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Check the Newsletter Past Issues:

2024-03  (March) – Topics:
The following is a summary of the March 2024 newsletter, the original newsletter can be opened here.

• Excel Improvements and New features:
• • • New Default Theme for Office   [Excel for Windows] [Excel for Mac] Microsoft 365 has a new default theme that is designed to be more modern, accessible, and professional. The new theme includes a new font, color palette, and styles.
    • Export to CSV [Excel for Web] In Excel for the web, it is now possible to download a spreadsheet as a CSV file. This functionality is beneficial for storing structured data ina simple, human-readable format, facilitating data transfer between spreadsheet
    • Create Power BI Connected Tables in Excel [Excel for Web][Excel for Windows]
      It is now possible to connect directly to data in your Power BI dataset or semantic model.
      After indicating the data, filters and field order toapply, you will get a Table in your workbook that is connected to your Power BI semantic model.
      Show Details in PivotTables The Microsoft team has introduced a “Show Details” button under the ‘PivotTable Analyze’ tab to create detailed tables from value cells.

Excel Events:         

• • • Bulgaria Excel Days – April 23 – 25, Sofia – Bulgaria
      This is a prestigious international conference focusing on Microsoft Excel, Power BI, Power Apps, Data Visualization, Big Data Analysis,VBA, Financial Modeling, and more. The event features world-class experts, masterclasses, and valuable insights for optimizing datamanagement and analysis processes using spreadsheet tools.
    • NEXT –  April 17 –Building Interactive Dashboards in Microsoft 365 Excel | Michael Olafusi
      
    • NEXT – March 20 – Microsoft Excel Simulator – The Future of Learning Excel | Mohammad El Medawar

• Must-have apps:
  • • • Monkey Tools allows you to create Excel-based parameter table and function to easily use values from your Excel file in your queries. I love this tool! 
      • List Slicer is my new favourite Excel add-in, as it saves me so much time every day!

2024-02  (Feb) – Topics:
The following is a summary of the February 2024 newsletter, the original newsletter can be opened here.

• Guest Presenter:
  • • My presentation “Dynamic Dropdown Lists Master Class” to the East, Central & South Africa Microsoft Excel Forum on Mar 3, 2024 is now available on YouTube.

• Excel Improvements and New features:

• • • New Default Theme for Office   [Excel for Windows] [Excel for Mac] Microsoft 365 has a new default theme that is designed to be more modern, accessible, and professional. The new theme includes a new font, color palette, and styles.
    • Chart Data Task Pane [Excel for Web] Working with charts in Excel for the web is becoming easier. New functionality includes a way to select a chart’s data source, adjust how data series are presented, including their axis placement and options to manage the appearance of hidden/empty cells and to specify if the source data is organized by rows or columns.
    • Images and Data Types in PivotTables [Excel for Windows – Insiders] [Excel for Mac – Insiders] [Excel for Web]Previously available only for Insider subscribers, it is now possible to include Data Types and Images within Pivot Tables in Excel for the Web.
• Excel Events:         
  • • NEXT – March 20 – Microsoft Excel Simulator – The Future of Learning Excel | Mohammad El Medawar
    • PAST- Feb 28 – ​Learning Excel with the Original Manuals (since 1979!) | Klinsmann Langhanz
• Content you dont want to miss:
  The Women in Excel LinkedIn Group aims to help Women in the Excel space network learn about each other, have conversations, beless isolated, and encourage each other! Ladies, Join us and be a part of this amazing community.
  The traditional Best Microsoft Excel Tips & Tricks in 2023 podcast episode only recently came out. It contains tips from about 20 ExcelExperts, including my own. It is always fun and inspiring to listen to this tips collection.

• Must-have apps:
  • • Monkey Tools allows you to create Excel-based parameter table and function to easily use values from your Excel file in your queries. I love this tool! 
    • List Slicer is my new favourite Excel add-in, as it saves me so much time every day!

2024-01  (Jan) – Topics:
The following is a summary of the January 2024 newsletter, the original newsletter can be opened here.

• Guest Presenter:
  • • February 8 2024 – Global Excel Summit 2024 -The Global Excel Summit is the biggest and best event in the Excel industry, offering fabulous opportunities for learning and doing business.I will be presenting for the 4th year in a row and am looking forward to seeing you there.

• Excel Improvements and New features:

• • • Insert Pictures in Cells [Excel for Windows] [Excel for Mac] This functionality allows users to insert pictures directly into cells. Initially, it only accepted pictures saved online, but now it also supports local pictures from your device, stock image libraries, and even your mobile device.
    • Check Performance [Excel for Windows ] This feature identifies cells that no longer contain data but still occupy space due to residual formatting, allowing users to optimize their workbooks by removing these cells.
    • “Show details” button on Pivot Tables [Excel for Windows – Insiders] When you click it or double-click a value in a PivotTable, you will get the table starting on row 3 with a description in cell A1 (previously, the table would start on A1 with no title).
    • Sync Forms Data to Excel [Excel for Web] When we created a form directly from Microsoft Forms (and not from within an Excel file on the web), each time we wanted to see the answers collected from that form, we were presented with a new Excel file to download
    • Date Picker [Excel for Web] This feature has been visible in Excel for the Web for a few months but only now was announced in the blog. Entering or editing a date is so much easier with a calendar pop-up.
    • Google to Microsoft Forms Migration in 365 Admin Center [Excel for Web] With this new feature in the Microsoft 365 admin center, administrators can now seamlessly transition forms in bulk, ensuring a smooth integration into the Microsoft ecosystem.
    • PivotTables for iPad [Excel for Ipad]  Microsoft has introduced support for PivotTables on iPad, enabling users to create and edit PivotTables directly on their devices.
    • Office’s new default theme is now available in the Current Channel – Microsoft updated the default font and colours of the Office theme.

Excel Events:         

• • • NEXT – Feb 28 – ​Learning Excel with the Original Manuals (since 1979!) | Klinsmann Langhanz
    • PAST- Jan 17 – New Excel features of 2023 | David Benaim

• Content You don’t want to miss:
  • • Understanding The “Evaluation resulted in a stack overflow” Error In Power Query In Excel And Power BI Tired of the dreaded “Evaluation resulted in a stack overflow” error in Power Query for Excel and Power BI? In this article, Chris Webb shares his invaluable insights and strategies to avoid this common error, offering a sneak peek into optimizing M code and employing efficient coding practices.
• Must-have apps:
  • • • Monkey Tools allows you to create Excel-based parameter table and function to easily use values from your Excel file in your queries. I love this tool! 

2023-12  (Dec) – Topics:
The following is a summary of the December 2023 newsletter, the original newsletter can be opened here.

• Guest Presenter:
  • •  January 11, 2024 – 6:30 PM EST –  Dynamic Dependent Dropdown Lists will be the topic of my presentation to the Women in Financial Modelling Meetup Group organized by Danielle Stein Fairhurst. Register here.
    •  February 6 – 8, 2024  – Global Excel Summit 2024. Are you coming? You can still grab a promotional price of 23% OFF for the next edition in February 2024 by applying coupon code BYE2023 on checkout. 

• Excel Improvements and New features:
  • • • A new way to debug formulas in Excel –  Another exciting feature to experiment with and keep an eye on is the Excel Labs add-in.

• Excel Events:         
  • • NEXT – JAN 17 – New Excel features of 2023 | David Benaim
    • PAST- Dec 6 – Level up your insights with Conditional formatting​ |Tom Hinkle
    • The Training Camp and Microsoft Excel World Championship Finals were a success worldwide, being mentioned in The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian,  The Times, and 30 more news outlets.  You can watch the recoding of the championship finals here.

• Content You don’t want to miss:
  • • Anti Joins And Query Folding In Power Query In Excel And Power BI – another interesting finding by Criss Webb about what can impact Power Query performance.

2023-11  (Nov) – Topics:
The following is a summary of the November 2023 newsletter, the original newsletter can be opened here.

