Sort by "Grand Total" Column in Excel PivotTables?

Question

As per an explanation found here by Mac CPub fro Excel 2011 (for OS X) supposedly you can sort "Grand Total" columns as per the following: "... Excel for Mac doesn't have a "Sort by Grand Total" option, but you can select the grand total column and then use the Sort button on the ribbon to do this."

When I attempt perform this function it unfortunately seems to be disabled as you can see in this short screencast.

Any idea as to how to allow sorting by Grand Total?

Answer 1

You should select only the data part of your pivot table, not the headers or footers (in your screencast, starting form E5 down to A?). You can then use the standard sort option.

Answer 2

You can change the sort option of a row label. Click on a row label an choose More sort options . In this menu choose either ascending or descending and choose Count of XXXX from the drop down list.

Answer 3

Here is the fix: I had the same problem and found I had to remove the third of three fields from the "Row" box of the pivot field selector boxes on the far right of the sheet. Then I could sort by Grand Total (just by right clicking in that column). Then when I added the third field back into the Row box it sorted correctly within each level. FYI, to see the field list boxes you must click on the pivot table.