sql - Can Powerpivot be used to present data without pivoting it? -

this isn't coding question, functionality question.

i'm bit new powerpivot , i'm attempting use powerpivot way deliver reports team rather ssrs because in our company, ssrs reportserver can use officially "owned" team hostile team.

i have written numerous sql ad-hoc queries using reports in ssrs, been i've trying migrate them powerpivot. of reports, i've been able paste sql query powerpivot window , make pivottable out of these. however, i'd able have workbooks contain results of query (they don't deal numbers, of them data dump or large collection of text strings), powerpivot window's dataset, can filtered, sorted, etc. possible, or can use pivottables? can't seem find way can excel directly display in powerpivot window without pivoting - know called power*pivot* because pp window shows query results itself, i'm hoping there way use alternative ssrs.

also there anyway check if our sharepoint server capable of running powerpivot can deploy reports there users use without having powerpivot installed on computers other saving sharepoint , seeing if user can run it? if not, how difficult have team update sp server can handle pp?

any appreciated, i'm in position cannot contact or project management, , can't raise red flags it/bi/pm. thank time.

it sounds want results of sql query directly excel spreadsheet, can use excel filter , sort capability. doesn't appear want use of functionality powerpivot provides, can achieve described using existing excel component, microsoft query. it's bit of clunky old interface works. here's instructions use:

in excel spreadsheet, click on data tab, select "from other sources" button on external data area of ribbon.

select "from microsoft query"

on "choose data source" click ok create new data source

on "create new data source" window select appropriate driver , database details data source

if using sql server data source, don't select optional step 4 (select default table).

click ok return choose data source window, ok again select new data source.

you're prompted choose columns query, if have sql click cancel - display prompt continue editing in microsoft query - click yes.

the add tables window pops up, click close

you're in microsoft query interface. if click on sql button, can paste in sql. click return data button run query, results displayed in excel worksheet.

once set up, need click "refresh data" on data tab re-run query , update spreadsheet.