• Excel Improvements and New features:
  • • • Workbook Links  [Excel for Windows] [Excel for Web]
      • GROUPBY and PIVOTBY [Excel for Windows – Insiders] [Excel for Mac – Insiders]
      • Export Loop Tables to Excel [Excel for Windows – Insiders] [Excel for Mac – Insiders]
      • Trendline Equation Formatting  [Excel for Web]
• Excel Events:         
  • • NEXT- Dec 6 – Level up your insights with Conditional formatting​ |Tom Hinkle
    • PAST -Nov 8 – ChatGPT & Excel​ |Steve Kraynak
    • The Active Cell  – December 7-9, 2023 – Las Vegas, USA
    • Global Excel Summit – February 6-7, 2024 (in-person), February 8, 2024  (online)

• Content you dont want to miss
  • Excel Workbook Layout and the Performance of Reading Data with Power Query in Power BI – Chris Webb discusses how the layout of Excel workbooks impacts the efficiency of reading data with Power Query in Power BI. There’s a special detail I would not expect to impact a query’s performance when reading data from an Excel table.
•  Recommended Books:
  • Power BI for the Excel Data Analyst e-Book by Wyn Hopkins.
  • Advanced Excel Formulas: Unleashing Brilliance with Excel Formulas Alan Murray (also available on Amazon)
  • Microsoft 365 Excel: The Only App That Matters by Mike Girvin.
  • Guerrilla Data Analysis 3rd Edition by Oz du Soliel and Bill Jelen.
• Cool Stuff

2023-10  (Oct) – Topics:
The following is a summary of the October 2023 newsletter, the original newsletter can be opened here.

• What I have been up to:
  • • If you need to click “Refresh All” twice to update your queries fully, there is a high probability that those queries can be improved. No one deserves to need to refresh twice if it could be done in one go, right? Learn what can cause the “refresh-all-twice” issue and how you can fix it.
• Guest Presenter:
  • • My presentation “The SPILL effect – can’t live without it” to the Excel Virtually Global on October 10th is now available on YouTube. I talk about how the classic Excel functions can also spill multiple results if we use the modern Excel calculation engine capabilities.
• Excel Improvements and New features:
  • • Control Data Conversions  [Excel for Windows] [Excel for Mac]
    • Web Connector Enhancements  [Excel for Windows] .
    • Optimizing Screen Narrator Announcements [Excel for Windows]
    • Checkboxes in Cells [Excel for Windows – Insiders]
    • Automate Work Button  [Excel for Web]
    • Formula Authoring Enhancements  [Excel for Web]
    • Queries and Connections Pane Management [Excel for Web]
• Excel Events:         
  • • NEXT- Nov 8 – ChatGPT & Excel​ |Steve Kraynak
    • NEXT –Dec 6 – Level up your insights with Conditional formatting​ |Tom Hinkle
    • The Active Cell  – December 7-9, 2023 – Las Vegas, USA
    • Global Excel Summit – February 6-7, 2024 (in-person), February 8, 2024  (online)

•  Recommended Books:
  • Power BI for the Excel Data Analyst e-Book by Wyn Hopkins.
  • Advanced Excel Formulas: Unleashing Brilliance with Excel Formulas Alan Murray (also available on Amazon)
  • Microsoft 365 Excel: The Only App That Matters by Mike Girvin.
  • Guerrilla Data Analysis 3rd Edition by Oz du Soliel and Bill Jelen.
• Cool Stuff

2023-09  (Sept) – Topics:
The following is a summary of the September 2023 newsletter, the original newsletter can be opened here.

• What I have been up to:
  • • My training program on automating recurring reporting procedures in Excel is open for registration.
• Guest Presenter:
  • • I will be presenting at the Excel Virtually Global, one of the biggest Excel events in the industry, delivered entirely online and priced as “donate what you can to a charity of your choice.”
• Excel Improvements and New features:
  • • Data Validation Autocomplete [Excel for Windows] [Excel for Mac – Insiders] The Autocomplete feature for data validation dropdown lists has been one of the most wanted features for years. After being available in Excel for the Web, Mobile devices and the Beta channel for a long time, it is finally being rolled out to all Microsoft 365 desktop users – Current channel and for Windows and Excel for Mac Insiders.
    • Stale Value Formatting [Excel for Windows – Insiders Beta] This feature helps users to identify cells that contain outdated values, which can happen when switching the calculation mode from Automatic to Manual.
    • Python in Excel [Excel for Windows – Insiders Beta] Python in Excel is a new feature that enables users to perform complex data analysis and machine learning tasks directly from Excel, without leaving the familiar Excel environment. It is now available to all Enterprise, Business, Education, and Family and Personal users running Beta Channel on Windows (build 16.0.16818.20000 or later).
    • Python Editor from Excel Labs  [Excel for Windows – Insiders Beta] The Python Editor in Excel Labs is a new tool that allows you to write and edit Python formulas in Excel. It has features like syntax highlighting and code completion, and it can also be used to write longer sections of code and to debug your code.
    • Copilot Support for Python in Excel  [Excel for Windows ]  Copilot is the new AI engine supporting most apps in the Microsoft 365 environment. In Excel, Copilot will support Python, and we can use it to write code to analyze data. It can help you access popular Python libraries and visualizations and can be used to break down complex.
    • Workbook links [Excel for Windows] Linking Excel files has always caused issues; with this new feature though, it is much better managed and easier to control. The “Edit Links” pop-up on the Data tab has been replaced with the more intuitive “Workbook Links” pane, which is more robust in finding links and breaking them if need be.
    • Catch up [Excel for the Web]When co-authoring a workbook, you will now see “Show changes” on the top right of the screen. This will unveil the “Show changes” pane, which will give you all the changes made by other collaborators on a cell-by-cell basis since you last opened the workbook.
    • Power Query Web by examples [Excel for Windows] When importing data from the Web from Excel’s Data tab, you can now import non-tabular data using AI.
    • Checkboxes [Excel for Windows – Insiders] Select cells and, on the Insert tab, click the button Checkbox, and you will have checkboxes inside cells. These evaluate to TRUE when ticked and FALSE otherwise.
• Excel Events:         
  • • NEXT-Nov 8 – ChatGPT & Excel​ |Steve Kraynak
    • PAST-Oct 4 – How to build an Excel automation machine​ | ​Mark Proctor
    • PAST-Sept 13 – Python in Excel | Ndeyanta Jallow, Chris Gross and Keyur Patel
    • The Active Cell  – December 7-9, 2023 – Las Vegas, USA
    • Excel Virtually Global – October 10 – 12, 2023 
    • Global Excel Summit – February 6-7, 2024 (in-person), February 8, 2024  (online) 

• Excel Resources:
  Monkey Tools allows you to create Excel-based parameter table and function to easily use values from your Excel file in your queries. I love this tool! 
•  Recommended Books:
  • Power BI for the Excel Data Analyst e-Book by Wyn Hopkins.
  • Advanced Excel Formulas: Unleashing Brilliance with Excel Formulas Alan Murray (also available on Amazon)
  • Microsoft 365 Excel: The Only App That Matters by Mike Girvin.
  • Guerrilla Data Analysis 3rd Edition by Oz du Soliel and Bill Jelen.
• Cool Stuff

2023-08  (Aug) – Topics:
The following is a summary of the August 2023 newsletter, the original newsletter can be opened here.

