Automatic formatting of pivot table reports within a spreadsheet

A method for enabling a user to selectively modify a format of a spreadsheet pivot table that was produced from a specified set of data, said spreadsheet pivot table comprising a plurality of columns and rows that include data items, data labels, and calculated numerical data, the spreadsheet pivot table further having an original functionality, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) enabling a user to select a field to be emphasized in the spreadsheet pivot table;
• (b) automatically identifying data items in the field that was selected, corresponding to said field;
• and
• (c) modifying the format of the spreadsheet pivot table so that each data item in the field that was selected is emphasized in the spreadsheet pivot table by automatically moving said data item into a new row inserted above a previous row of said data item, wherein the pivot table as modified maintains its original functionality, enabling the user to perform drilldown, filtering, changing fields to different pivot table regions, moving fields within regions, changing calculation functions, and any other direct manipulation pivot table operations on said pivot table that could have been performed on the pivot table prior to its modification.

A system for creating a predefined banded table report from a spreadsheet pivot table that was produced from a specified set of data, said spreadsheet pivot table having an original format and an original functionality, comprising:

• (a) a memory in which a plurality of machine instructions are stored;
• and
• (b) a processor, coupled to the memory and responsive to the machine instructions, the machine instructions, when executed by the processor, causing the processor to:
• (i) provide a user interface that enables a user to select a predefined banded report format to be applied to the pivot table from a plurality of predefined formats that include at least one of the predefined banded report format and a predefined tabular report format;
• and
• (ii) automatically reformat the spreadsheet pivot table based on the predefined banded report format selected by the user, wherein a reformatted pivot table that is produced thereby maintains the original functionality, enabling the user to perform any pivot table operations on the reformatted pivot table that could be performed on the spreadsheet pivot table prior to the reformatting, including drilldown, filtering, changing fields to different pivot table regions, moving fields within regions, changing calculation functions, and any other direct manipulation operations that could be performed on the pivot table prior to the step of reformatting.