Calculated Field Returns Incorrect Grand Total in Excel (211470)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Office Excel 2003
  • Microsoft Excel 2002
  • Microsoft Excel 2000
  • Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition
  • Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
This article was previously published under Q211470

SYMPTOMS

In a PivotTable, Microsoft Excel may calculate an incorrect grand total for a calculated field.

CAUSE

This problem occurs when you use a calculated field (a field that is based on other fields) in a PivotTable, and the calculated field is defined by performing a higher order arithmetic operation, such as exponentiation, multiplication, or division on other fields in the PivotTable. For example, this problem occurs when you use a calculated field that is named Revenues that returns the multiple of the fields Units * Price. The individual items in the calculated field return the expected results. However, the grand total does not return the expected result for the calculated field.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

When a calculated field includes more than one field in the data range, Excel computes the grand total for the sum of each component field, and then performs the arithmetic operation. For example, the following example PivotTable contains a calculated field that is named Revenue. This field is defined as Price * Units. 
   A1: Sum of Revenue  B1:           C1:         D1:
   A2: Product         B2: Units     C2: Price   D2: Total
   A3: Alpha           B3: 1         C3: 10      D3: 10
   A4:                 B4: 1 Total   C4:         D4: 10
   A5: Alpha Total     B5:           C5:         D5: 10
   A6: Bravo           B6: 2         C6: 11      D6: 22
   A7:                 B7: 2 Total   C7:         D7: 22
   A8: Bravo Total     B8:           C8:         D8: 22
   A9: Charlie         B9: 3         C9: 12      D9: 36
   A10:               B10: 3 Total  C10:        D10: 36
   A11: Charlie Total B11:          C11:        D11: 36
   A12: Grand Total   B12:          C12:        D12: 198
The grand total of 198 does not equal the subtotals of 10+22+36, which is 68.

Excel computes the grand totals for the calculated field Revenues as follows: 
   SUM(Units)*SUM(Price)
or 
   SUM(1+2+3)*SUM(10+11+12)
This is 6*33=198.

REFERENCES

For more information about calculated fields, click Microsoft Excel Help on the Help menu, type Create a calculated field in a PivotTable report in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topics returned.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:12/11/2003
Keywords:kbbug kbpending KB211470
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