Course Description
Presenter: David Ringstrom, CPA
In this course, author and Excel expert David H. Ringstrom, CPA, will explore the transformative capabilities of Microsoft Copilot within Microsoft 365 for Windows, focusing on how to enhance productivity and streamline data management. You’ll learn about the AutoSave feature, the benefits of both the free and Pro versions of Microsoft Copilot, and strategies for disabling distracting icons to maintain focus. David will also introduce approaches to efficient data cleaning with Copilot, emphasizing how to assess data quality and resolve common data issues through automation. Additionally, you’ll discover the power of the COPILOT worksheet function.
In his courses, David demonstrates every technique twice: first on a PowerPoint slide with numbered steps and then live in Excel for Microsoft 365 for Windows. He highlights any differences in Excel 2024, 2021, or 2019 during the presentation and in his detailed handouts. Attendees also receive an Excel workbook containing most of the examples he uses, making it easy to follow along and apply the techniques later. David additionally supports Excel for Mac users by answering their follow-up questions via email.
Who should attend:
Professionals seeking to enhance their Excel skills, streamline data management, and leverage AI tools like Microsoft Copilot for improved productivity and efficiency.
Level: Intermediate
Topics covered:
- Exploring how to use the free version of the Microsoft Copilot AI tool.
- Exploring the requirements and constraints of Microsoft Copilot in Excel.
- Examining AI-based data cleanup features and their current limitations.
- Transforming inconsistent values into polished results.
- Removing blanks, duplicates, and formatting problems.
- Knowing when to switch to Power Query or manual tools.
- Utilizing the COPILOT worksheet function for enhanced data analysis and automation.
- Understanding AI-related formula feedback and error behavior.
Learning objectives:
- Recall how to use the COPILOT function in Excel to generate formula suggestions, interpret results, and apply natural-language queries within a worksheet.
- Identify the requirements and limitations of the AutoSave feature in Microsoft Excel, including supported file types, storage locations, and how to enable or disable the feature.
- Recognize valid syntax and argument requirements when creating a LAMBDA function in Excel.
David H. Ringstrom, CPA, is an author, consultant, and nationally recognized instructor with more than 30 years of experience in spreadsheet and accounting software. He is the author or co author of ten books, including Microsoft 365 Excel All in One for Dummies, Microsoft 365 Excel for Dummies, Exploring Microsoft Excel’s Hidden Treasures, and QuickBooks Online for Dummies. His Excel courses draw on decades of consulting and teaching experience and focus on helping users understand what they don’t yet see—but should—about Excel. Guided by his mantra, “Either you work Excel, or it works you,” David’s goal is to empower users to work more efficiently and confidently.
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