office 365
21477 TopicsThe Diagonal Suite: Gentle thunking goes a long way!
I've become a big advocate for gentle thunking - using thunks to delay eager evaluation wherever possible in generalized Lambda development. The timings are quicker and the logic is cleaner. On the other hand, thunking the results of MAP, BYROW, or BYCOL - especially when it leads to rows of thunks - tends to introduce recombination overhead and complexity. I think thunking is often dismissed as “too complex,” and that’s understandable if someone’s first exposure involves unwrapping a row of thunks. When used gently thunking becomes indispensable. Typically, I introduce the thunks after the initial benchmarking to see the difference in the calculation times and the after is always quicker. To illustrate, I’ll share The Diagonal Suite - a collection of functions where thunking is used at every opportunity. Simple, clean, deferred logic. What are your thoughts on gentle thunking? Where have you found it helpful/harmful in your own Lambda development? //The Diagonal Suite - Version 1.0 - 10/27/2025 //Author: Patrick H. //Description: Directional traversal and diagonal logic for 2D arrays. // Functions: // • Traverseλ - Directional traversal engine // • ByDiagλ - Diagonal-based aggregation // • DiagMapλ - Wrapper for diagonal matrix extraction // • DiagIndexλ - Targeted diagonal extraction // • Staircaseλ - Construct diagonal staircases from a vector or 2D array //──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── //------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- //Traverseλ - Directional Axis Remapper //------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- //The selected axis is remapped to the top-left traversal order. //Accepted directions: // "NE" or 1 → Northeast (↗) // "SE" or 2 → Southeast (↘) // "SW" or 3 → Southwest (↙) //Parameters: //array → 2D input array (scalars not accepted) //new_axis → Axis direction ("NE", "SE", "SW" or 1–3) Traverseλ = LAMBDA( array, new_axis, //Input validation IF(OR(ROWS(array)=1,COLUMNS(array)=1), "#2D-ARRAY!", IF(AND(ISNUMBER(new_axis),OR(new_axis<=0,new_axis>3)),"#AXIS!", LET( //Dimensions i, ROWS(array), j, COLUMNS(array), //Axis traversal indices (deferred) x_NE, LAMBDA(SEQUENCE(j,,1,0)*SEQUENCE(,i)), y_NE, LAMBDA(SEQUENCE(j,,j,-1)*SEQUENCE(,i,1,0)), x_SE, LAMBDA(SEQUENCE(i,,i,-1)*SEQUENCE(,j,1,0)), y_SE, LAMBDA(SEQUENCE(i,,j,0)+SEQUENCE(,j,0,-1)), x_SW, LAMBDA(SEQUENCE(j,,i,0)+SEQUENCE(,i,0,-1)), y_SW, LAMBDA(SEQUENCE(j,,1)*SEQUENCE(,i,1,0)), //Axis mode selection mode, IF(ISNUMBER(new_axis),new_axis, SWITCH(new_axis,"NE",1,"SE",2,"SW",3,1)), //Index selection x, CHOOSE(mode,x_NE,x_SE,x_SW), y, CHOOSE(mode,y_NE,y_SE,y_SW), //Unwrap indices and get results result, INDEX(array,x(),y()), result ) ))); //------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- //ByDiagλ - Diagonal-based aggregation //------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- //Apply an ETA function or Lambda to diagonals //Parameters: //array → 2D input array (scalars not accepted) //[function] → ETA function or Lambda applied to diagonals //[row_wise_stack?] → Optional: Display results as a vertical stack ByDiagλ = LAMBDA( array, [function], [row_wise_stack?], //Check array input ValidateDiagλ(array,,function,row_wise_stack?, LET( //Optional parameters No_Function, ISOMITTED(function), No_row_wise_stack,ISOMITTED(row_wise_stack?), //Dimensions i, ROWS(array), j, COLUMNS(array), //Diagonal count k, MIN(i,j), //Indices - deferred r, LAMBDA(SEQUENCE(k)*SEQUENCE(,j,1,0)), y, LAMBDA(SEQUENCE(k)+SEQUENCE(,j,0,1)), c, LAMBDA(IF(y()>j,NA(),y())), //Unwrap indices, shape, and aggregate result, IFNA(INDEX(array,r(),c()),""), shaped, IF(No_row_wise_stack,result,TRANSPOSE(result)), final, IF(No_Function,shaped, IF(No_row_wise_stack,BYCOL(shaped,function), BYROW(shaped,function))), final ))); //------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- //DiagMapλ - Wrapper (Calls ByDiagλ) to extract diagonals as 2D matrix //------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- //Calls ByDiagλ to extract the diagonals from a 2D array. //Parameters: *Please see ByDiagλ for descriptions.