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Access excel pivot tables by enabling macros in Meadow reports

Learn how to enable macros in Excel on Windows & macOS to fully utilize pivot tables in Meadow reports.

Updated over 12 months ago

Meadow reports leverage powerful pivot tables for enhanced data analysis. To utilize these features, macros must be enabled in Excel. If pivot tables aren’t working, it’s likely because macros are disabled. Below are the steps to enable them on both Windows and macOS.

Note: If a tab in your Excel file appears blank, you may need to enable macros to view its content.

For macOS Users:

Step 1: Open Excel Preferences

  • Open Microsoft Excel on your Mac.

  • Click on the Excel menu in the top-left corner of the screen, then select Preferences.

Step 2: Adjust Macro Settings

  • In the Excel Preferences window, click on Security.

  • If macros are not working, it’s likely set to Disable all macros without notification. Change this setting to Disable all macros with notification. This setting allows Excel to prompt you whenever a file with macros is opened, giving you the option to enable them manually.

Step 3: Save Preferences

  • Close the Preferences window to apply your changes.

  • You should now see the following pop-up when you open a Meadow report allowing you to enable macros.

For Windows Users:

Setting Up Excel to Enable Macros by Default

  1. Open Excel: Start by opening Microsoft Excel and the document in which you want to enable macros.

  2. Go to the Trust Center:

    • Click on the File tab in the top-left corner of the Excel window.

    • Select Options at the bottom of the left-hand sidebar to open the Excel Options dialog box.

    • In the Excel Options dialog box, click on Trust Center in the menu on the left.

    • Click on the Trust Center Settings button on the right.

  3. Macro Settings:

    • Inside the Trust Center dialog box, click on Macro Settings on the left-hand menu.

  4. Enable Macros:

  5. Optional - Trusted Locations:

    • You can also add trusted locations from which Excel will always allow macros to run without prompting. In the Trust Center settings, go to Trusted Locations, and you can add folders that you trust.

  6. Click OK:

    • After setting your preferred macro settings, click OK in the Trust Center dialog box and again in the Excel Options dialog box to apply the changes.

  7. Enable Content:

    • If you open a workbook that contains macros, you may see a security warning under the ribbon that says "Security Warning: Macros have been disabled." Click on the Enable Content button to allow the macros to run.

Make sure to only enable macros if you trust the source of the Excel file, as macros can potentially contain harmful code.

Enabling Macros for a Specific Excel File

Step 1: Locate the Downloaded Excel File

  • Navigate to the folder where your Excel file (typically a Meadow report) is downloaded.

  • Typically, this will be your Downloads folder.

Step 2: Unblock the File

  • Right-click on the Excel file and select Properties from the context menu.

  • In the Properties window, under the General tab, find the Security section at the bottom. If there is a checkbox next to Unblock, check it.

  • Click Apply and then OK to close the Properties window.

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