1. Using PowerPivot instead of VLOOKUP
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Using PowerPivot instead of VLOOKUP
Dr Nitin Paranjape
Office System MVP

2. The Scenario: Two tables
We have two tables
We want to analyze data from both tables

3. Transactions Table

4. Master tables: Products and Countries

5. We need this report
Total sales by Country (in columns) and Products (in rows)
Problem: Pivot Table cannot be created on three separate blocks of data.
Solution: We have to combine all three tables into a single table
But how?

6. Traditional Solution: VLOOKUP

7. Disadvantages of this approach
File size increases
If there are many transactions, the performance slows down
Workaround? Paste as values to solve the above problems… But it is additional work every time you add more data

8. Solution: Use PowerPivot
This demo is based upon Excel 2013.
For 2010
menu names are different
the procedure is also different

9. Prepare the data Each block of data must be a Table
Each table must have a legible name
Transactions
Countries
Products

10. Add tables to Data Model (PowerPivot)
Click inside each table
Open PowerPivot tab
Click Add to Data Model
Repeat this for all three tables

11. Now all tables are visible in PowerPivot
A separate window opens to show PowerPivot data
Three sheets contain three tables
The link sign indicates these are connected to the Excel Tables

12. Now we have to create relationships
Relationship means informing PowerPivot about linkages between data tables
It is like a database relationship
The only difference is that you are doing it WITHIN Excel
This eliminates the need to use an external database

13. Create relationship between Transactions and Countries

14. Create relationship between Transactions and Countries
Choose the table Many table first. Many table contains more than one rows for a single row in master table.

15. Create relationship between Transactions and Products

16. Create a Pivot Table

17. Notice that this Pivot Table is different
It shows all Tables

18. Create the report

19. Summary
PowerPivot allows you to create relationship between two tables
This eliminates the use of VLOOKUP
PowerPivot can handle millions of rows with very good speed
The file size is also reduced by using PowerPivot
Try this with your data and see the difference Always work on a copy of your data to prevent damaging the original file while learning

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