Copy-paste isn't a strategy.

When your data is spread across multiple sheets, keeping it all in sync gets messy fast.

Excel’s VSTACK gives you a smarter way. It lets you pull everything into one clean table with a single function.

No macros. No Power Query. Just a formula.

Add FILTER or SORT on top (or the new trimrefs), and suddenly you have a setup built to scale.

▶️ Watch the tutorial on our blog​

📄 Download the practice file​

The video takes me back 😉 I had fun playing both roles.

And yes, I still like to challenge our editor (he claims spreadsheets alone aren’t “entertaining enough”… strange, I know 🤷).

​

🤓 Geeky News

💀 Black is the new Blue

Remember this? (*shudder*)

After nearly 40 years, the infamous Blue Screen of Death is turning black.

Windows 11 is rolling out a simplified Black Screen of Death. No sad face, no QR code. Just the stop code and faulty driver info, so IT pros (and brave users) can fix issues faster.

This update also brings Quick Machine Recovery, designed to help your PC bounce back after a crash.

Aesthetic glow-up and better resilience? We’ll take it.

💬 Threads come to Teams (finally!)

(No, not the social media site.)

Teams is rolling out threaded replies in channels - currently in public preview.

Now you can reply directly to a message without derailing the whole conversation.

Threads keep context together, and a new “Followed Threads” view helps you track the ones that matter, all in one place.

Also in public preview:

• React to messages with multiple emojis (for those whose emotions can't be captured in a single image 😉🙊)
• Trigger workflows using emoji reactions (e.g., escalate a ticket with ❗️)
• Customize your keyboard shortcuts
• Improved slash commands like /goto and /gif

Have you tried any of these yet?

🧑‍✈️ More intuitive Copilot in Excel

Copilot just got better at reading your mind (well… almost).

It can now figure out which table or range you mean, based on your words, not just where your cursor is.

Try asking:

• “Analyze the ice cream prices”
• “Sort the table on the top right”
• “Explain the formula in G7”

It also shows a subtle outline around the data it’s using, so you always know what it’s working with.

Oh, and also, in Excel for the Web:

You can now type “=” anywhere and just say what formula you want. Copilot will write it for you, right from the grid.

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💚 Did You Know?

These are exciting updates, but if you felt Copilot has been too pushy lately, you can now shut it up.

I'm talking about the "Start with Copilot" pop-up you get whenever you open a new workbook (in Excel Desktop).

It’s meant to guide new users… but if you already know your way around a spreadsheet, it can feel like an annoying speed bump.

So, if it feels more intrusive than helpful, here’s how to turn it off:

1. Go to File > Options > Copilot
2. ✅ Check "Turn off auto-start for Copilot"

🤔 What are your thoughts?

Does Copilot help you get more done, or get in your way?

I imagine the Noob character loves it (it doesn't shout at her like the Pro does! 🫢)

And the Pro grumbles about Copilot (but sneakily uses ChatGPT on the side 🤭)

​

👏 From Excel limits to Power BI insights

A big congrats to Alec for finishing the Fast Track to Power BI course! 👏

Love seeing posts like his.

He realized Excel can only take you so far. And instead of stopping there, he took the next step.

That’s what it’s about: Staying curious. Leveling up.

Using tech to make work better (and easier). Well done, Alec!

​

See you next week,

Leila

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