How to Create a Pivot Table in Excel 2010

Use Excel Data
1. Open the Excel 2010 file that holds the data you want to make into a PivotTable.
2. Check the top of each column to ensure that your data has headers. If any columns do not have headers, type a word into the cell atop the column that briefly describes the data. If you don't have any headers at all, right-click on the row number for the top row in the data field and choose 'Insert' from the pop-up menu. You can then enter headers into the new row.
3. Click any cell within the data field. Select the 'Insert' tab at the top of the screen, and then click the 'PivotTable' button on the left end of the ribbon.
4. Choose whether to place the PivotTable on a new worksheet or an existing worksheet at the bottom of the small window that appears. If you choose an existing sheet, you will then need to click on the worksheet and cell where you want the PivotTable to go. Click 'OK' to continue and a blank PivotTable will appear.
5. Place a check mark next to any fields you want to include on the PivotTable on the 'Field List' that appears on the right side of the Excel window. As you add fields, Excel will automatically place them into one of the four PivotTable areas, represented by the four small boxes at the bottom of the 'Field List.' You can then drag and drop the fields from one box to another to change how they appear on the PivotTable.
Use External Data
6. Open the Excel 2010 spreadsheet where you want to create the PivotTable.
7. Select the cell where you want to insert the PivotTable. Select the 'Insert' tab and click the 'PivotTable' button.
8. Select the radio button next to 'Use an external data source.' Click 'Choose Connection,' located in the middle of the window.
9. Select your desired connection from the list of existing connections that appears. Click 'Open' to continue. If you don't see your desired connection, click the 'Browse for More' button and then locate the data source you want to use. Click 'Open' once you have selected the data file, and then 'Open' again.
10. Click 'OK' to create the blank PivotTable. Place check marks next to the fields that you want to add to the PivotTable and Excel will automatically assign them to one of the four PivotTable categories, which are located in four boxes beneath the field list. You can drag and drop fields from one box to another to alter how the PivotTable looks.