Microsoft has introduced in its Microsoft 365 Insider weblog that Copilot in Excel can now reference paperwork in Phrase, Excel, PowerPoint, and PDF codecs.

With this new function, you possibly can ask Copilot to show to-do gadgets in a desk or arrange emails with columns for the sender and topic line. It additionally turns out to be useful when you should mix knowledge from completely different sources, resembling public stats from the online, inner paperwork, organizational particulars, or tables from one other Excel file.

To do this function, you may want Home windows (Construct 17729.20000 or later) or Mac (Construct 24053110 or later), a Copilot license, internet search enabled, and a steady web connection. Utilizing the brand new function is so simple as the next:

1. On the Dwelling tab in Excel, choose Copilot.
2. Ask Copilot a query concerning the knowledge you might be on the lookout for.
3. Ask follow-up questions till you are happy with the outcomes.

Word: For outcomes from exterior knowledge, ensure you see reference(s) on the finish of the response.

Microsoft says this replace to Copilot in Excel will probably be coming to the online quickly. There are some limitations, resembling refreshable knowledge imports solely working for Excel recordsdata with tables saved on SharePoint or OneDrive and restricted assist for dealing with workbook and exterior knowledge concurrently.

Copilot in Excel has obtained a number of updates in latest months. For instance, there’s now a Clear Knowledge function that fixes points like textual content/quantity inconsistencies.

In March final yr, Microsoft added an replace that allowed customers to talk with Copilot instantly as a substitute of typing manually. In November, Copilot was built-in into the Excel begin expertise, enabling customers to elucidate what they need to create and obtain enchancment solutions.