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Microsoft has released a major update to its spreadsheet Excel that extends the group of supported data types far beyond numbers and text.
In previous updates, the company introduced dynamic matrices and matrix formulas, as well as Bing-assisted stock and geography data types, which introduced an element of intelligence into cells.
However, according to Microsoft blog post, the next Standing out The update will take this expansion one step further, by allowing users to create their own custom data types.
These data types can be structured and implemented in such a way that a single cell can hold deep and contextual information on a given topic (for example, a specific product or location), accessed through a drop-down menu.
Custom data types are also connected to live sources, which means that information stored in Excel spreadsheets no longer needs to be static and the probability of error is reduced.
Microsoft Excel update
The importance of the next Excel update is at first a little difficult to grasp, but as Microsoft explains, it is about expanding the ways that data can be used by adding a measure of dynamism and intelligence.
“Up to this point, the Excel grid has been flat – it’s two-dimensional. However, not all data is flat, and forcing data into that 2D structure has its limits. With data types, we have added a third dimension to what you can create with Excel, ”Microsoft said.
“The data types are rich, they go beyond numbers and strings: a single cell value can contain a deep collection of hierarchical data, references to other data types, images and smart actions. They are also connected and can point to live services that provide data that can be updated at any time. “
The group of users that can benefit the most from the new features appears to be Microsoft Power BI customers, enterprise data visualization, and Business Intelligence Service. All company data published to Power BI will automatically connect to Excel, making it the quickest and easiest way to take advantage of new custom data types.
However, data types can also be created from scratch with Power Query. When importing data into an Excel spreadsheet, users will now be prompted to transform the information into a data type, which can extract live data from a variety of sources: files, databases, online services, etc. .
Microsoft is also working on a selection of more than 100 preconfigured data types, powered by the Wolfram Alpha knowledge engine. These types of data will allow users, for example, to track stock prices, record nutritional information, and extract chemical data.
The Excel data types powered by Power BI are available immediately to Microsoft 365 customers who subscribe to a Power BI Pro plan, and the Power Query data types are in the process of being rolled out to all customers. The Wolfram Alpha data types, meanwhile, are currently only available in preview to members of the Insider Program.