** DiagMapλ = LAMBDA( array, [row_wise_stack?], ByDiagλ(array,,row_wise_stack?) ); //------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- //DiagIndexλ - Targeted diagonal extraction //------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- //Extract a diagonal or anti-diagonal vector from a 2D array. //Parameters: //array → 2D input array (scalars not accepted) //col_index → Column number to start from. Negative = anti-diagonal DiagIndexλ = LAMBDA( array, col_index, //Input checks ValidateDiagλ(array,col_index,,, LET( //Dimensions i, ROWS(array), j, COLUMNS(array), //Diagonal direction: +1 = SE, –1 = SW s, SIGN(col_index), //Determine diagonal length based on bounds k, IF(s>0, MIN(i, j + 1 - col_index), MIN(i, ABS(col_index))), start, IF(s<0,ABS(col_index),col_index), //Indices - deferred x, LAMBDA(SEQUENCE(k)), y, LAMBDA(SEQUENCE(k,,start,s)), //Unwrap indices and extract vector deliver, INDEX(array,x(),y()), deliver ))); //------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- //Staircaseλ — Construct diagonal staircases from a vector or 2D array //------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- //Parameters: //array → Input array (flattened to vector row-wise) //block_size → Number of rows/columns per staircase block //[block_offset] → Optional padding between staircases //[IsHorizontal?] → Optional toggle for column-wise orientation //[IsAntiDiag?] → Optional toggle to display staircase anti-diagonal. Staircaseλ = LAMBDA( array, block_size, [block_offset], [IsHorizontal?], [IsAntiDiag?], //Check inputs ValidateStaircaseλ(array,block_size,block_offset, LET( //Check optional parameters no_Block_Offset, ISOMITTED(block_offset), zero_Offset, block_offset=0, col_offset, IF(No_Block_Offset,0,block_offset), IsVertical?, ISOMITTED(IsHorizontal?), Not_Anti_Diag, ISOMITTED(IsAntiDiag?), //Convert to vector and get dimensions flat, TOCOL(array), k, COUNTA(flat), seq, LAMBDA(SEQUENCE(k)), V, TOROW(EXPAND(WRAPROWS(seq(),block_size),, block_size+block_offset,0)), width, COLUMNS(V), //Anchors and indices - deferred i, LAMBDA(SEQUENCE(block_size)*SEQUENCE(,width,1,0)), col_arr, LAMBDA(IF(Not_Anti_Diag,SEQUENCE(,width), SEQUENCE(,width,width,-1))), j, LAMBDA(MOD(col_arr(),block_size+block_offset)), j_, LAMBDA(IF((no_Block_Offset)+(zero_Offset), IF(j()=0,block_size,j()),j())), idx, LAMBDA(IF(i()=j_(),V,NA())), //Obtain results, shape, and calculate result, DROP(IFNA(INDEX(flat,idx()),""),,-col_offset), final, IF(IsVertical?,TRANSPOSE(result),result), final ))); //---------------------Error Handling & Validation--------------------------- //Validates inputs for Staircaseλ. Please see Staircaseλ for parameter //descriptions. ValidateStaircaseλ = LAMBDA( array, block_size, [block_offset], [on_valid], LET( //Checks NotArray,TYPE(array)<>64, Invalid_block_size, OR(ISTEXT(block_size),block_size<=0,block_size>COUNTA(array)), Invalid_block_offset, OR(ISTEXT(block_offset),block_offset<0), //Logic gate IF(NotArray, "#NOT-ARRAY!", IF(Invalid_block_size, "#BLOCK-SIZE!", IF(Invalid_block_offset,"#BLOCK-OFFSET", on_valid)))) ); //---------------------Error Handling & Validation--------------------------- //Validate inputs for ByDiagλ, DiagMapλ, and DiagIndexλ. //*Please see those functions for parameter descriptions.* ValidateDiagλ= LAMBDA( array, [col_index], [function], [row_wise_stack?], [on_valid], LET( //---Checks--- //Array input IsArray?, TYPE(array)=64, Not_Array, NOT(IsArray?), //Col_index No_Col_Index, ISOMITTED(col_index), Col_Index_Included, NOT(No_Col_Index), Not_Valid_Col_Index?, NOT(AND(col_index<>0, ABS(col_index)<=COLUMNS(array))), //Function No_Function, ISOMITTED(function), Function_Included, NOT(No_Function), Invalid_Function?, AND(ISERROR(BYROW({1,1},function))), //Shaping input RowWiseStack?, NOT(ISOMITTED(row_wise_stack?)), //Deterine which function is being validated DiagIndex, Col_Index_Included, ByDiag, AND(No_Col_Index, Function_Included), DiagMap, AND(No_Col_Index, No_Function), //Logic gates //DiagIndexλ a, IF(Not_Array, "#NOT-ARRAY!", IF(Not_Valid_Col_Index?,"#COLUMN-INDEX!", on_valid)), //ByDiagλ b, IF(Not_Array, "#NOT-ARRAY!", IF(Invalid_Function?, "#FUNCTION!", on_valid)), //DiagMapλ c, IF(Not_Array, "#NOT-ARRAY!", on_valid), //Logic gate selection decide, IF(DiagIndex,a, IF(DiagMap,c, IF(ByDiag,b, "#UNROUTED!"))), decide )); //End of The Diagonal Suite - Version 1.0 //Author: Patrick H.37Views0likes1CommentJoin us for a professional development session on the new AI-powered Teach module in M365 Copilot
Join us on Wednesday, November 19th, 2025, for an in-depth professional development webinar on the new AI-powered "Teach" module in M365 that is fully rolled out and available to everyone. This will be a 45-minute hands-on webinar where the Product Management team will walk through the new updates in detail and you can follow-along at home with your own M365 Education account! This webinar will be available at both 8:00am Pacific Time and 4:00pm Pacific time to cover as many global time zones as possible around the world. And don’t worry – we’ll be recording these and posting on our Microsoft Education YouTube channel so you’ll always to able to watch later or share with others! Here is our training agenda for the webinar 👇 How to use the new AI-powered "Teach" module in M365. Includes: ✅ Lesson plans ✅ Copilot Quizzes ✅ Standards integration ✅ Learning Activities ✅ Differentiate reading materials ✅ Teams EDU integration and Classwork ✅ First look at OneNote EDU and Teach Module integration We look forward to having you attend the event! How to sign up OPTION 1: November 19th, Wednesday @ 8:00am Pacific Time Register here OPTION 2: November 19th, Wednesday @ 4:00pm Pacific Time Register here We look forward to seeing you! Mike Tholfsen Group Product Manager Microsoft Education21Views0likes0CommentsSupport for auto-filing sent emails
