The Pivot Table functionality in Excel is BROKEN. Months Grouping In Columns Area Disappears After Pivot Table Refresh

Question

The Pivot Table functionality in Excel is BROKEN on macOS version 16.86 (confirmed this was working in Excel 16.66.1)

This is exactly the same issue as here:

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/all/months-grouping-in-columns-area-disappers-after/0f8ae86c-3fe5-4647-8352-1b59081d076a?page=1

In my Pivot Table Columns area, I have a Month's Grouping. When I add or delete data to the source data and then refresh the Pivot Table, the Months grouping disappears. There's no option to select Months in Fields List.

That was working before and was added with one most recent update of Microsoft Excel, in last week or so (updates are unfortunately set to automatic).

Please let me know shortly how to fix this problem as this blocks my work totally.

Before clicking REFRESH:

After clicking Refresh:

Please check - the MONTHS field disappeared. Results in pivot table are wrong. Note, when I select "Date" field and then select Grouping I see message that I can not group by Date. I checked the field "Date" is set to Date field type.

I also have checked that Excel version 16.66.1 on my other MacBook with Catalina works perfectly fine with the same spreadsheet.

Edit: my question is how to downgrade Excel to version 16.66.1 to unblock my work?

Answer 1

You may download mac history packages in this link.

Update history for Office for Mac - Office release notes | Microsoft Learn

Here is the version 16.66.1 https://officecdn.microsoft.com/pr/C1297A47-86C4-4C1F-97FA-950631F94777/MacAutoupdate/Microsoft_Excel_16.66.22101101_Updater.pkg

Answer 2

That is correct.

It is important to let Microsoft know you are affected by the bug, or it won't get fixed. Use the Menu Bar and choose Help > Feedback > I Don't Like Something to get this onto Microsoft's bug fix list.

Answer 3

Thanks, I confirm the version 18.85 downloaded from update history site works without problems, thus this confirms the bug was introduced in version 18.86.

Answer 4

Thanks for quick reply.

Please find below video that shows the issue, first there's Excel version 18.86 that shows Pivot Table and refresh that deletes grouping, and then Excel version 16.66.1 that shows exactly the same spreadsheet and refresh does not delete grouping. Note, the grouping was not deleted when I last time checked this some days ago, and that was also with newer Excel too, thus I suspect this bug crawled with automatic updates recently.

https://youtu.be/sc2Z2aA76e4

Here's minimal example (Excel broken PT.xlsx) that is shown in the video, both in buggy Excel 18.86 and correct Excel 16.66.1 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jj-v_qrXlqRRrZYYbcAp0qBP93cX40MY/view?usp=share_link

Answer 5

I would like to help you check the issue. Without a sample file, it is hard for me to share any suggestion on this. Can you upload it to OneDrive or any other cloud drive for investigation and then post the link here.

*Please make sure you have removed any sensitive or private information in the sample file before uploading.

Why a sample file is important for troubleshooting. How to do it. - Microsoft Community