• What I have been up to:
  • • How to change the font size in the formula bar in Excel
• Guest Presenter:
  • • This year, I will be presenting at the Excel Globally Virtual event that occurs in October, entirely online and priced as “donate what you can to a charity of your choice.”
• Excel Improvements and New features:
  • • Python in Excel [Excel for Windows – Insiders Beta] For now, this feature is available for a section of users in the Beta channel only, and gradually coming to all the Office Insiders subscribers. See here how to register to get notified when Python becomes available to the general public.
    •  Stale Value Formatting [Excel for Windows – Insiders Beta] This feature helps users to identify cells that contain outdated values, which can happen when switching the calculation mode from Automatic to Manual.
    • Monospaced Font in formula bar [Excel for Windows – Insiders Beta] The font in Excel’s formula bar is switching from proportional to monospaced, making it easier to read and edit long formulas.
    • Power BI Connected Tables [Excel for Windows] Microsoft has announced new ways to create connected tables in Excel connected to Power BI, making it easier for users to add Power BI data to their Excel workbooks. The data can be kept up to date by refreshing the connection.
    • Improved Save As/Discard Dialog [Excel for Windows] The “Save As/Discard” dialog is now more informative, showing you when you last saved your changes and who else has made changes.
    • Simplified Sharing across Microsoft 365 [Excel for Windows] [Excel for Web] The new experience makes is available now across more than 50 Microsoft 365 applications on all platforms making it easier to share files and folders with others, both inside and outside your organization.
    • Access and Explore Office Add-Ins  [Excel for Windows – Insiders] [Excel for Web]
• Excel Events:         
  • • NEXT-Sept 13 – Python in Excel | Ndeyanta Jallow, Chris Gross and Keyur Patel
    • Oct 4 – How to build an Excel automation machine​ | ​Mark Proctor
    • Excel OnBoard 5 – September 30, 2023  
    • Microsoft Excel World Championship
    • Excel Virtually Global – October 10 – 12, 2023 

• Content You don’t want to miss:
  • • Cross Database Query Folding For SQL Server Sources In Power Query In Power BI And Excel – Chris Webb shows an example of how to use a new option in Power Query to allow queries that combine data from different SQL Server databases to fold.
    •  The “External table is not in the expected format” error in Power Query in Power BI and Excel – Chris Webb explains what can cause this error and how to fix it.
• Excel Resources:
  Did you know that Monkey Tools  can test your queries to tell you which one is faster, and which one might be worth tweaking to improve refreshing times? I love this tool!
•  Recommended Books:
  • Power BI for the Excel Data Analyst e-Book by Wyn Hopkins.
  • Advanced Excel Formulas: Unleashing Brilliance with Excel Formulas Alan Murray (also available on Amazon)
  • Microsoft 365 Excel: The Only App That Matters by Mike Girvin.
  • Guerrilla Data Analysis 3rd Edition by Oz du Soliel and Bill Jelen.
• Cool Stuff

2023-07 (Jul) – Topics:
The following is a summary of the July 2023 newsletter, the original newsletter can be opened here.

• What I have been up to:
  • • How to make Power Query refresh on a protected sheet in Excel
    • Join a community of blazed like-minded professionals
• Excel Improvements and New features:
  • • Share a Section of a Workbook [Excel for Windows – Current Channel]
    • Copy Values Quickly from the Status Bar [Excel for Windows – Monthly Enterprise Channel]
    • Insert Pictures in Cells [Excel for Windows – Insiders] [Excel for Mac – Insiders]
    • QUERY_ Prefix on query names: [Excel for Windows – Insiders] 
    • New External links experience with Workbook links [Excel for Windows – Insiders]
    • Default Theme for Office [Excel for Windows – Insiders] [Excel for Mac – Insiders] [Android]
    • Format Individual Data Points in your Chart via Home Ribbon Controls [Excel for Web] 
    • Automatically Crop Pictures [Excel for Mac – Insiders] [iOS]
    • Insert photos from your Android phone into Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for Windows files [Android]
    • Semi annual update this month for Excel on Windows 
    • Spreadsheets in Space just became more powerful with a new API in Microsoft Excel
• Excel Events:         
  • • PAST- July 12 – Next-Gen Excel: Exploring New Tools and the Impact of AI​ | Gaëtan Mourmant
    • August 4, 7:00 AM EDT – Excel Esports Takes the Spotlight on ESPN8: The Ocho!

• Content You don’t want to miss:
  If you work with data models in Excel and PBI and are familiar with the Excel CUBE functions, you might find great value in this and this other post by Chris Webb.
• Excel Resources:
  Did you know that Monkey Tools  can test your queries to tell you which one is faster, and which one might be worth tweaking to improve refreshing times? I love this tool!
•  Recommended Books:
  • Power BI for the Excel Data Analyst e-Book by Wyn Hopkins.
  • Advanced Excel Formulas: Unleashing Brilliance with Excel Formulas Alan Murray (also available on Amazon)
  • Microsoft 365 Excel: The Only App That Matters by Mike Girvin.
  • Guerrilla Data Analysis 3rd Edition by Oz du Soliel and Bill Jelen.
• Cool Stuff

2023-06 (Jun) – Topics:
The following is a summary of the June 2023 newsletter, the original newsletter can be opened here.

• What I have been up to:
  • • How to Compare Two Lists in Excel using Dynamic Array Functions all Power Query Merge Joins
    • How to make VBA wait for Power Query
• Excel Improvements and New features:
  • • Office Scripts [Excel for Windows]
    • Get Data from Dynamic Arrays   [Excel for Windows]
    • Rapid Refresh [Excel for Windows]
    • Guided Reapply [Excel for Windows]
    • Paste Values with new shortcut CTRL+SHIFT+V [Excel for Windows]
    • Apply default table style to Power Query tables [Excel for Windows]
    • Insert pictures in cells [Excel for Windows] (Insiders)
    •  Workbook links [Excel for Windows] (Insiders) 
    • Links no longer accidentally paste when copied across files [Excel for Windows] (Insiders) 
    • Use Image and Data Types in PivotTables [Excel for Windows] (Insiders) [Excel for Mac] (Insiders)
    • Formula Suggestions [Excel for the Web] 
    • Formula by Example[Excel for the Web]  
    • Support Chart Formatting via Selection & Ribbon Buttons [Excel for the Web]  
    • Move Chart Elements within Chart Player [Excel for the Web]  
    • Name Manager [Excel for the Web]  
    • Generate an Accessible PDF [Excel for Mac]
    • Enhanced Search Experience  [Excel for Mac] (Insiders)
• Excel Events:         
  • • NEXT -July 12 – Next-Gen Excel: Exploring New Tools and the Impact of AI​ | Gaëtan Mourmant
    • PAST- Jun 27 – Creating awesome data visualizations in Excel | Jordan Goldmeier
•  Tech News:
  • Copilot – As Microsoft gets ready to make Copilot available to more clients, getting the right systems in place is the first step that IT administrators need to do, and there are new resources available to help with this process:
    Microsft 365 Copilot community
    How to prepare for Microsoft 365 Copilot blog post
    How to get ready for Microsoft 365 Copilot video

•  Excel Tools:
  Did you know that Monkey Tools  can test your queries to tell you which one is faster, and which one might be worth tweaking to improve refreshing times? I love this tool!
•  Recommended Books:
  • Power BI for the Excel Data Analyst e-Book by Wyn Hopkins.
  • Mastering SEQUENCE – Excel’s most amazing function with more than 200 examples” by MVP Meni Porat.
  • Advanced Excel Formulas: Unleashing Brilliance with Excel Formulas Alan Murray (also available on Amazon)
  • Microsoft 365 Excel: The Only App That Matters by Mike Girvin.
  • Guerrilla Data Analysis 3rd Edition by Oz du Soliel and Bill Jelen.

2023-05 (May) – Topics:
The following is a summary of the May 2023 newsletter, the original newsletter can be opened here.

