, right-click the column and select Calculate Now. See Recalculate Formulas for details.

     Notes: 

     • The best time to rename tables is during the import process, or before you start to build complex relationships and calculations.

     • When using Power Pivot to import data, you can change the name of a table during the import process by typing a Friendly Name in the Select Tables and Views page of the Table Import Wizard.

     • You can also change table and column names if you import data by specifying a query on the Specify a SQL Query page of the Table Import Wizard.

Top of Page