Creating Pivot Table from External Data Hangs Computer

In Microsoft Excel, when you create a pivot table that uses an external data source, Microsoft Excel automatically starts Microsoft Query. In Microsoft Query, once you get your data, you must choose the Return Data To Microsoft Excel command from the File menu or your insertion point will change to an hourglass and you will be unable to continue working.

When you access Microsoft Query through Microsoft Excel, once you have selected and configured your data, you must choose Return Data To Microsoft Excel from the File menu. If you return to Microsoft Excel without performing this action, your insertion point will change to an hourglass and you will be unable to continue working in Microsoft Excel.

If you have minimized Microsoft Query but cannot reactivate it (because Microsoft Excel is maximized, for instance), do either of the following to reactivate Microsoft Query:

• Press ALT+TAB repeatedly until Microsoft Query is activated.
  
  -or-
• Press CTRL+ESC, select Microsoft Query, and then choose Switch To from the list of tasks.

Then, either choose Return Data To Microsoft Excel from the File menu, or close Microsoft Query by pressing ALT+F4 or by double-clicking the control menu in the upper-left corner of the Microsoft Query window.

This behavior is by design.

When you create a pivot table that uses an external data source, Microsoft Excel starts Microsoft Query so that you can select and configure the data you want to use. Microsoft Excel then waits for Microsoft Query to return the data and displays the message:



You cannot perform any other actions until Microsoft Query returns the data or until Microsoft Query is closed.