• What I have been up to:
  • • When I develop queries in Power Query, I find it annoying that the default loading destination is to a Table in a new Excel worksheet. I prefer the default loading destination to be “Connection only.” If that’s your case too, check my new blog post How to Set Connection Only as Power Query’s Default Loading Destination in Excel.
    • LIVE ONLINE TRAINING “Getting up and running with Power Query” Details and registration here: https://solveandexcel.ca/corporatetraining/
    • Excel Expert Live Challenge | Celia Alves & The Cupcake Challenge.I had a great time taking Oz Du Soliel’s challenge. Oz’s challenges are to show the thought process and how the presenter goes about solving the problem. Often, we learn as much from our missteps as from our successes.
• Free Tutorials on my YouTube channel  and  Instagram:
  • • Hack to change Loading destination from table to connection only
    • Have you tried the new dynamic array function TOCOL?
• Excel Improvements and New features:
  • • Check your Formula with Value Preview Tooltip [Excel for Windows] [Excel for Mac]  Now available for the current channel subscribers of Microsoft 365.
    • Enable Proper Date Support for PBI PivotTables [Excel for the Web]  [Excel for Windows] 
    • Implicit Measures Support for PBI PivotTables [Excel for the Web] [Excel for Windows] 
    •  Narrator Enhancements [Excel for Windows]  (Insiders Preview)
    • Move more efficiently through the ribbon using your keyboard  [Excel for Windows]  (Insiders Preview)
    • Immersive Reader [Excel for the Web]
    • Add Option to Share Table Context Menu [Excel for the Web] 
    • New enhanced search experience in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for Mac [Excel for Mac]  (Insiders Preview)
• Excel Events:         
  • • NEXT – June 7 – Creating awesome data visualizations in Excel​ | ​Jordan Goldmeier
    • PAST- May 24 – How to make ready to use Excel templates | Danuta Pezda
• Content you don’t want to miss :
  
  • • Microsoft Power Platform celebrates 1,000 certified connectors
    • Free Open-Source Add-In adds From Table, From Folder, From XML to Mac Power Query
•  Recommended Books:
  • Power BI for the Excel Data Analyst e-Book by Wyn Hopkins.
  • Advanced Excel Formulas: Unleashing Brilliance with Excel Formulas Alan Murray (also available on Amazon)
  • Microsoft 365 Excel: The Only App That Matters by Mike Girvin.
  • Guerrilla Data Analysis 3rd Edition by Oz du Soliel and Bill Jelen.
•  Recommended Apps:
  I have been using Monkey Tools for a while, and I cannot express how helpful it is to speed up and improve my work with Power Query, DAX and data models. Today, I would like to highlight “Export model data to CSV” as one of my favourite tools. I strongly encourage you to give it a try. Even the free version offers tremendous value.

2023-04 (Apr) – Topics:
The following is a summary of the April 2023 newsletter, the original newsletter can be opened here

• What I have been up to:
  • • We are testing a new platform to distribute our newsletter.
    • Excel Snap Reports Training Program
    • READY-TO-USE FILE for Dynamic Dependent Dropdown Lists 
• Free Tutorials on my YouTube channel  and  Instagram:
  • • Make Power Query load all queries as Connection Only by default
    • How to append data with Vstack
    • Guest Presenter- May 16, 2023 – I was invited by Paul Barnhurst to participate in his Podcast FP&A Today to chat about How to improve your Excel skills with him and my two fellow MVPs Mark Proctor and George Mount.
• Excel Improvements and New features:
  • • Reducing Unwanted Fragmenting of Conditional Formatting Rules [Excel for web] [Excel for Windows] [Excel for Mac]
    • Assign a Task with @mentions [Excel for Windows] [Excel for Mac]
    • Block untrusted XLL Add-Ins [Excel for Windows]
    • Quick Access Toolbar (Insiders) Rules [Excel for Windows – Insiders]You can now clean and shape your data with hundreds of transformations available in Power Query Editor in Excel for Mac.
    • Check Performance [Excel for the Web] You can now import data from XML and JSON files, OData, SharePoint Online List, Blank Query, and Blank Table.
    •  Formula Argument Assistance [Excel for the Web]
    • With this update, you have added this ability to Excel for Mac.
    •  Drag & Drop in Queries Pane [Excel for the Web]Using formulas in Excel for the Web became much easier with a card that pops up while we write the formula and tells us the details about each argument we can enter. Very helpful!
    • Chart Task Pane [Excel for web]
    • Hyperlinks in Comments [Excel for web]
    • Speed Up Filtering when Cells contain Unique or Duplicate Conditional Formatting Rules [Excel for web]
    •  Advanced Formula Environment is becoming Excel Labs, a Microsoft Garage Project! [Excel for web] [Excel for Windows] [Excel for Mac]
• Excel Events:         
  • • NEXT – MAY 24 –How to make ready-to-use Excel templates? | ​Danuta Pezda
    • PAST- APRIL 26 – Micro-Automations: Excel’s Little Secret | ​Erik Oehm
• Content you don’t want to miss :
  
  • • Get Data from Table/Range, from Folder and from the Web with Power Query in Excel for Mac
•  Recommended Books:
  • Power BI for the Excel Data Analyst e-Book by Wyn Hopkins.
  • Advanced Excel Formulas: Unleashing Brilliance with Excel Formulas Alan Murray (also available on Amazon)
  • Microsoft 365 Excel: The Only App That Matters by Mike Girvin.
  • Guerrilla Data Analysis 3rd Edition by Oz du Soliel and Bill Jelen.

2023-02 (Mar) – Topics:
The following is a summary of the Match 2023 newsletter, the original newsletter can be opened here

• What I have been up to:
  • • We are testing a new platform to distribute our newsletter.
    • Excel Snap Reports Training Program
    • READY-TO-USE FILE for Dynamic Dependent Dropdown Lists
• Excel Improvements and New features:
  • • Automatic recalculation optimization makes your active workbook more performant  [Excel for Windows – Insiders] [Excel for Mac – Insiders] 
    • PivotTables: Manual sort (drag) of rows and column values [Excel for the web] 
    • Block untrusted XLL Add-Ins (Insiders) [Excel for Windows – Insiders]
    • Power Query Editor  [Excel for Mac]You can now clean and shape your data with hundreds of transformations available in Power Query Editor in Excel for Mac.
    • Import Data from Additional Sources  [Excel for Mac]You can now import data from XML and JSON files, OData, SharePoint Online List, Blank Query, and Blank Table.
    • Import Data from SQL Server Databases (Insiders) [Excel for Mac – Insiders] 
    • With this update, you have added this ability to Excel for Mac.
    • Formula Argument Assistance [Excel for the Web]Using formulas in Excel for the Web became much easier with a card that pops up while we write the formula and tells us the details about each argument we can enter. Very helpful!
• Excel Events:         
  • • NEXT – APRIL 26–Micro-Automations: Excel’s Little Secret | ​Erik Oehm
    • PAST- MARCH 22 – Excel for Mac: The Need-to-Know Gotchas and Workarounds |Mike Thomas
    • MARCH 8 –  What is the DAX CALCULATE Function and how does it work? | Wyn Hopkins 
• Tech News :
  
  • • This past week, Microsoft announced Copilot, a new feature that will be available for enterprise and business Microsoft 365 accounts and integrates AI in all the apps. Microsoft Loop is available in public preview. Have you tried it?
•  Recommended Books:
  • Power BI for the Excel Data Analyst e-Book by Wyn Hopkins.
  • Advanced Excel Formulas: Unleashing Brilliance with Excel Formulas Alan Murray (also available on Amazon)
  • Microsoft 365 Excel: The Only App That Matters by Mike Girvin.
  • Guerrilla Data Analysis 3rd Edition by Oz du Soliel and Bill Jelen.

