Today, I will explore the new Copilot Excel Table feature to simplify and transform data analysis. Data analysis is essential but cannot be easy for business professionals. It demands time and requires multiple steps. It involves creating and preparing data and gaining insights. Copilot in Excel helps simplify this process.
At Ignite 2024, Microsoft announced that Copilot in Excel has various new features, such as Excel with Python, creating tables for your specific needs, accessing data from your organization, and finding information on the web. Its improved text analysis tools offer new ways to understand your data and gain critical insights.
Microsoft enhances Excel by presenting Copilot with Python, which is now generally available. This feature allows users to perform improved data analyses using natural language without coding. Copilot can automatically generate, explain, and insert Python code into Excel spreadsheets.
The table is essential for data recording in Excel and is an effective way to organise data. Many people use it to manage data, such as sales updates, tracking budgets, managing project points, etc. Through this blog post, I will explore how Copilot Excel Table helps business users manage and organise their ideas.
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Why is the Copilot Button in the Ribbon Greyed out or Inactive?
We can use Copilot in Excel only with files saved in these formats: .xlsx, .xlsb, or .xlsm. These files must be saved to OneDrive or Microsoft 365 SharePoint, where AutoSave is enabled.
New Copilot Excel Table Feature Simplify and Transform Data Analysis
Copilot Excel allows you to create a table for your specific needs effortlessly. It can be a project budget, inventory tracker, or sales report. While starting from scratch can be challenging. You can tell Copilot your requirements with simple language. It will provide modified template suggestions with suitable headers, formulas, and visuals, helping you confidently start your project.
| Copilot Excel in Table Features |
|---|
| Modified template |
| Suggestions with suitable headers |
| Formulas |
| Visuals |
Here, Avani Reddy, Senior Product Manager, Excel Team, Microsoft, demonstrates how to generate a table that includes details about the organization’s sales team.
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How to Use Copilot Excel in Table
To start organising a table, go to Excel, open the new spreadsheet and select Copilot, which opens a window. After selecting Copilot, you can ask about anything related to your organisation’s needs.
For example, the sales manager for an international fashion brand plans to reward the salespeople from each store worldwide at the end of the year, provided there is enough budget left. She types a prompt asking Copilot to help her make a table with relevant details.
Without delay, the copilot generated the table with the Store Name, Salesperson Name, and Total Sales. The image below shows the data.
She also asked for additional adjustments Copilot made before inserting the table into the spreadsheet. Copilot can add columns, apply conditional formatting, and change table colors on command, making the creation and adjustment process more efficient.
- Insert the table by clicking Keep it on the page and continue using Copilot.
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Author
Anoop C Nair has been Microsoft MVP for 10 consecutive years from 2015 onwards. He is a Workplace Solution Architect with more than 22+ years of experience in Workplace technologies. He is a Blogger, Speaker, and Local User Group Community leader. His primary focus is on Device Management technologies like SCCM and Intune. He writes about technologies like Intune, SCCM, Windows, Cloud PC, Windows, Entra, Microsoft Security, Career, etc.