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Excel Copilot: Where and How to Enter Prompts for Success

Introduction: Where and How to Enter Copilot Prompts in Excel

Excel Copilot transforms how you work with spreadsheets by letting you use natural language to analyze, visualize, and automate your data. To get the most out of Copilot, it’s important to know where you can enter prompts and which method is best for your task.

1. Copilot Pane (Chat Pane)

Where: Click the Copilot icon in the Excel ribbon (usually under the Home tab or in the toolbar) to open the Copilot pane (chat pane).

How: Type your question or command in the Copilot pane (chat pane). For example, “Summarize this table,” or “Create a bar chart for sales by region.”

Best For:

• Quick, conversational requests
• Exploring data, getting summaries, or asking for charts
• Beginners who want a guided experience

Tips:

• Reference specific tables or ranges for best results (e.g., “Summarize the data in Table1”).
• Use clear, direct language—Copilot understands natural English.

	Column 1	Column 2 - wide
Row 1	Beth	The best girlfriend ever
Row 2	Rob	The best boyfriend ever

 

 

2. COPILOT() Function (Formula Bar)

Where: Enter =COPILOT() directly into any cell, just like a regular Excel formula.

How: Syntax: =COPILOT("your prompt", [context]) Example: =COPILOT("Summarize sales by region", A2:D20)

Best For:

1. Embedding AI-powered analysis directly into your spreadsheet
2. Dynamic tasks that update automatically when your data changes
3. Advanced users who want to combine Copilot with other formulas (e.g., IF, SWITCH, LAMBDA)

Tips:

• Use cell references or ranges as context for more accurate results.
• Results update automatically when your data changes.
• Great for creating reusable, automated reports.

 

 

3. Contextual Actions (Right-Click or Selection-Based)

Where: Select a cell or range, then click the Copilot icon that appears nearby or use right-click context menu options.

How: Copilot suggests actions based on your selection (e.g., “Explain this formula,” “Format as table,” “Analyze selected data”).

Best For:

• Getting instant help with specific data or formulas
• Quick formatting or analysis of selected ranges

Tips:

• Try selecting different parts of your sheet to see tailored suggestions.
• Use for rapid prototyping or troubleshooting.

4. Copilot in Excel Web App

 

 

 

Where: Available in Excel for the web (Office 365), with similar features to the desktop app.

How: Access Copilot from the ribbon or Copilot pane (chat pane). Use prompts as you would in the desktop version.

Best For:

1. Collaboration and sharing in real-time
2. Working from any device with internet access

Tips:

• Features may vary slightly between web and desktop—check for updates.

 

Best Practices for Successful Prompt Entry

• Be Clear and Specific: Reference tables, ranges, or columns directly (e.g., “Summarize Table1” vs. “Summarize this”).
• Keep Prompts Short and Data-Centric: Focus on immediate tasks and avoid overly complex instructions.
• Iterate and Refine: If Copilot doesn’t get it right the first time, rephrase or add more detail.
• Review Results: Always double-check Copilot’s output for accuracy, especially for critical calculations.
• Use Natural Language: Talk to Copilot like you would a colleague—plain English works best.
• Leverage Context: For the COPILOT() function, provide cell or range references for more relevant results.
• Stay Secure: Copilot respects your data permissions and privacy settings.

When to Use Each Method

• Copilot Pane (Chat Pane): For quick, interactive help and exploratory analysis.
• COPILOT() Function: For automated, formula-driven tasks and dynamic reports.
• Contextual Actions: For instant help with selected data or formulas.
• Web App: For collaboration and remote access.

Section_1_1_Excel_Copilot_Quick_Start_Guide

Tip: If you’re new to Copilot, start with the Copilot pane (chat pane) for guided help. As you get comfortable, experiment with the COPILOT() function for more advanced automation.

 

 

 

Excel Copilot Power Pack Section 1-1 - Quick-Start Guide

This section introduces six starter prompts to help you get comfortable with Excel Copilot quickly. Each prompt includes practical scenarios, why it matters, and extra tips for success. Use the Copilot pane (chat pane) or other entry methods as needed.

Prompt: Summarize this data in plain English.

Scenarios:

• You’ve imported a sales report with hundreds of rows. Use this prompt in the Copilot pane (chat pane) to get a quick summary of total sales, top-performing regions, and key trends.
• After a team meeting, you receive a raw attendance log. Copilot can instantly summarize who attended, average participation, and any notable patterns.

Why It’s Important:

This prompt helps beginners turn complex tables into clear, actionable insights. It saves time and reduces overwhelm, making Excel approachable for all skill levels.

Extra Info:

Use this prompt whenever you feel lost in the data. Copilot’s summaries are a shortcut to understanding, perfect for reports, meetings, or quick reviews.

Prompt: Create a bar chart for sales by region.

Scenarios:

• You want to visualize monthly sales across different regions for a management report. Copilot generates the chart instantly, ready for presentation.
• As a small business owner, you track product sales by location. Use this prompt to spot which regions need more marketing.

Why It’s Important:

Visuals make data easier to interpret and share. This prompt empowers users to create professional charts without knowing Excel’s charting tools.

Extra Info:

Charts are essential for storytelling in business. Copilot removes the guesswork—just ask, and get a chart tailored to your data.

Prompt: Format this table for readability.

Scenarios:

• You’ve pasted messy data from an email. Copilot can clean up the table—adding bold headers, adjusting column widths, and applying color coding.
• After exporting data from another system, your spreadsheet looks cluttered. Use this prompt to make it easy to read and present.

Why It’s Important:

Well-formatted tables save time and reduce errors. This prompt helps users create professional-looking sheets, boosting confidence and productivity.

Extra Info:

Formatting isn’t just about looks—it helps you spot mistakes and trends faster. Copilot’s formatting is a quick win for beginners.

Prompt: Highlight duplicates in this column.

Scenarios:

• You’re cleaning up a customer list and want to find duplicate email addresses. Copilot highlights them so you can merge or remove.
• In a budget tracker, you need to ensure each expense is only entered once. Use this prompt to catch accidental double entries.

Why It’s Important:

Duplicate data can cause reporting errors and confusion. This prompt helps maintain data integrity, which is crucial for accurate analysis.

Extra Info:

Use this prompt regularly when working with lists—contacts, transactions, inventory—to keep your data clean and reliable.

Prompt: Generate a monthly budget summary.

Scenarios:

• You track personal expenses and want a summary of spending by category for the month. Copilot creates a clear breakdown.
• As a freelancer, you manage project costs. Use this prompt to see total income, expenses, and net profit for the month.

Why It’s Important:

Budget summaries help users understand their financial health at a glance. This prompt makes financial tracking simple and actionable.

Extra Info:

Copilot’s summaries are customizable—ask for details by category, project, or time period. Perfect for personal and business budgeting.

Prompt: Add conditional formatting for values above 1000.

Scenarios:

• You want to quickly spot high-value sales in a revenue report. Copilot highlights all sales above $1,000 for easy review.
• In an inventory sheet, you need to flag items with quantities above a certain threshold. Use this prompt to apply color coding.

Why It’s Important:

Conditional formatting draws attention to important data points. This prompt helps users focus on what matters most, reducing manual effort.

Extra Info:

Try adjusting the threshold (above 500 or below 100) to fit your needs. Copilot makes it easy to customize formatting for any scenario.