2023-02 (Feb) – Topics:
The following is a summary of the February 2023 newsletter, the original newsletter can be opened here

• What I have been up to:
  • • Dynamic Dependent Dropdown Lists in Excel: create and manage all the categories you need. See how to create dependent drop-down lists using named ranges and the dynamic array functionality in Excel. This is extremely useful to ensure data is entered properly.
• Guest Presenter:
  • • I was thrilled to present for the 3rd time at this event. In my session, “The magic of Names in Excel,” I gave examples of why I use Named Ranges so much in the Excel solutions I develop. Learn here how to access the session replays.
    • I felt like a true TV sports commentator co-hosting an Excel Battle the Global Excel Summit, organized by the Financial Modeling Word Cup.
    • On February 2nd, I presented Dynamic Array Functions: a Must-Know in Excel  to the Vancouver Power BI & Modern Excel Meet-up Group.  I demonstrated some business cases where dynamic array functions shine in making our life so much easier.
• Excel Improvements and New features:
  • • Improvements to Pivot Tables  [Excel for Microsoft 365 – Desktop]
    • Automate your tasks with the Power Automate tab [Excel for Windows] [Excel for Mac] 
    • Power Query Editor and import data from additional sources are now generally available in Excel for Microsoft 365 for Mac [Excel for Mac] 
    • Record worksheet actions using Office Scripts.  [Excel for Windows – Insiders] [Excel for Mac – Insiders] 
    • Check your formula with value preview tooltips   [Excel for Windows – Insiders] [Excel for Mac – Insiders] 
    • Formula by Example [Excel for the Web] 
    • PivotTable show details  [Excel for the web]
• Tech News :
  
  • • Reinventing search with a new AI-powered Microsoft Bing and Edge, your copilot for the web
• Excel Events:         
  • • NEXT – MARCH 8 – (RESCHEDULED date) – What is the DAX CALCULATE Function and how does it work? | Wyn Hopkins 
    • MARCH 22 – Excel for Mac: The Need-to-Know Gotchas and Workarounds |Mike Thomas
• Tech News :
  
  • • David Benaim published a video comparing Microsoft Forms vs Google Forms.
    • Chris Webb posted an interesting item on his Blog this month. Understanding The “A cyclic reference was encountered during evaluation” Error In Power Query In Power BI Or Excel
    • Imke Feldmann came up with a strategy to Reference an intermediate step from a different query in Power Query
•  Recommended Books:
  • Power BI for the Excel Data Analyst e-Book by Wyn Hopkins.
  • Advanced Excel Formulas: Unleashing Brilliance with Excel Formulas Alan Murray (also available on Amazon)
  • Microsoft 365 Excel: The Only App That Matters by Mike Girvin.
  • Guerrilla Data Analysis 3rd Edition by Oz du Soliel and Bill Jelen.

2023-01 (Jan) – Topics:
The following is a summary of the January 2023 newsletter, the original newsletter can be opened here

• Excel Improvements and New features:
  • • You can find here a summary of what was announced as new for Excel in December. The Excel features flyer at the bottom of that page allows you to check if a specific feature is in your version of Excel.  Add keyboard shortcut to open the Power Query editor  [Excel for Windows] 
    • Record worksheet actions using Office Scripts in Excel [Excel for Windows] [Excel for Mac] [Excel for the Web]
    • Get Data from Picture [Excel for the Web] [Excel for Windows] [Excel for Mac] [Excel Mobile – iOS and Android] had been announced for Insiders back in June and is now available in all kinds of platforms. In this video by David Benaim you can learn how to use this new functionality.
    • Automate your tasks with the Automate tab  [Excel for the Web] [Excel for Windows] [Excel for Mac] 
    • IMAGE Function [Excel for the web] [Excel for Windows] [Excel for Mac] 
    • Create nested Power Query data types  [Excel for Windows-Insiders] 
    • Get Data from Dynamic Arrays  [Excel for Windows-Insiders] 
    • Formula Suggestions  [Excel for the web] Formula by Example  [Excel for the web]Suggested Links [Excel for the web] Add search bar in queries pane  [Excel for the web] I love this feature!  You can now search for Queries right in the query panel!  Great for filtering when you have a lot of queries.
• Excel Events:         
  • • The Global Excel Summit is an award-winning Microsoft Excel virtual conference for professionals and enthusiasts, bringing together 30 of the brightest minds from the world of Excel on Feb 6th to Feb 8th, 2023.
    • On Thursday, February 2, 2023 at 20:00 EST, I will present to the Vancouver Power BI & Modern Excel User Group on Dynamic Array Functions: A Must-Have and Must-Know in Excel.
    • NEXT – FEB 15 – What is the DAX CALCULATE Function and how does it work? | Wyn Hopkins  This session will cover how I explain that DAX works to people, especially Excel users.
    • PAST – DEC 7 – Exploring Excel’s new Text and Array Functions + LET |Victor Momoh In this session, we consider some of the 14 new array and Text functions and how to creatively use them to solve our daily problems.
    • JAN 18 – Power Query Route to M(astery): Challenge Yourself (Further) | Melissa de Korte Learning should be fun and inspiring. Challenges offer both, first practical application of what you’ve learned.
•  Recommended Books:
  • Power BI for the Excel Data Analyst e-Book by Wyn Hopkins.
  • Advanced Excel Formulas: Unleashing Brilliance with Excel Formulas Alan Murray (also available on Amazon)
  • Microsoft 365 Excel: The Only App That Matters by Mike Girvin.
  • Guerrilla Data Analysis 3rd Edition by Oz du Soliel and Bill Jelen.

2022-11(Nov) – Topics:
The following is a summary of the November 2022 newsletter, the original newsletter can be opened here

• GUEST PRESENTER:  
  • The Global Excel Summit is an award-winning Microsoft Excel virtual conference for professionals and enthusiasts, bringing together 30 of the brightest minds from the world of Excel on Feb 6th to Feb 8th, 2023. I will be one of the speakers presenting about “The magic of NAMES in Excel” and would love to see you there. Get 10% OFF your ticket with code CELIA10
• Excel Improvements and New features:
  • You can find here a summary of what was announced as new for Excel in October. Below are more details about some of the features.
  • Find the command you need [Windows Current Channel] [Web].
    The shortcut menus are now searchable! This works in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
  • Navigation pane [Windows Current Channel]  
    This new feature makes it easy to find tables, charts, shapes and more in your workbook. Check it out!
  • New DAX Functions in Excel Data Models and Power Pivot [Insiders Beta] 
    Microsoft brought out 92 new DAX functions into Excel Insiders Beta – That is not a typo!
  • New keyboard shortcut for Pasting as Values  [Insiders Beta]
    Show Changes See what other users modified in a spreadsheet. [Windows Current Channel] 
  • Automate Tasks with Office Scripts (Insiders)  [Mac Insiders]
    Office Scripts enables you to automate repetitive tasks in your spreadsheet workflows, helping you save time by increasing efficiency and reducing errors in your workflow.
  • New Web.Headers M function  [Power Query Online] [Power Query Desktop]
    This function allows you to make HEAD requests to web services – the existing Web.
  • Check if a specific feature is in your version of Excel
    Check out this spreadsheet with a matrix showing features available for each version of Excel.
• Excel Events:         
  • • NEXT – DEC 7 – Exploring Excel’s new Text and Array Functions + LET |Victor Momoh  In this session, we will consider some of the 14 new array and Text functions and how to creatively use them to solve our daily problems.
    • PAST – OCT 19 – Advanced Excel Skills for Financial Modeling | Ian Schnoor During this webinar, Ian covered some critical Excel skills that are helpful in the construction of financial models.
    • PAST – Nov 16- The Magic of Filters in Power Query | Alejandra Horvath   Alejandra presented examples on how to filter through one or several conditions, using parameters, a list, or cells in excel, By specific text or range of numbers before expanding tables 
      
•  Recommended Books:
  • Power BI for the Excel Data Analyst e-Book by Wyn Hopkins.
  • Advanced Excel Formulas: Unleashing Brilliance with Excel Formulas Alan Murray (also available on Amazon)
  • Microsoft 365 Excel: The Only App That Matters by Mike Girvin.
  • Guerrilla Data Analysis 3rd Edition by Oz du Soliel and Bill Jelen.

