For $20 per month, Microsoft Copilot Pro is designed to integrate seamlessly with Microsoft 365, providing AI-driven capabilities across various apps within the suite. If you are an Excel user, Copilot Pro allows you to perform tasks like convert data to table, create formulas, analyze data, sort and filter information, generate charts, and more. Here’s how to get the most out of Copilot Pro.
To get started, you’ll need a subscription to Microsoft 365 Personal or Family. The Personal edition, priced at $70 per year, is designed for one person using up to five devices. On the other hand, the Family edition, which costs $100 per year, is designed to accommodate up to six people on up to five devices. The suite’s core applications include Word, ExcelPowerPoint, Outlook and OneNote.
Next, if you don’t already have one, you’ll need to subscribe to Copilot Pro. To do this, visit the Copilot Pro website, click the “Get Copilot Pro” button, confirm your subscription and complete the payment process. The Pro version will become active the next time you use Copilot on its website, mobile app, or on Windows.
Third, to use Copilot in Excel, you must meet certain requirements. Make sure your Excel files are saved in .xlsx or .xlsm format and the data should be formatted as an Excel table (I will guide you through this process). Additionally, autosave must be enabled and you cannot work with local files; your spreadsheets should be stored in OneDrive or Microsoft 365 SharePoint.
Guide to Using Microsoft Copilot Pro in Excel
Launch Excel and open a spreadsheet:
To get started, launch Excel and open an existing spreadsheet containing the data you want to analyze. If the file is stored online, click the File menu, choose Open, and select OneDrive or SharePoint. Browse the folders and files that host your spreadsheets, then choose the one you want to use.
You can also create or open a local file. If you want to save it online, click the File menu, choose Save As, then save it to a folder in OneDrive or SharePoint. This ensures your file is stored in the cloud for use with Copilot.
Enable autosave in Excel:
Now make sure autosave is enabled. Click the File menu, choose Options and in the Options window, select Save. Check the box “Autosave files stored in the Cloud by default in Excel”. While you’re at it, confirm that the file format is set to .xlsx if it’s a standard Excel spreadsheet. Click OK to close the Options window. This ensures that your changes are automatically saved to the cloud.
Convert Excel data into a table:
To allow Copilot to work with your data, you need to convert it into a table. Select all the cells you want to include and click the Copilot button on the ribbon. A message may appear asking if you want to convert this data range to a table. Click the Convert button and the data will be formatted into a table with a header row at the top. This ensures that Copilot can analyze and manipulate your data effectively.
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Add a formula to an Excel sheet:
Once you convert the cells into a formatted table, Copilot will display its sidebar on the right and suggest various queries at the top. Let’s say you have a table with numbers in each cell and you want to add a column to total the numbers in each row. Choose the “Add formula columns” suggestion. In the prompt, describe your request. For example, you could type: “Add the numbers in each row and create a column to display the totals.” » This helps Copilot understand your specific task and generate the appropriate formula.
Copilot will then generate the formula in response to your request. Review the formula to make sure it looks correct. If so, hover over the “Insert Column” button to preview the column, then click “Insert Column” to add it to the sheet. This allows you to verify the formula before incorporating it into your spreadsheet.
Formatting cells:
Then, if you want to apply a particular format to the cells based on specific criteria, click the “Highlight” suggestion. For example, if you want to bold all cells that contain a particular value, you can type: “Bold all cells with a value between $94 and $96.” » Enter this text when prompted, then submit your request. Copilot will then perform the formatting based on the criteria you provided.
Copilot will carry out your action and provide an explanation of what he did. If your request was executed successfully, great. However, if it does not meet your expectations, you can click the Cancel button and try again. This allows you to make adjustments and refine your requests until you get the results you want.
Sorting data:
If you want to sort the data in a specific way, you can ask Copilot for help. For example, if you want to sort the values in a particular column in descending order, type: “Sort data in column A in descending order” at the prompt. Copilot will then execute your request and organize the data accordingly.
Filtering your data:
To refine the data displayed in the table, you can use filtering. For example, if you want to display items in column E with values of $40 or more, type something like: “Show items in column E with values of $40 or more” at the prompt. Copilot will then apply the filter to only display values that meet your specified criteria.
Analyze Excel data with Copilot
To further analyze the data, click the Analyze button located on the ribbon. Scroll through the sidebar to explore various information already provided by Copilot. This allows you to gain valuable insights and insights from your data analysis.
You can either click on one of the proposed requests or enter your own. For example, you can ask Copilot to provide you with information about specific data. Depending on the nature of the data, you can also insert a pivot table or chart to visualize particular values and information. Copilot will then assist you in generating the desired analysis or visualization based on your request.
