Copilot Prompts for Excel That Start From Your Pasted Table
Formulas, cleanup, and pivot explain inside Microsoft 365 Copilot. Paste the table, name the sheet goal, and tag gaps as [VERIFY]. No invented rows or totals.
In short: This page contains 15 copy-paste ready prompts, organized into 5 categories with a description and pro tip for each. The first 5 prompts are free instantly, no signup needed. Hand-curated and tested by the AI Academy team.
Formulas from a pasted table
3 promptsSum column with a named rule
1/15✨ What it does
Copilot writes one sum formula for [COLUMN NAME] with [CONDITION] and explains each part. Paste the formula into Excel, then confirm every column name matches your sheet.
I pasted a table below. Write one Excel formula to sum [COLUMN NAME] where [CONDITION]. Show the formula in a code block, explain each part in one line, and say [VERIFY] if a column name is missing. [PASTE TABLE]
Pro tip: Name the column exactly as it appears in row 1. Copilot cannot see headers you did not paste.
VLOOKUP or XLOOKUP pick
2/15✨ What it does
Copilot picks XLOOKUP or VLOOKUP for your [KEY] lookup and flags duplicate keys as [VERIFY]. Test the formula on two rows you know before you fill down.
From this pasted table, I need to look up [KEY] in [LOOKUP COLUMN] and return [RETURN COLUMN]. Say whether XLOOKUP or VLOOKUP fits, write the formula, and flag [VERIFY] if the key is not unique. [PASTE TABLE]
Pro tip: If keys repeat, ask for a helper column or an INDEX MATCH pattern. Do not assume uniqueness.
Percent change column
3/15✨ What it does
Copilot writes a percent-change formula rounded to [N] decimals and lists blank rows as [VERIFY]. Insert the column, then fix blanks before you share the sheet.
Add a formula column for percent change from [OLD COLUMN] to [NEW COLUMN]. Paste-ready formula only, round to [N] decimals, and list any row where either cell is blank as [VERIFY]. [PASTE TABLE]
Pro tip: Percent change on blank cells looks like a real trend. Fix blanks first or filter them out.
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Cleanup and formatting
3 promptsTrim and dedupe steps
4/15✨ What it does
Copilot lists trim, date, and dedupe steps for your paste and tags risky steps as [VERIFY]. Run the steps in order on a copy of the file, not the live workbook.
I pasted messy data below. List Excel steps (not VBA) to trim spaces, fix [DATE COLUMN] to ISO dates, and remove duplicate rows on [KEY COLUMNS]. Tag any step that needs my confirmation as [VERIFY]. [PASTE TABLE]
Pro tip: Always work on a duplicate sheet. Copilot does not undo a bad dedupe.
Split one column into two
5/15✨ What it does
Copilot gives split steps or formulas for [COLUMN] and marks inconsistent delimiters as [VERIFY]. Check the odd rows it lists before you split the whole column.
Split [COLUMN] on [DELIMITER] into [NEW COL A] and [NEW COL B]. Show the formula or Text to Columns steps for Excel. If the delimiter is inconsistent, say [VERIFY] and show the odd rows. [PASTE TABLE]
Pro tip: Paste five sample rows that include the messy cases. A clean sample hides the real problem.
Standardize category labels
6/15✨ What it does
Copilot builds an original-to-fixed mapping table from your paste and flags invented labels as [VERIFY]. Review the mapping before you apply a SUBSTITUTE chain.
These category values should map to a short allowed list: [ALLOWED LIST]. From the paste, build a two-column mapping table (original, fixed) and flag anything not in the paste as [VERIFY]. [PASTE TABLE]
Pro tip: If your allowed list is long, paste it in the prompt. Copilot will not guess your taxonomy.
Pivot explain
3 promptsExplain an existing pivot
7/15✨ What it does
Copilot explains rows, columns, values, and filters on your pivot and lists three gaps. Use those gaps to decide if you need a different pivot layout.
I pasted a pivot table below. In plain English, explain what rows, columns, values, and filters mean. List three questions the pivot cannot answer without raw data. Tag guesses as [VERIFY]. [PASTE PIVOT]
Pro tip: Paste the pivot plus one line on what decision you are trying to make.
Suggest a pivot layout
8/15✨ What it does
Copilot suggests row, column, and value fields to answer [QUESTION] using only pasted columns. Build that pivot in Excel, then refresh if the paste changes.
From this raw table paste, suggest one pivot layout to answer: [QUESTION]. Name row fields, column fields, value field, and aggregation. Do not invent columns that are not in the paste. [PASTE TABLE]
Pro tip: One question per pivot. Kitchen-sink pivots confuse Copilot and humans.
Compare two pivot cuts
9/15✨ What it does
Copilot compares pivot A and B for [AUDIENCE] and flags totals not visible in the paste. Pick one layout, then rebuild it yourself so you control the fields.
I pasted two pivot views of the same data: A and B. Compare what each emphasizes, where totals differ, and which view fits [AUDIENCE]. Mark any total you cannot see in the paste as [VERIFY]. [PASTE A] [PASTE B]
Pro tip: If totals differ, one pivot likely double-counts. Ask Copilot to name the field causing it.
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What not to do in Excel
3 promptsRefuse to invent rows
13/15✨ What it does
Copilot refuses to invent [MONTH] rows and offers placeholder steps tagged [VERIFY]. Keep the placeholders off shared dashboards until data lands.
Act as Copilot in Excel. I need you to add rows for [MONTH] we do not have yet. Refuse to invent numbers. Offer steps I can use when real data arrives, and say [VERIFY] on every placeholder.
Pro tip: This is the prompt that stops fake forecast rows from going to leadership.
No macro without review
14/15✨ What it does
Copilot lists manual steps and a commented VBA outline with delete paths marked [STOP]. Review with IT before you import any macro.
I asked for a macro to [TASK]. Instead, list manual steps first, then a VBA outline with comments only, and mark anything that deletes data as [STOP]. Do not write runnable delete code.
Pro tip: Macros that delete or email need a human owner. Copilot is not that owner.
Sensitive columns check
15/15✨ What it does
Copilot lists columns to drop before external share and marks uncertain ones [VERIFY]. Drop those columns in Excel, then repaste a redacted sample if you need more help.
Review this paste for columns that look like PII or secrets: [PASTE]. List column names to drop before sharing externally. If unsure, mark [VERIFY]. Do not copy values into the chat beyond what I pasted.
Pro tip: Copilot guesses sensitivity from headers. You own the classification.
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