2022-10(Oct) – Topics:
The following is a summary of the October 2022 newsletter, the original newsletter can be opened “here”

• FREE CLASSES online about Excel/VBA/Power Query on my YouTube channel:
  Combining text from cells in the same column in Power Query without combining the whole rows
• GUEST PRESENTER:  
  •  Presented at the first edition of My Data Summit in September along with more than 30 other MVPs and Excel experts from around the world. My presentation was on the topic “The Excel features and skills you need to automate a reporting procedure.” My Data Summit was a very successful event. I recommend that we keep an eye on it for the next editions.
• Excel Improvements and New features:
  • Excel for the Web
    –New Excel Functions – 14 functions to manipulate text and arrays including TEXTBEFORE / TEXTAFTER, VSTACK / HSTACK, CHOOSEROWS / CHOOSECOLS
    -Power Query Group operations
    –Improvements to the connected Power BI experience – for when you notice Excel lagging too much.
    -Add and edit rich text formatting - Rich text formatting allows the user to add formatting to only part of the text within a cell. You can use the ribbon or shortcuts to add the formatting.
    -Sort by color or icon from auto filter menu
    -Edit files with legacy data connections
    -Edit files with legacy Shared Workbook feature
    -Delete chart elements
    -Multiline formula bar
    –Check performance
    -Sharing a section of Excel workbook
    –Dynamic array support in charts – This feature enables users to link charts to Dynamic array calculations, which can produce results of variable length. The chart will automatically update to capture all data when the array recalculates, rather than being fixed to a specific number of data points.
  • Excel for Window
    New Excel Functions  – 14 functions to manipulate text and arrays including TEXTBEFORE / TEXTAFTER, VSTACK / HSTACK, CHOOSEROWS / CHOOSECOLS
    IMAGE function (Insiders Beta)
    Improvements to the connected Power BI experience (Insiders Beta)
    Show Changes (Insiders Current Channel Preview) 
    Modern comments – Assign tasks with @mentions in Excel
    Dynamic array support in charts (Insiders Beta) –
  • Excel for Mac
    –New Excel Functions
    -IMAGE function (Insiders Beta)
    –Show Changes (Insiders Current Channel Preview)
    –Shape data with Power Query Editor (Insiders Preview)
    –Manage your storage accounts (Insiders Preview)
  • Mac Insiders
    –Shape data with Power Query Editor in Excel for Mac
  • Android
    -New Excel Functions 
    –IMAGE function (Insiders Beta)
  • IOS
    –New Excel Functions
    –IMAGE function (Insiders Beta)
    –Converting handwriting to text with Scribble in Office mobile apps on iPads
    –Manage Your Storage Accounts from Mac
• Excel Events:         
  • • NEXT – OCT 19 – Advanced Excel Skills for Financial Modeling | Ian Schnoor During this webinar, Ian will cover some critical Excel skills that are helpful in the construction of financial models.
    • NEXT – Nov 16- The Magic of Filters in Power Query | Alejandra Horvath  Alejandra  will present examples on how to filter through one or several conditions, using parameters, a list, or cells in excel, By specific text or range of numbers before expanding tables
    • PAST – SEPT 14- BI with Excel – but *not* Power BI! | Chris Webb If you have a long memory, you’ll recall that 8 years ago Microsoft BI was all about Power Pivot and Power BI in Excel. Power BI is the big thing nowadays, but Excel’s BI features have recently had a makeover – and in this session.
•  Recommended Books:
  • Power BI for the Excel Data Analyst e-Book by Wyn Hopkins.
  • Advanced Excel Formulas: Unleashing Brilliance with Excel Formulas Alan Murray (also available on Amazon)
  • Microsoft 365 Excel: The Only App That Matters by Mike Girvin.
  • Guerrilla Data Analysis 3rd Edition by Oz du Soliel and Bill Jelen.

2022-08 (Aug) – Topics:

• GUEST PRESENTER:  
  • My Data Summit 2022 – On September 7, 2022, I will be presenting on the next big Excel event – My Data Summit 2022 – on the topic “The Excel features and skills you need to automate a reporting procedure”.
• Excel Improvements and New features:
  • Excel for Desktop and Mac (Current Channel) – Announcing New Text and Array Functions  – The new 14 text and array Excel functions announced a few months ago for the Beta channel are finally rolling out to Microsoft 365 subscribers of the Current channel. Yay!
  • Excel for Desktop and Mac (Insiders) – Add SketchUp files to Office creations
  • Excel for the web – Search for fields in PivotTable Field List, Share a section of a workbook
• Excel Events:         
  • NEXT – SEPT 14- BI with Excel – but *not* Power BI! | Chris Webb in this session, we’ll see just how much BI you can do with the Excel you already own, without paying for Power BI or any other BI tool.
  • NEXT – SEPT 28- Using Micro Automations in Excel for MAX Performance| Erik Oehm For peak performance in Excel modeling, whether for competing in eSports on ESPN or just at work so you can get home earlier to be with your family, micro-automations allow you to shave off time in doing your magic in Excel.
  • PAST  – JULY 13- Practical Lambda – Simplify, Save and Succeed | Owen Price Owen used several practical examples to demonstrate why he believes everyone can and should learn to use Excel’s LAMBDA functionality.
•  Recommended Books:
  • Power BI for the Excel Data Analyst e-Book by Wyn Hopkins.
  • Microsoft 365 Excel: The Only App That Matters by Mike Girvin.
  • Guerrilla Data Analysis 3rd Edition by Oz du Soliel and Bill Jelen.

2022-07 (Jul) – Topics:

• GUEST PRESENTER:  
  • My Data Summit 2022 – On September 7, 2022, I will be presenting on the next big Excel event – My Data Summit 2022 – on the topic “The Excel features and skills you need to automate a reporting procedure”.
• Excel Improvements and New features:
  • Excel for the Web – Sheet protection, “PivotTable Connections” in slicer settings pane , Semi-select for links creation
  • Excel for Office Insider – Make Excel worksheets available offline , Data from Picture
  • Excel for Mac – Import from local text, CSV, and XLSX files with data preview   – Provide automatic alt-text suggestions on charts and PivotCharts
• Excel Events:         
  •  NEXT  – JULY 13- Practical Lambda – Simplify, Save and Succeed | Owen Price Owen will use several practical examples to demonstrate why he believes everyone can and should learn to use Excel’s LAMBDA functionality.
  • PAST – JUNE 22- Excel Skirmishes with Oz and Bill | Oz du Soleil and Bill Jelen celebrate the release of the 3rd edition of Guerrilla Data Analysis, Oz du Soleil (Excel on Fire on YouTube) and Bill Jelen (MrExcel) discussed what it is to be a Guerrilla Data Analyst and survive in the trenches when crap data is afoot, and all you have is Excel and a strong will.
•  Recommended Books:
  • Now in Pdf – Guerrilla Data Analysis 3rd Edition by Oz du Soliel and Bill Jelen.

2022-05 (Jun) – Topics:

• GUESS PRESENTER:  
  • Power Query Magic – Interview by Wyn Hopkin ¨The One with Celia Alves
• FREE CLASSES online about Excel/VBA/Power Query on my YouTube channel:
  • How to make dynamic the path to the data source files in Power Query in Excel
• Excel – improvements and new features:
  • Excel for the Web – Tables designed to fit your needs
  • Excel for Windows – Improved recommended PivotTable experience (Insider Beta)
  • Excel on Android – AutoFilter is faster and more efficient
  • Excel for Mac – Shaping data with Power Query Editor (Insider Beta)   – Improved Find dialog and Find All 
• Excel Events:         
  •  NEXT  – JUNE 22- Excel Skirmishes with Oz and Bill | Oz du Soleil and Bill Jelen To celebrate the release of the 3rd edition of Guerrilla Data Analysis, join Oz du Soleil (Excel on Fire on YouTube) and Bill Jelen (MrExcel) as they discuss what it is to be a Guerrilla Data Analyst and survive in the trenches when crap data is afoot, and all you have is Excel, and a strong will.
  • JUL 13 – Practical Lambda – Simplify, Save and Succeed | Owen Price Owen will use several practical examples to demonstrate why I believe everyone can and should learn to use Excel’s LAMBDA functionality.
  • PAST – From Data 2 Dashboard in 1 Day! covers everything you need to know to build state-of-the-art dashboards. With Excel and nothing more than Excel. This presentation does not list all kinds of neatly shaped examples but is a project approach to building dashboards in Excel.  
  • Other My Data Summit (September 5, 6 & 7, 2022 – online event) Content you don’t want to miss:
    • Refreshing Excel Power Query Queries With VBA And Power Automate For Desktop by Chris Webb
•  Recommended Books:
  • Now in Pdf – Guerrilla Data Analysis 3rd Edition by Oz du Soliel and Bill Jelen.

