Hi Adam

i've not had much experience with pivot tables using MS access, but i set up
a quick one to test out your problem ... i'm using access 2003 and excel
2003.

my db has staff and training courses. When i added a training course to an
existing staff member the pivot table was updated when i pressed the refresh
icon (red exclaimation mark) ... when i added a new staff member and
training course it was again updated when i pressed the refresh icon. - to
create the pivot table i used the create pivot table option on the bottom
left of connection dialog box (data / import external data / new database
query ........ found db, chose tables, said return info the excel and then a
dialog came up and said which cell - on this on was the create pivot table
report link which i pressed).

so what is it that you're doing differently to me, or are you using a
different version (this behaviour may have changed between versions) - i can
test on other versions.

Cheers
JulieD

"Adam" wrote in message
...
It updates it when there is a delete on the uderlying table in access but
when i add them back it does not reflect in the sheet?

"JulieD" wrote:

Hi Adam

the data area is for the information that you want to sum
the columns and rows are used for categories
for example, if you had the following data in an access table
Deptartment............ExpenseType.........Amount

and you wanted a pivot table showing the expenses for each dept you would
drag
department to the column area
expense type to the row area
and amount to the data area
giving you the following

............Sales..........Accounts...........Prod uction ...Total
Meals...100..............50......................3 00............450
Travel....1000.................................... ....................1000
total......1100..............50................... .300..............1450

also check out www.contextures.com for pivot table info

Cheers
JulieD

"Adam" wrote in message
...
I am trying to create a pivot table based on an Access table.
when I create the pivot table and link it to the table it asks me to
drag
the column fields, the row fields, and data into the proper area. I
don't
want any row fields, and i dont quite understand what the data area
is-or
what is supposed to go there. I just want to drop the columns in with
the
data in each colum then sum them at the bottom.

CAn you please help because my pivot table looks like a mess?