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Excel Blog
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What's New in Excel (August 2023)

msexcel's avatar
msexcel
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Aug 30, 2023

Welcome to the August 2023 update. This month, we are incredibly excited to announce the public preview of Python in Excel, which is gradually rolling out to users running Beta Channel on Windows – Excel for Windows version 2309 (Build 16818.20000) or later. Watch this YouTube video by Excel MVP Leila Gharani and this YouTube playlist by Excel MVP Carlos Barboza, and sign up to be notified about future availability for Python in Excel.

 

Also rolling out to Beta Channel users on Windows are Stale Value Formatting and Monospaced Font in the formula bar. Furthermore, Current Channel users on Windows will now have Simplified Sharing Across M365, Improved Save As/Discard Dialog, and Power BI Connected Tables.

 

Excel for Windows:

  1. Python in Excel (Insiders Beta)
  2. Stale Value Formatting (Insiders Beta)
  3. Monospaced Font in formula bar (Insiders Beta)
  4. Power BI Connected Tables
  5. Improved Save As/Discard Dialog
  6. Simplified Sharing across Microsoft 365
  7. Access and Explore Office Add-Ins (Insiders)

Excel for web:

  1. Interactive PivotCharts
  2. Simplified Sharing across Microsoft 365
  3. Access and Explore Office Add-ins

 

Excel for Windows

1. Python in Excel (Insiders Beta)

Python in Excel makes it possible to natively combine Python and Excel analytics within the same workbook - with no setup required. With Python in Excel, you can type Python directly into a cell, the Python calculations run in the Microsoft Cloud, and your results are returned to the worksheet, including plots and visualizations. Read more here >

Seamlessly aggregate and visualize your data with Python in Excel

 

2. Stale Value Formatting (Insiders Beta)

Manual calculation mode suspends calculations, which means that the values in cells can become out of date. We refer to these as being stale. When you edit a cell in a spreadsheet, not all cells become stale, just the ones that depend on your change. Excel tracks stale cells internally, however, there's been no way to see which cells are pending calculation. 

 

With this update, we show these stale cells by striking them out. That way you know not to rely on them until they are calculated. Read more here >

Stale Value Formatting Demo

 

3. Monospaced Font in formula bar (Insiders Beta)

Monospaced font is a type of font where each character has the same width, regardless of its shape or style. This means your formulas will be aligned and spaced evenly, making them easier to read and debug. Read more here >

Monospaced Formula Bar

 

4. Power BI Connected Tables

A new Insert Table option is rolling out for the Power BI Datasets pane in Excel. It enables users to create a connected table directly in Excel. This streamlines the workflow of adding data and is friendlier to more Excel users. Read more here >

Power BI Connected Tables

 

5. Improved Save As/Discard Dialog

The "Save As/Discard" dialog now includes additional information like when you last saved your changes and who else has made changes.

Improved Save As/Discard Dialog

 

6. Simplified Sharing across Microsoft 365

We've simplified the sharing experience across Microsoft 365 applications on the web, desktop, and mobile devices. When you click the "Share" button, the Share Dialog box pops up, where you will be able to email a link, copy a link, share files externally, manage access, and share sensitive files – streamlined and free of distractions. Read more here >

 

7. Access and Explore Office Add-Ins

There’s a new button on the Home tab you can use to easily find, install, and access Office add-ins in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Read more here >

 

Excel for web

1. Interactive PivotCharts

PivotCharts in Excel for the web are now interactive – with an updated look and feel for buttons. Select chart elements to launch and navigate the format task pane to make changes.

 

2. Simplified Sharing across Microsoft 365

We've simplified the sharing experience across Microsoft 365 applications on the web, desktop, and mobile devices. When you click the "Share" button, the Share Dialog box pops up, where you will be able to email a link, copy a link, share files externally, manage access, and share sensitive files – streamlined and free of distractions. Read more here >

 

3. Access and Explore Office Add-Ins

There’s a new button on the Home tab you can use to easily find, install, and access Office add-ins in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Read more here >

 

 

Check if a specific feature is in your version of Excel

Click here to open in a new browser tab

 

 

 

Your feedback helps shape the future of Excel. Please let us know how you like a particular feature and what we can improve upon—"Give a compliment" or "Make a suggestion"..  You can also submit new ideas or vote for other ideas via Microsoft Feedback.

 

Subscribe to our Excel Blog and the Insiders Blog to get the latest updates. Stay connected with us and other Excel fans around the world – join our Excel Community and follow us on Twitter.

 

Special thanks to our Excel MVPs David Benaim and Bill Jelen for their contribution to this month's What's New in Excel article. David publishes weekly YouTube videos and regular LinkedIn posts about the latest innovations in Excel and more. Bill is the founder and host of MrExcel.com and the author of several books bout Excel.

Updated Aug 31, 2023
Version 2.0
  • A lot, thank you. By the way, is it possible to add into What's New Power Query for Excel?

  • CraigT , I guess you mean to change font size in formula bar with Ctrl+Wheel Scroll, as in many other apps. Includes Power Pivot formula bar. If so I'm upvoting.

  • Excel751's avatar
    Excel751
    Copper Contributor

    Great features! I like the monospaced fonts :sparkles:

  • thomasbkdk's avatar
    thomasbkdk
    Brass Contributor

    Unfortunately this update of office has changed a number of my settings in excel and outlook.

    Plus my pined items/folders have also been removed 😞

  • Sameer_Bhide's avatar
    Sameer_Bhide
    Iron Contributor

    Some fantastic features this month... One thing you forgot to mention is the horrible "Visual Refresh Preview" has been rolled out by default for Insider beta with now option to turn it back off.

    Kindly allow us the to switch back to the earlier view.

     

    Cheers

    Sam 

  • Patrick2788's avatar
    Patrick2788
    Silver Contributor

    I like how the Excel team is always looking to add more power. I'll have to learn Python now!

  • AdminBBS's avatar
    AdminBBS
    Copper Contributor

    I have the same issue as Thomas. Whenever I open a file through office 365/teams, it is very very small and even if you scale up the text, the ribbon and bottom banner remain small. I cannot work out how to fix just this. If I open the document through Excel App, it is ok. But unfortunately we have to use it through teams/sharepoint/browser. Any ideas how to revert this part back?

  • CraigT's avatar
    CraigT
    Copper Contributor

    Now we have Python in Excel is there any plans to be able to increase the font size in the editor? It would make everything a lot easier on the old eyes. 

  • doom_mood's avatar
    doom_mood
    Copper Contributor

    Wow, this August 2023 update is packed with cool stuff! Python in Excel? Can't wait to try it out and see what amazing analytics we can cook up. These updates are seriously cool and are sure to bring a much-improved user experience to Excel!