Debugging Excel formulas with Excel Copilot

- [Instructor] If you've ever wrestled with a stubborn Excel formula or tried customizing a VBA script from a tutorial to suit your needs, you'll understand the hurdles of debugging. Copilot for Excel steps in to alleviate these headaches by suggesting corrections to your formulas and scripts. However, there are times when it's more efficient to start anew rather than modify existing code. Whether you're debugging an old formula or crafting a new one, Copilot is here to guide you, enhancing your Excel skills and ensuring your projects are not only effective but also streamlined. You can follow this process using the exercise file named copilot-debug-formulas. In our first example, I'm tackling the task of calculating a running total in the sales column and hitting some snags. I suspect mixed referencing is necessary, but it's proving tricky to implement correctly. Here, I'll have Copilot review my formula and identify the errors. (keyboard clattering) Interestingly, Copilot suggests a novel approach by introducing a new column, which I will add to my worksheet. It doesn't tweak our existing formula, but offers an entirely new one by using structured table references. This is a departure from the alphanumeric references that many users might be used to, but it's vital as Copilot requires data to be formatted as a table. This is why understanding table structuring is so crucial before you dive deep into using Copilot. If you're struggling with a specific formula, like getting an averageif function to operate correctly, you can paste that directly into Copilot and ask for help. (keyboard clattering) Sometimes, Copilot might suggest writing the formula from scratch, which can lead to unintentionally adding a new column to your table. If it's not what you want, simply copy the result to another part of your workbook. This demonstrates the dual paths available within Copilot, collaborating on new formulas or seeking debugging support for existing ones. Often, beginning refresh is easier, but sharing your current challenges such as any errors you're facing or goals that you have can provide Copilot with the insights needed to better assist you. And keep in mind, this is not limited to table calculations or aggregations on a table. The same principles will apply if you need help with VBA macros, for example. The more unique your script, the more direction Copilot might need regarding your specific requirements. In this scenario, I'm going to include the problematic macro, outline the issues, and then see how Copilot can resolve them. (keyboard clattering) And here we have a corrected macro set up for us to use. Whether you're ironing out bugs or starting from scratch, Copilot provides the essential guidance to sharpening your Excel skills and ensure your projects are robust and efficient. Yet remember, while Copilot is a fantastic tool for refining and troubleshooting, sometimes, a clean slate is the most straightforward solution.