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10 Best Pivot Table Features for Big Data Users | Row Zero

2024-09-30 // Mark Tressler

Pivot tables are a powerful tool for analyzing large datasets but traditional spreadsheets aren't built for big data. Row Zero rebuilt the spreadsheet and the pivot table from the ground up to be optimized for big data, speed, automation, and connectivity. Row Zero is a powerful next-gen spreadsheet that supports billion row datasets (1000x Excel's limits) and greatly expands what you can do with a pivot table. Row Zero pivot tables update automatically as source data changes and can connect directly to your data source. You can easily pivot database tables, create cascading pivot tables, and build dynamic dashboards of pivot tables and pivot charts from multiple sources. Row Zero makes pivot tables simple for users of any skill level - from power pivot table users to first time pivoters to tech folks who wrote off the old spreadsheets. Create advanced pivot tables on big datasets in the comfort of a spreadsheet.

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Here are the Top 10 best pivot table features for big data users on Row Zero. Skip to a specific number or continue for full list:

  1. Big data pivot tables
  2. Dynamic and auto-updating
  3. Connected directly to data sources
  4. Super easy to create and edit
  5. Format, filter, and sort just like regular cells
  6. Built for data governance and security
  7. Python pivot tables
  8. Build big things on top of your pivot table
  9. Pivot your pivot tables
  10. Dynamic dashboards of pivot tables and pivot charts

1. Big data pivot tables

Row Zero is a next-gen spreadsheet built for big data and speed. Row Zero powers billion row spreadsheets (1000x Excel's row limit), which lets you pull in massive database tables, work with very large files, and even automatically unzip files directly in a spreadsheet without having to first slice your data under Excel and Google Sheets limits. If you have to slice your data before using your data slicer, you probably need a bigger spreadsheet. Even for smaller datasets, if Excel is slow or Google sheets is freezing, its time to try Row Zero.

2. Dynamic and auto-updating pivot tables

Row Zero pivot tables are truly dynamic pivot tables. Row Zero pivot tables auto-update in real-time when source data changes and connect directly to your data source. They're also a dynamic data source - you can build auto-updating pivot charts, formulas, pivot table dashboards, and cascading pivot tables (pivot tables from pivot tables).

3. Connected directly to data sources

Row Zero makes it easy to directly connect spreadsheets to your data warehouse and other data sources with built-in connections to Postgres, Snowflake, Databricks, Redshift, Amazon S3, etc. Row Zero is powerful enough to pull entire database tables into your spreadsheet with a simple "select *" statement and build SQL pivot tables on top of your data source or use it as a powerful spreadsheet GUI for Postgres, Snowflake, etc. With connected tables, your pivot table will update every time you run your SQL query. You can schedule data refresh to automatically update your pivot table as your source data updates. Row Zero also lets you export pivot tables back to your data warehouse. connected pivot table snowflake

4. Super easy to create and edit pivot tables

Row Zero pivot tables are great for beginners and experts, with an intuitive experience that requires less clicks and less waiting to get your work done. Row Zero pivot tables are simple to create but super powerful.

  • Easy to edit and update: You can easily edit pivot tables by double clicking any cell in the pivot table. This lets you quickly preview the data and make adjustments. You can also change the data source of pivot tables and the pivot table automatically updates. configure large pivot table
  • Easy to duplicate: Easily duplicate pivot tables to quickly create multiple pivot tables in the same sheet.
  • Easy to get your data: Row Zero connects directly to your data sources and can handle billion row datasets (1000x Excel's limits), so you don't have to write complex SQL or split files in order to prep your data for pivoting in a spreadsheet.
  • Bonus built-in calculations: Row Zero pivot tables support count unique and percentiles in addition to the typical calculations.

5. Format, filter, and sort just like regular cells

Row Zero makes it easy to sort, format, move, and filter pivot tables with less clicks. Pivot tables sort, filter, and format just like regular cells in Row Zero.

  • Easy to filter: Filter pivot tables based on cell values in any column or filter multiple columns. Filter pivot tables by values, date, category, etc. filter-pivot-table-values
  • Easy to sort: Sort pivot tables by any column or sort mulitple columns. Easily sort pivot tables by values, dates, largest to smallest, etc.
  • Easy to format: Pivot tables format just like any other cells. You can also hide pivot table columns just like any other column.
  • Easy to move: Easily move pivot tables by dragging or cut/paste.

6. Built for data governance and security

Row Zero keeps your data in the cloud and connects directly to your data source. No more ungoverned downloads, locally stored Excel files, splitting/merging files, or untraceable email attachments. Get the whole org using the same "source of truth" data on the same tool that anyone can use. Row Zero spreadsheets are SOC2 and HIPAA compliant, support SSO, and allow data managers to restrict data export, restrict external sharing, and enforce data lifecycle rules. See 10 ways Row Zero improves data governance in spreadsheets.

7. Python pivot tables

Row Zero spreadsheets have a native Python development environment. This lets you build custom spreadsheet functions with Python and import popular Python modules like pandas into your spreadsheet. You can also import data using python for both work (netsuite, quikbooks, etc.) and fun (yfinance, pybaseball, nfl-data-py, etc.). This greatly expands the potential of your pivot tables and allows you to automate pivot table data flows and analysis.

8. Dynamically build on top of your pivot tables

Row Zero makes it easy to build on top of your pivot table using your pivot table as source data. Easily build auto-updating pivot charts, calculated fields and formulas, and pivot dashboards. When your pivot table updates, everything referencing it updates as well. With Row Zero's big data spreadsheets, you can quickly build a lot of auto-updating data analysis without freezing your spreadsheet.

Add calculated fields to pivot tables:
Create column level transformations and add calculated fields to your pivot table. add calculated fields to pivot table

Build formulas on pivot table data:
Write Excel-compatible forumlas on pivot table data like VLOOKUP and XLOOKUP to look up data in pivot tables or COUNTIFS and SUMIFS to slice pivot table data further.

Create dynamic pivot charts:
Build dynamic charts and graphs from your pivot table that automatically update as you edit and filter your pivot table. As source data changes, these charts auto update. dynamic pivot chart auto update

Quickly duplicate pivot tables:
Row Zero makes it super easy to cut, copy and paste pivot tables which lets you quickly create multiple views of your data.

Writeback to your data warehouse:
Export pivot tables and anything you build on top of them back to your data warehouse. pivot table export to snowflake

9. Pivot your pivot table - including calculated fields

Create cascading pivot tables from pivot tables from pivot tables. It's very useful to be able to create a pivot table, add calculated fields, and then pivot that pivot table to dig deeper into your calculated fields. pivot a pivot table

10. Create dynamic dashboards of pivot tables and pivot charts

Create auto-updating dashboards of pivot tables and pivot charts with multiple pivot tables from multiple data sources in one dashboard view. auto-updating pivot table dashboard

Conclusion

Row Zero is a next-gen spreadsheet built for big data, speed, and connectivity. Row Zero offers the best pivot table for users of all skill levels and makes it easy to create advanced pivot tables with big data. If you work with big data or want to prioritize data governance and security, Row Zero is a great alternative to Excel and Google Sheets. Row Zero pivot tables update automatically as source data changes, make it easy to sort and filter pivot table columns, and empower you to build big data analysis on top of your pivot tables. Since Row Zero can handle massive datasets you can easily pivot database tables and build dynamic pivot table dashboards. Row Zero brings the power of big data analytics into a simple to use spreadsheet that is accessable to anyone. Ready to try it out?

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