Excel - General Question on Pivot Table - Expert Solution

Question description:
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Pivot Table formats and functions are lost after my file is saved. Even older versions of the file that had opened fine before will not now. What gives?
Solved by V. D. in 60 mins
This is the chat thread from the real Excelchat help session. It contains no private user information.
Excelchat Expert 29/06/2018 - 08:34
Hello there, welcome to Got It Pro.
Excelchat Expert 29/06/2018 - 08:35
Hope you are having a good day.
User 29/06/2018 - 08:36
Are you there?
Excelchat Expert 29/06/2018 - 08:36
Yes.
Excelchat Expert 29/06/2018 - 08:37
May I know which version of Excel are you using?
User 29/06/2018 - 08:37
2016
Excelchat Expert 29/06/2018 - 08:37
Did you install any updates after which this issue began?
User 29/06/2018 - 08:38
Usually but sometimes the file is unstable with no updates.
User 29/06/2018 - 08:39
The original file that worked fine for months does not work now.
Excelchat Expert 29/06/2018 - 08:39
Well, I can suggest a few fixes.
Excelchat Expert 29/06/2018 - 08:40
I am guessing you're on a windows pc?
User 29/06/2018 - 08:40
yes
Excelchat Expert 29/06/2018 - 08:41
Another thing I'd like to know is was the original file created using Excel 2016 as well?
User 29/06/2018 - 08:41
No. A previous version but I'm not sure which.
Excelchat Expert 29/06/2018 - 08:42
Ok no problem. Here's a couple of things you can try to fix this issue.
Excelchat Expert 29/06/2018 - 08:42
The first one is to repair Excel.
Excelchat Expert 29/06/2018 - 08:42
Click on the Windows "start" icon (bottom-left corner of your screen). Click on "Settings". The "Windows Settings" window should appear. Click on "Apps". The "Apps and Features" window containing a list of your installed programs should appear. Select "Microsoft Office" (or "Microsoft Excel" if you do not have the full Office installation). Click "Modify". Choose from "Quick Repair" or "Online Repair".
Excelchat Expert 29/06/2018 - 08:43
Also, you need to check the "Pivot table options" before refreshing and saivng.
Excelchat Expert 29/06/2018 - 08:43
*saving
Excelchat Expert 29/06/2018 - 08:44
1. Click on any cell in pivot table.
Excelchat Expert 29/06/2018 - 08:44
2. Right click>Pivot table options.
Excelchat Expert 29/06/2018 - 08:45
3. From Layout & Format check Preserve cell formatting on update
Excelchat Expert 29/06/2018 - 08:45
Please tell me if this fixes the issue.
User 29/06/2018 - 08:46
When I elected to open and repair, Excel made 10 attempts but did not fix the issue.
Excelchat Expert 29/06/2018 - 08:46
Could you please check the pivot table options if it has the preserve formatting option checked?
User 29/06/2018 - 08:50
It was checked.
Excelchat Expert 29/06/2018 - 08:51
I am guessing the recent update made the file unstable.
User 29/06/2018 - 08:52
Is it a compatibility issue based on Exvel versions?
Excelchat Expert 29/06/2018 - 08:52
I am afraid it is.
User 29/06/2018 - 08:53
But the old file (not updated) now has the same problem.
Excelchat Expert 29/06/2018 - 08:53
I am sorry it's not the file updates.
Excelchat Expert 29/06/2018 - 08:54
I was referring to the OS updates on your computer.
Excelchat Expert 29/06/2018 - 08:54
Could you please try this and tell me if it helps.
Excelchat Expert 29/06/2018 - 08:54
Click on File>Info>Check for Issue (Inspect Workbook)>Check Compatibility. Click the drop down on Select Versions to show, unselect everything except 2016 then click OK.
User 29/06/2018 - 08:57
done
Excelchat Expert 29/06/2018 - 08:57
Does it work now?
User 29/06/2018 - 09:00
No but some of the pivot table formats, etc are gone on this particular file version.
User 29/06/2018 - 09:00
I will try a version with all pivot table intact.
Excelchat Expert 29/06/2018 - 09:00
Sure.
Excelchat Expert 29/06/2018 - 09:05
Any luck?
User 29/06/2018 - 09:06
Doing a RUN ALL - takes about 4 minutes.....
Excelchat Expert 29/06/2018 - 09:06
Alright.
Excelchat Expert 29/06/2018 - 09:07
They have macros?
User 29/06/2018 - 09:07
The file was just lost-just disappeared.
Excelchat Expert 29/06/2018 - 09:08
That's because the compatibility mode was off.
Excelchat Expert 29/06/2018 - 09:08
Please repeat the previous steps.
Excelchat Expert 29/06/2018 - 09:08
Click on File>Info>Check for Issue (Inspect Workbook)>Check Compatibility. Click the drop down on Select Versions to show, select all the options then click OK.
Excelchat Expert 29/06/2018 - 09:09
The file will be back like before.
Excelchat Expert 29/06/2018 - 09:09
I guess you'll have to uninstall office and then install again.
User 29/06/2018 - 09:10
All versions are checked.
Excelchat Expert 29/06/2018 - 09:11
Previously we unchecked the versions and did a run all
Excelchat Expert 29/06/2018 - 09:12
You'll have to repeat thesame process after selecting them.
Excelchat Expert 29/06/2018 - 09:13
All good now?
Excelchat Expert 29/06/2018 - 09:15
The file is there. The changes were not made into the file. We just changed Excel's settings to view files from previous versions to see if the file was compatible.
Excelchat Expert 29/06/2018 - 09:33
Thanks for using Got It Pro. Please come back again with your Excel related queries.
Excelchat Expert 29/06/2018 - 09:33
Have a good day.

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