I am looking for a solution to this scenario in the New Outlook: I send tens of emails per day The sent emails are stored in the Sent Items folder I need to manually move each of them into the sub-folders in my Archive folder - e.g. one for support cases Is there any way to automate the step (3) - i.e. to automatically file the sent emails into the folders they belong to? The Classic Outlook had "When replying to a message that is not in the Inbox, save the reply in the same folder" which is not present in the New Outlook. Maybe the New Outlook should have something even more powerful? In addition to this feature, a button suggesting into which folder each message should be filed? Finally, the Outlook Rules are very powerful but they do not apply to the sent emails. Maybe time to generalize these?72Views1like7CommentsTrouble inserting rows
I am receiving an error message while right clicking and attempting to insert rows above and below. The error message reads, "This operation is not allowed. The operation is attempting to shift cels in a table on your worksheet." No other users are currently signed onto the worksheet. How can I resolve this?21Views0likes1CommentCan't remove spaces between rows
Hello, I need to correct a word document and I received it with multiple spaces between rows that I can't seem to correct no matter what I try. Here is an example: As we can see, there is a blank row between the two lines but I cannot move the pointer there, nor I can backspace and make the blank row disappear. This seems to be tied to some pre-formatted settings; could someone pinpoint where should I go in settings in order to somehow be able and gracefully align these two rows? Thank you very much, Desktop Mac OS Word: Version 16.86 Version 15.6 Sequoia This behavior is persistent in Windows. Thanks again,25Views0likes1CommentDisable Reschedule Broken
The ability to disable the reschedule feature for the person receiving the invite seems to be broken. I deselected the radio button (seen in my screenshot) in the service and saved changes. But when I test it, the email notification still provides me the ability to reschedule or cancel the appointment. In our organization, these appointments are time sensitive and legally cannot happen after a certain date, which varies for each person. We are managing over 200 appts per week, so it is not possible to do any sort of manual work around to ensure we catch unauthorized movement. In researching the issue, it looks like others have asked about the broken functionality, as seen in this 2024 post: Problem with the option to prevent customers managing their bookings | Microsoft Community Hub. But there has been no response. How do we get this issue on Microsoft's radar?167Views1like1CommentAccess Denied Page blocked as it violates the Acceptable Use Policy
my access to all my files is blocked. No warning or informatiom why. there is very important Personal and medical data stored. m365 administer request didn't help at all. didn3ven understand the problem. . is there a way to get access back to get the important data? after that I don't care If everything is deleted.89Views0likes3CommentsEXCEL Crashes while opening External Data connections workbook
Hi, We have a custom COM Add-in for Excel, and it connects to an external data connection. While opening the custom workbook, the connection was established successfully, and data was refreshed. But, Excel crashed immediately without any error message. Checked event viewer logs and found the error below: Using the link below, I reverted the MS Office to an earlier version (16.0.19029.20136) from the recent release on my laptop. After reverting the Excel, the issue was resolved. But I don't want to turn off MS Office automatic updates. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/how-to-revert-to-an-earlier-version-of-office-2bd5c457-a917-d57e-35a1-f709e3dda841#:%7E:text=Revert%20to%20the%20previous%20version%20of%20Office%201,3%20Step%203%3A%20Disable%20automatic%20updates%20for%20Office Please suggest any other resolution to resolve the issue. Are there any known issues in the recent release (16.0.19231.20216)?20Views0likes0CommentsSignificant changes to the New Outlook Calendar Event User Interface
In October 2025, the New Outlook Calendar Event was redesigned to incorporate Copilot, leading to a complete user interface makeover. Many icons were rearranged. This blog post includes a screenshot, icon placement, and descriptions. New Outlook Scheduling Gets a Makeover - Copilot Chat Joins #traccreations4e-p25 10/29/202586Views0likes0Comments