Microsoft released Wave 3 of Copilot today, and the update that impacts #Excel is that "Agent Mode" is now "Edit with Copilot". The new Windows 365 Copilot experience is available in Excel and Word, and is coming soon to PowerPoint and Outlook.
Learn more here: www.microsoft.com/en-us/micros...
New Unpivot podcast episode!
![London, UK
18, 19, 22 May 2026
Self-Service Business Intelligence Boot Camp
(Headshot of Ken Puls)
Prepare to change your company's reporting game forever!
(Microsoft Excel and Power BI icons)
"This course completely transformed the way I use [Excel]. Overall, I highly recommend this course."
Stephen Ng (5 stars)
Enroll today at: https://xlguru.ca/ssbi-london](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:xpiehblln2cworixrwklvoyv/bafkreibbxbcbqh35a7cayc7l3mdwjt7ayc6dhk6ohp66h7pewbcdd3rx4i)
London, UK 18, 19, 22 May 2026 Self-Service Business Intelligence Boot Camp (Headshot of Ken Puls) Prepare to change your company's reporting game forever! (Microsoft Excel and Power BI icons) "This course completely transformed the way I use [Excel]. Overall, I highly recommend this course." Stephen Ng (5 stars) Enroll today at: https://xlguru.ca/ssbi-london
I'm excited to be leading my live #SelfServiceBI Boot Camp in London on May 18, 19, and 22 as part of @globalexcelsummit.bsky.social!
Not just for #DataAnalysts, it’s for anyone looking to harness the full potential of #BusinessIntelligence with #Excel and #PowerBI! Enroll at xlguru.ca/ssbi-london
▶️The recording for yesterday's Vancouver #PowerBI and Modern #Excel is now available: www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvGR...
We loved hearing from Anne Walsh, an experienced Excel and Power BI trainer from Ireland, who shared insights from more than 25 years of teaching Excel. 👩🏫
This little tip works across #MicrosoftWindows applications and even across computers if you set it up that way. Change your copy/paste game forever by holding onto your copy history. So much more functional that the classic CTRL + C, CTRL + V cycle! 👍
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFgE...
#ExcelTips
The AKA sessions shine in moments like these, where you need to go beyond basic #ExcelFormulas. 💡
My #SelfServiceBI (skw-t.com/ssbi) and Excel Fundamentals (skw-t.com/excelfun) Academies give you access to the sessions, or purchase just the AKA access at skw-t.com/aka
It's perfect for #FinancialStatements and custom reporting where standard aggregation doesn't work.
🧭Takeaway: Master your filter context, and you can control every single cell in your #Excel reports.
#DataAnalytics #BusinessIntelligence
I walked through using a VAR and SWITCH statement to detect filter context. By checking if a field "has one value" versus "multiple," you can write different #DAX logic for individual rows versus subtotals versus grand totals. This pattern gives incredibly granular control...
When Grand Totals Don't Add Up (On Purpose) A student had a question about controlling what appears in PivotTable totals. They needed the grand total to display a specific count rather than summing the values above. Ken Puls walked through using a VAR and SWITCH statement to detect filter context. By checking if a field "has one value" versus "multiple," you can write different DAX logic for individual rows versus subtotals versus grand totals. Takeaway: Master your filter context, and you can control every single cell in your reports. (Skillwave Training logo)
A question came up in an AKA session about controlling what appears in #PivotTable totals. The student had room costs where individual rows showed correctly, but they needed the grand total to display a specific count (88 rooms) rather than summing the values above it (which would give 176). 🏨
🧵
Thanks for the shout out, Patrick!
You can still RSVP for today's Vancouver #PowerBI and Modern #Excel meet-up. Anne Walsh will talk about lessons learned from more than 25 years teaching Excel, mostly as a freelancer. We get going at 9am Pacific Time - sign up here: www.meetup.com/vancouver-po...
(Session will also be recorded.)
Today, I explained the most common mistakes users make when sharing #PowerBI reports in the workspace.