2022-05 (May) – Topics:

• FREE CLASSES online about Excel/VBA/Power Query on my YouTube channel:
  • How to combine in a folder multiple files with different column headers
  • How to Sum columns by criteria on the column header in Power Query
  • Separating text in one cell into multiple columns – Power Query vs Excel Features
  • Make your Pivot Tables in Excel update automatically without having to click refresh
• Excel – improvements and new features:
  • Time to celebrate! Power Query is now refreshable in Excel for the Web for selected data sources!
  • Excel Events:
    • PAST – Dates and Times in Excel – Some cool Tricks  Meni Porat explained some features of the dates and times in Excel, some of which aren’t well-known. He also demonstrated some cool tricks and methods to deal more cleverly and effectively with issues related to dates and times.
    • MAY 25 – From Data 2 Dashboard in 1 Day! covers everything you need to know to build state-of-the-art dashboards. With Excel and nothing more than Excel. This presentation does not list all kinds of neatly shaped examples but is a project approach to building dashboards in Excel.
• Content you don’t want to miss:
  • Refreshing Excel Power Query Queries With VBA And Power Automate For Desktop by Chris Webb
•  Recommended Books:
  • Master your Data with Power Query in Excel and Power BI by Ken Puls and Miguel Escobar.
  • Supercharge Excel (when you learn to write DAX for Power Pivot) by Matt Allington
• 2022-04 (Apr) – Topics:
  • FREE CLASSES online about Excel/VBA/Power Query on my YouTube channel:
    • How to combine in a folder multiple files with different column headers
  • Excel – improvements and new features:
    • Files with Macros coming from web blocked by default VBA macros are a common and easy way for mal intended hackers to deploy malware and ransomware.
    • Power Query updates in Excel for Mac Microsoft continues to enable Power Query functionality inside of Excel for Mac.
    • Shape data with Power Query Editor in Excel for Mac  Subscribers to the Office Insider Program can clean and shape data from local files, SharePoint, SQL, and tables and ranges with Power Query Editor in Excel for Mac!
  • Excel Events:
    • PAST – Dates and Times in Excel – Some cool Tricks  Meni Porat explained some features of the dates and times in Excel, some of which aren’t well-known. He also demonstrated some cool tricks and methods to deal more cleverly and effectively with issues related to dates and times.
    • MAY 25 – From Data 2 Dashboard in 1 Day! covers everything you need to know to build state-of-the-art dashboards. With Excel and nothing more than Excel. This presentation does not list all kinds of neatly shaped examples but is a project approach to building dashboards in Excel.
  • Content you don’t want to miss:
    • Refreshing Excel Power Query Queries With VBA And Power Automate For Desktop by Chris Webb
  •  Recommended Books:
    • Master your Data with Power Query in Excel and Power BI by Ken Puls and Miguel Escobar.
    • Supercharge Excel (when you learn to write DAX for Power Pivot) by Matt Allington

2022-03 (Mar) – Topics:

• FREE TUTORIALS online about Excel/VBA/Power Query on my YouTube channel:
  • I am converting some of the tutorials into blog posts to help more people find help for common challenges in Excel and Power Query. This is my most recent blog post: How to share workbooks with data resulting from Power Query without allowing other users to refresh the queries
• Excel – improvements and new features:
  • Announcing New Text and Array Manipulation Functions in Excel   Are you sitting down and holding tightly? Wait for it – Microsoft released 14 new functions in Excel (Office Insider) in the last few days to work magic with text and arrays.
  • Better insights from Analyze Data feature. The Analyze Data feature (available for Office Insiders) lets you use natural language to ask for insights into your data. 
  • Refresh stock quotes automatically in Excel  (available for Office Insiders) Excel will update your Stock Data automatically as it now refreshes when you open the file and every 5 minutes while the file is open.
  • Copy from status bar Insiders can do more than just look at the summaries in the status bar. You can now select the aggregated value (sum, average, count etc.) and save it temporarily to your clipboard and paste it back to your workbook, an email or anywhere else you’d like.
  • New Pivot Tables and Slicer functionalities; Improved Formulas menu and Function library Pivot tables can now be filtered and sorted using the right-click menu.
• Excel Events:
  • PAST – Thinking Smart: Process Behavior Charts Tracking your business processes can help with managing and planning.
  • APR 20 – Dates and Times in Excel – Some cool Tricks Meni Porat will explain some features of the dates and times in Excel, some of which aren’t well-known.
• Content you don’t want to miss:
  • Refreshing Excel Power Query Queries With VBA And Power Automate For Desktop by Chris Webb
•  Recommended Books:
  • Master your Data with Power Query in Excel and Power BI by Ken Puls and Miguel Escobar.
  • Supercharge Excel (when you learn to write DAX for Power Pivot) by Matt Allington

2022-02 (Feb) – Topics:

• FREE CLASSES online about Excel/VBA/Power Query on my YouTube channel:
  • I have been very busy recording the course lessons for my new training program Excel Snap Reports, and for that reason there have been no new videos on my YouTube channel lately.  You can still enjoy the previous content of over 100 videos on a range of topics on Excel, Power Query, VBA, Pivot Tables, Excel features and functions and more.
• GUEST PRESENTER:
  • Parameters and Custom Functions in Power Query in Excel | Celia Alves
  • Tips & Tricks of POWER QUERY in Microsoft Excel 
• Excel – improvements and new features:
  • Run your Office Scripts using a button in Excel for Windows  Excel for Windows Desktop is one step closer to making Office Scripts an automation solution that you can use to manage your workflow anytime and anywhere.
  • Announcing LAMBDAs to Production and Advanced Formula Environment, A Microsoft Garage Projects. LAMBDA and LAMBDA helper functions are now available in the Current Channel! You are only limited by your imagination for the ways you can use them.
  • Did you know that you can use Excel, Word, PowerPoint or more for FREE with Office on the web?  All you need is a Microsoft account and log into Office.com
  • New Excel for the Web charting features. – now you can use the Format Pane to edit your chart properties including Titles, Legend, Axis, Series etc.
  • Microsoft introduced a new Feedback portal for Excel ideas and suggestions to improve Excel and other products. Browse through the current suggestions, add your comments, cast your vote or add your suggestions – Microsoft is listening!
• Excel Events:
  • PAST Consolidate, shape, and re-use web data with Power Query in Excel with David Monroy  David demonstrated using Power Query in Excel to read and shape a single web page and then moved on to consolidating data from thousands of individual websites.
  • MARCH 16 – Thinking Smart: Process Behavior Charts Tracking your business processes can help with managing and planning.
  • APR 20 – Dates and Times in Excel – Some cool Tricks Meni Porat will explain some features of the dates and times in Excel, some of which aren’t well-known.
•  Recommended Books:
  • Master your Data with Power Query in Excel and Power BI by Ken Puls and Miguel Escobar.
  • Coming soon (July 2022) – Guerrilla Data Analysis Using Microsoft Excel: Conquering Crap Data and Excel Skirmishes Third edition by Oz du Soleil and Bill Jelen.

