

Once you get there, right-click on it and choose Rename. Use File Explorer to navigate to the location of the Excel file.If the file is in use, you won’t be able to rename it. Close the Excel window that is currently using the file.xlsx file to remove the forbidden characters. If this scenario is applicable to your current situation, you will be able to resolve the issue by modifying the name of the. If the reports are generated by a report automation system and the name contains forbidden characters like square brackets ‘ ‘, you’ll get this error message whenever you try to create a PivotTable. One of the most popular reasons that will end up triggering the Data source reference is not valid error is an incorrect Excel file name. Method 1: Removing brackets from the file name You should eventually stumble upon a fix that will be effective in your particular scenario. Below you’ll find a collection of methods that other users in a similar situation have used to get this resolved.įor the best results, follow the methods in the order that they are presented.

If you’re currently struggling to resolve the Data source reference is not valid error, this article will provide you with several troubleshooting steps that will help you identify the problem that is triggering the error message. In this case, you can use the Name Manager to identify the values referenced and make the necessary modifications to resolve the issue.

Excel file name contains square brackets – There are a set of forbidden characters that are not supported by Pivot tables.