Watch the video here:
youtu.be/X8D7O60PeEk
#MicrosoftFabric #Sharing #Architecture #PowerBIfromRookieToRockStar #PowerBIArchitecture #Workspace #SharingStrategy #PowerBIAdoption
Monkey Tools Build better data models, faster Developed by Excelguru (Image of a cyborg monkey with its fist up for a fist bump) What do people think of Monkey Tools? "I've been using Ken's Monkey Tools to manage my library of LAMBDA expressions, and it's made that part of my Excel so much easier to do. Totally recommend you do the same if you're an Excel power user." Patrick Matthews (name and headshot) Try it for FREE with our 2-week Pro Trial! Go to: monketools.ca
I LOVE hearing from happy users! 🐵
Monkey Tools contains a set of tools to help you build better data models more quickly and follow #DataModeling best practices. It is targeted at those who work in #Excel, but is also useful for those who push their models into #PowerBI. Learn more: monkeytools.ca
Details of our March 19 Vancouver #PowerBI and Modern #Excel meet-up are confirmed!👏
Microsoft MPV George Mount will give a hands-on walk through of using #Microsoft365Copilot and #PowerAutomate to show how AI agents and automation can support structured workflows. See
Woo hoo, another happy student!
Why does a #PivotTable count three Lines of Credit as “used” when one of them has a zero balance and shouldn’t be counted? 🤷🏾 And more importantly — do you need #PowerPivot and #DAX to fix it? Here, I'll show you that you don't: youtu.be/-X-ELoJ9Kiw
#PowerQuery #ExcelTips
In this week's Techsoc video, I'll show you how calculate the number of people you need to start at which times to ensure you have the staff to cover your projected needs. You can find the video on YouTube at youtu.be/yxzi_oR9Pmw
(Excelguru logo) Passionate Instruction, Practical Skills Unlocking Your Team's Potential via Industry Leading Training The biggest issue facing corporate efficiency today is not recognizing what you already have and how to leverage it. Our training will help your team expand their knowledge of Excel and Power BI, find solutions, and be more proficient or accomplish certain tasks. Learn more about our in-person and online training options at excelguru.ca (Microsoft Excel and Power BI icons) (Headshot of Ken Puls)
Delivering expert training BY humans, FOR humans, Excelguru is dedicated to unlocking your team’s potential through:
🔹On-site workshops
🔹Online coached courses
🔹On-demand video courses
Contact us today for training options at excelguru.ca
#Excel #PowerBI #DataModeling #PowerQuery #DataAnalysis #DAX
Last Chance (Skillwave Training logo) Love Your Data (Image of a cyborg monkey in a superhero style crouch) Save 20% on all Skillwave courses* with code: LOVE20 *Excludes 'Ask Ken Anything’ Offer ends at midnight on February 28, 2026 skillwave.training
Unlock the full potential of #BusinessIntelligence and boost your confidence in making data-driven decisions. 💛 Today’s your last chance to save 20% when you use code LOVE20 to register in any of our @skillwave.training courses. Don’t miss out, go to skw-t.com/lovedata
(Excludes AKA subscriptions)
Love Your Data Save 20% on all our courses* with this code: LOVE20 Valid February 14-28, 2026 (Skillwave Training logo) skillwave.training *Excludes 'Ask Ken Anything’
Kickstart your #BusinessIntelligence and #DataAnalytics journey!
❤️ Use code LOVE20 to save 20% when you register in any of our #Excel and #PowerBI training at @skillwave.training: skw-t.com/lovedata
(Valid until Feb 28, excludes AKA subscriptions. Cannot be combined with any other offers.)
Okay, maybe you knew the tip from last week's Monkey Shorts on how to zoom in the #DAX font size. But do you know how to do it in the #PowerQuery editor? 🤔 Today, I'll show how to to control the zoom level and font size in the PQ editor window: www.youtube.com/watch?v=NThh...
#Excel #PowerBI
There's an hour to go until my presentation at the Romania #PowerBI and Modern #Excel meet-up! 👨💻 Sign up here to join me as we explore my Monkey Tools Excel Add-in: www.meetup.com/romaniapug/e...