2022-01 (Jan) – Topics:

• FREE CLASSES online about Excel/VBA/Power Query on my YouTube channel:
  • How to rename columns in Power Query that change the name on each data update.
  • Ways of recycling work in Power Query and saving time.   
  • How to combine pivoted data from multiple sheets in an Excel file when you are not sure how many sheets your source file will have.
• Excel – improvements and new features:
  • Excel for Windows Desktop is getting one of the most awaited features for years! Searchable and AutoComplete dropdown lists.
  • Announcing Data Types APIs: Data Types in Excel Add-ins Microsoft has developed a new API which allows developers to create their own custom data types
  •  Excel for the Web is getting better and better and a must-use tool for collaborate work.
  • Conditional Formatting also received significant improvements in Excel online.
  • Excel for the Web can handle more files and larger files
• Excel Events:
  • JAN 26 Mark Proctor demonstrates automating processes using Office Scripts and Power Automate. Office Scripts and Power Automate with Mark Proctor
  • JAN 27 I am presenting about Parameters and Custom Functions in Power Query in Excel to the Baku Power BI, Excel & Innovative Educators’ Meetup Group. You can register here for free.
  • FEB 9 – 11 The Global Excel Summit is a premium global conference bringing together the brightest minds from the world of Excel. Get 10% OFF your ticket with code CELIA10.
•  Recommended Books:
  • Master your Data with Power Query in Excel and Power BI by Ken Puls and Miguel Escobar.

2021-08 (Aug) – Topics:

• FREE CLASSES online about Excel/VBA/Power Query on my YouTube channel:
  • M Language Tips to achieve more with Power Query.
  • How to make Table.Combine include extra column from the previous query step.   
  • Two automations to share Power Query results without allowing to refresh the query.
• Excel – improvements and new features:
  • New Navigation Pane In Excel provides a vertical list of your sheets and other objects like tables, charts, shapes, etc.
  • Import data from local files with Power Query in Excel for Mac.
  • New Name Manager in Excel for Mac with same capabilities as in Excel for Windows.
  • Wolfram data types now available to Enterprises.
• Tech News:
  • Wall Street’s Hottest Commodity: College Grads With Excel Skills.
  • Microsoft is looking for your input to help them define the future of automation in Excel. Can you offer 2 minutes to fill in this survey? Thank you in advance for your collaboration.
•  Recommended Books:
  • Master your Data with Power Query in Excel and Power BI by Ken Puls and Miguel Escobar.

2021-07 (Jul) – Topics:

• FREE CLASSES online about Excel/VBA/Power Query on my YouTube channel:
  • How to import and clean data from a web page with Power Query into Excel.
  • How to combine pairs of rows in Power Query with different criteria per column.   
  • How to add a File Picker in Excel to select the data source file for Power Query.
• Excel – improvements and new features:
  • LAMBDA HELPER FUNCTIONS – Microsoft announced the release of seven (wow!!) new functions.
  • Restrict usage of Excel 4.0 (XLM) macros with new macro settings control.
  • New Name Manager in Excel for Mac.
  • Export from Power BI to Excel – improvements for table and matrix visuals.
• Content you do not want to miss:
  • The Orca Template – Introducing middle-school students to Wolfram Data Types in Excel.
  • Generating Excel Reports Using Power BI, Cube Formulas, Office Scripts And Power Automate.
  • Excel Office Scrips Basics.
•  Events:
  • MS Excel Toronto Meetup sessions

2021-06 (Jun) – Topics:

• FREE CLASSES online about Excel/VBA/Power Query on my YouTube channel and blog:
  • How to import and clean data from a web page with Power Query into Excel.
  •  Dealing with dates prior to 1900 in Excel with Power Query.   
• Participation in the Excel Weekend 7
• Participation in A Bit of Excel – Power Query _The tool that can save you Hours of WORK in Excel
• Participation in Excel Office Hour: Tips for more productivity with Power Query in Excel
• Excel – improvements and new features:
  • Office Scripts allows users with all levels of programming experience to automate their repetitive workflows.
  • Excel for the Web.Several improvements and new features available, including Text to Columns and enhanced Pivot Table settings.
  • Office Add-ins. Add custom keyboard shortcuts to your Office Add-ins in Excel.
• Content you do not want to miss:
  • Convert VBA user-defined functions to LAMBDA functions by Jan Karel Pieterse
•  Events:
  • MS Excel Toronto Meetup sessions
  • Financial Modeling World Cup

2021-05 (May) – Topics:

• FREE CLASSES online about Excel/VBA/Power Query on my YouTube channel:
  • Learn how to build a Timesheet System – Exclusive access to this playlist to readers of the newsletter.
  • Importing multiple Google Sheets files with Power Query in Excel – Claudia Roxo.
  • How to get the data from the 1st of the current month onwards with Power Query
• Excel – improvements and new features:
  • New data types and smart templates powered by Wolfram are now generally available.
  • Make your Excel documents accessible to people with disabilities
  • Add custom keyboard shortcuts to your Office Add-ins in Excel Power BI connected PivotTables in Excel for the web
  • Collaborate with confidence: Introducing Show Changes for Excel on the Web
• Content you do not want to miss:
  • If you use Excel for Mac, you may want to add Ron de Bruin’s website to your favorites. Mac Excel Automation
  • Import data from local files using Power Query in Excel for Mac
  • Power BI, Excel Organisation Data Types And Images article by Chris Webb.
  • Get Power BI data in Excel without Pivot Tables | Excel Data Types video by Ruth Pozuelo, Curbal channel.
•  Events:
  • MS Excel Toronto Meetup sessions
  • Excel Weekend 7 – FREE ONLINE

2021-04 (April) – Topics:

• FREE CLASSES online about Excel/VBA/Power Query on my YouTube channel
• Participation on Bill Jelen’s channel (MrExcel) talking about Rounding methods in Excel and Power Query.
• Participation on Ruth Pozuelo’s channel (Curbal) talking about best practices when building charts in Excel.
• Excel – improvements and new features:
  • POWER QUERY NEW OFFICIAL ICON, WEBSITE, BLOG AND TWITTER
  • Tracking changes in Excel Online workbook
• Content you do not want to miss:
  • How to embed Excel file on a website
  • LAMBDA function
• Tech News:
  • Microsoft is retiring USERVOICE
• Events:
  • MS Excel Toronto Meetup sessions

2020-09 (September) – Topics:

• Video Tutorial: Enable Background Refresh property in Power Query in Excel
• Training offer: Power Query Fundamentals in Excel
• Excel – improvements and new features:
  • PDF Connector for Power Query
  • Natural Language in Excel
  • Excel Online
  • Date Picker Add-In
  • Excel and Power BI
  • Office Scripts
  • Excel Uservoice
• Content you do not want to miss:
  • Microsoft’s updated documentation for Power Query
  • API’s in Power Query
  • Power Query Geography And Geometry Functions In Power BI And Excel
• News:
  • Scientists rename human genes to stop Microsoft Excel from misreading them as dates
  • Researchers bring Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel into VR
  • Excel Virtually Global Summit Raises $15,000 For Charities
• Events:
  • Microsoft Ignite 2020
  • MS Excel Toronto sessions & October SPECIAL EVENT

2020-07 (July) – Topics:

• Excel dynamic array functions – SORT, SORTBY, SEQUENCE, FILTER, UNIQUE and RANDARRAY
• Other new Excel formulas – XLOOKUP, XMATCH and LET
• Excel new features – Sheet View
• Excel new collection of Data Types
• Excel mobile version – Insert data from picture
• Office Scripts – the new programming language that allows the user to create scripts that will run the same way in Excel for Windows, Excel for Mac, and Online.
• Training offer: Power Query Fundamentals in Excel
• Video Tutorial: The Longest Absence with Power Query and M Code in Excel
• Presentation Sessions in English:
  • Fundamentals with Tips & Tricks of POWER QUERY (ETL Tool) in Microsoft Excel
  • Power Query Tips and Tricks
  • Speed up your reporting processes with Advanced Filters and VBA
• Presentation Sessions in Portuguese:
  • Conceitos Básicos de Power Query no Excel
  • Pontos de Atenção ao Unificar Dados no Power Query
• Excel Events – MS Excel Toronto meetup group next sessions