“Why would I use Python in Excel if it can’t handle external data?”

That’s the top complaint I hear. And it’s flat-out wrong.

You see, Python people try to use Python code to import the data.

That doesn't work.

Excel people do copy-paste or load via Power Query into a sheet.

That works - but it bloats your file.

And if your dataset has more rows than Excel can handle, you're stuck.

The solution?

Don't load your data into Excel at all.

Go from a raw CSV...

...to a clean correlation heatmap in Excel - without loading a single row into your sheet.

Hard to believe? Watch the 10-minute demo and be the one who knows the better way.

(And yes - you’ll want to share this with your team.)

​

We’ve had so many questions about Python in Excel that—yes—there’s a full course coming soon.

It’s packed with real-world examples just like this. Perfect for Excel users, who want to see what Python can do that Excel can't.

Plus, no coding background needed. As a side benefit, you'll actually learn Python along the way.

Want early access + updates?

🤓 Geeky News

📉 ActiveX takes a backseat in Microsoft 365

Starting this month, Microsoft is locking down one of Excel's more powerful but risky features: ActiveX controls.

If you've used VBA to build slick interactive forms or dashboards, chances are you've run into them.

​ActiveX is now disabled by default. You'll see a “Blocked Content” banner if your file has ActiveX. No prompt to activate it either. You won’t be able to interact with ActiveX objects unless you dive into Trust Center settings (and even then, your admin might say no).

ActiveX controls are interactive elements like command buttons, combo boxes, and checkboxes. Unlike standard form controls, they can run code, which opens the door to potential malware.

With this update, Microsoft closes this door by flipping the default from “ask nicely” to “block everything”.

So if your legacy tools rely on ActiveX... it might be time for a redesign.

✂️ Snipping Tool gets OCR superpowers

The Snipping Tool on Windows is rolling out a Text Extractor feature. Or rather, it improves existing capability.

Until now, you had to take a screenshot and then edit it to copy text. With the upcoming update, you'll be able to grab text straight from your screen without taking a screenshot first.

Just hit Win + Shift + S, click the new “Text Extractor” icon, drag to select a region, and boom - text ready to copy.

You can pick what you want or click “Copy all text” to grab everything. Bonus options include auto-copying and removing line breaks.

This already makes the process faster. Will be even better once it gets a dedicated shortcut.

🖼️ ChatGPT now remembers your AI images

Ever made the perfect image with ChatGPT… then forgot the prompt or lost it in a sea of chats?

Now there’s a fix.

OpenAI just rolled out a new Image Library in ChatGPT available to all users, Free and Pro. It automatically saves the images you generate, so you can easily revisit, reuse, or just admire your greatest AI hits. (I just have greatest failures so far!)

You’ll find the Library in the sidebar.

🎨 Tired of hard-to-read colors?

Next time you pick a font or fill color, toggle “High-contrast only” in the dropdown.

Excel will show just the boldest, most readable shades—no more guessing if your text is visible enough.

✅ Faster. Cleaner. Easier to read.

👏 Power Stories

Let’s give a big shoutout to Liubov, who just wrapped up the Fast Track to Power BI course and is heading into her next projects with serious confidence.

She’s not just learning for learning’s sake. She’s ready to take on real-world challenges and use Power BI to make a real impact.

Here’s what she shared after completing the course 👇

Got a success story about using your XelPlus skills? I’d love to hear it! Hit reply to share the details, and inspire other students 😇

See you next week,

Leila

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