#DataModeling #ExcelAddIn #DataAnalysisTools
Love Your Data Save 20% on all our courses* with this code: LOVE20 Valid February 14-28, 2026 (Skillwave Training logo) skillwave.training *Excludes 'Ask Ken Anything’
Kickstart your #BusinessIntelligence and #DataAnalytics journey!
❤️ Use code LOVE20 to save 20% when you register in any of our #Excel and #PowerBI training at @skillwave.training: skw-t.com/lovedata
(Offer valid until Feb 28 and excludes AKA sessions. Cannot be combined with any other offers.)
Check out what's new in #Excel this month, including expanded Agent Mode availability in the EU and the ability to query locally-stored workbooks using Copilot Chat:
Monkey Tools Build better data models, faster Developed by Excelguru (Image of a cyborg monkey with its fist up for a fist bump) TimeSleuth Have you ever hit the refresh button in Excel and then waited... and waited... and waited for your queries to refresh? Want to know which query is causing the bottleneck? Then check out the TimeSleuth! (Screenshot of the Query Timing Results chart created by TimeSleuth, comparing how long 3 queries take to refresh) monkeytools.ca
A complex #DataModel can take a long time to refresh. ⏱While timing with a stopwatch is easy, it only times the global refresh for complicated query chains.
🔍The TimeSleuth allows you to test the global or individual refresh times of queries within your #Excel workbook. See how: mkyt.ca/timesleuth
The Classic Excel Answer 5 Step Process: Import data > Make contiguous range > Sort > Filter and cull > Cleanup Drawbacks: - Tedious - Complicated - Have to re-live it every time (copyright Skillwave Training)
Dealing with Data in Modern Excel Icons on the left of the slide representing various data types, such as databases, emails, file folders, documents, and websites Arrow pointing to the right with text on it: "Rich array of transformation tools in one place" Spreadsheet + One-click Refresh = Happy Face (copyright Skillwave Training)
I had another great day of in-person training for a private client, this time exploring the awesomeness of #PowerQuery! If you spend time manually gathering, cleaning, and transforming data in #Excel or #PowerBI, you know how tedious it can be. Power Query will save you hours of time and effort. 😎
News from the Data Monkey Brought to you by Excelguru and Skillwave (Image of a cyborg monkey in a superhero type crouch) February 24, 2026 In This Issue: - New Video on Excel TRIMRANGE() & the Dot Operator - From the AKA Sessions - Latest Meet-up Recording and Next Event Information - Upcoming Courses and Conferences - Available Training Options Another month has flown by with Ken hosting and presenting at various Power BI and Modern Excel Meet-ups, helping students in the live 'Ask Ken Anything' sessions, and leading his first course of the year for Chartered Professional Accountants of BC. This week, Ken is excited to be delivering two days of live, on-site training for a private client. He LOVES being in person with students! However, if you can't join him live, we have the next best thing: 20% off all of our on-demand video courses (excluding 'Ask Ken Anything' subscriptions). All you have to do is register by February 28, 2026 and apply this code at checkout: LOVE20
Our latest newsletter is out! 📰
Sign up today at xlguru.ca/newsletter for the latest content from our experts, what's new in #PowerBI and #Excel, and details on courses, events, and promotions. We'll also send you our free 'DIY BI' eBook series as a bonus gift! 🎁
Subscribe to the AKAs today at skw-t.com/aka, or get access included with our #SelfServiceBI (skw-t.com/ssbi) or #Excel Fundamentals (skw-t.com/excelfun) Academies.
#FinancialAnalytics #DataAnalysis #BusinessIntelligence #PowerPivot #DataAnalyticsTools
Seeing paid dates, invoice dates, and transaction dates handled correctly – all from one calendar – was a big “aha” moment for many attendees. Smarter models come from understanding relationships, not adding tables. 💡That’s the power of AKA sessions: real problems, real solutions, explained clearly.
I used this moment to show how a single #PowerQuery Calendar table could be connected to multiple data fields in the Fact table using inactive relationships. From there, with a little CALCULATE magic in a #DAX measure he unlocked multi-date reporting cleanly.
