Microsoft Excel
Excel's REGEXEXTRACT function lets you pull numbers (or any pattern) out of a text string using regular expressions. Unlike functions like TEXTAFTER or TEXTBEFORE that depend on consistent delimiters, REGEXEXTRACT works with messy, inconsistent data — it finds the pattern wherever it appears. In this walkthrough, you'll
I use both Formula Completion and the Copilot function in Excel every week. They require a paid Microsoft 365 Copilot license. They solve different problems, and when you combine them, you can move from repetitive calculations to higher-level text analysis and data cleanup in minutes. Below, I explain what each
Microsoft Copilot
If you have a Microsoft 365 Copilot license, there is a small Outlook feature that cuts the time I spend replying to email by a huge margin. I use it every day at my full-time job, and it genuinely saves me minutes—sometimes hours—every week. YouTube Video - Outlook
excel
If you analyze data in Excel, the UNIQUE function is one of the quickest ways to cut through noise and see exactly what you have. I rely on UNIQUE every day, and when I pair it with SORT, COUNTA, and CHOOSECOLS, it becomes a powerful tool for cleanup and analysis.
excel
If you model investments in Excel, the future value function is one of the most useful tools you have. The problem is a small but common mistake: dividing an annual return by 12 to get the monthly rate. That shortcut breaks the math when compounding is involved, leading to a
excel
If you've wrestled with CSV files that open in Excel but look wrong, or spent time in Power Query to coax dates and columns into place, there's good news. Excel now includes two new functions that let you pull file data directly into a worksheet with
delta-companion-certificate
If you hold a Delta credit card that includes a Companion Certificate, this guide explains exactly how to use the Delta Companion Certificate to book a discounted second seat. I walk through eligibility, the booking flow, examples of pricing mechanics, and common pitfalls so you can redeem yours with confidence.
treasury-bills
Purchase T-Bills from Treasury Direct directly from the U.S. Treasury to earn higher returns than many bank accounts, avoid brokerage fees, and manage short-term cash with predictable safety. This guide explains what you need, how the process works, and the practical steps I follow to buy Treasury bills on
microsoft-teams
I noticed three small but powerful updates in Teams: Three New Features December 2025 that have already changed how I work across multiple monitors. These updates let me pop core apps out of the sidebar into separate windows, keep Teams visible while I work in other programs, and find images
Thoughts, stories and ideas.
I rely on OneDrive every day, and the OneDrive Recycle Bin is one of those quiet lifesavers most people forget about until they panic. Whether it's a Teams meeting recording that a policy removed after 60 days or a spreadsheet I accidentally deleted, knowing how the OneDrive Recycle
What I'm trying to solve 🧩 I had a column of 100 order lines, with each line beginning with the product name, then the order date, then the customer name. My goal was simple: show each product only once. Duplicate products appear throughout those 100 rows, and the product
Table of Contents * 📋 Why this method works and when I use it * 📋 Setting up the table * 🔎 Extract distinct values with UNIQUE * ↕️ Sort the unique list with SORT * 🔢 Count occurrences using COUNTIF * ✅ Why tables beat ranges for this task * 🔁 When to use this instead of a pivot table * 🔧 Quick checklist to
Writing formulas in Excel can be time-consuming and challenging, even for experienced users. Selecting the right function, referencing the correct cells, and ensuring proper syntax often slows down workflows and leads to errors. Many users spend extra time troubleshooting mistakes, searching for examples, or trying to recall the exact formula
I tested how well Excel's formula completion with Copilot handles a multi-step calculation that would normally require a nested function. The goal was simple: calculate profit by subtracting the total cost of units sold from total revenue, with unit costs stored in a separate lookup table. Instead of
Microsoft Teams has a great Copilot feature. A Microsoft 365 license is required for this feature. In a Teams meeting, I need AI assistance during a conversation, but the participants do not want the call recorded or transcribed. There are plenty of situations where privacy matters: a vendor asks for
November 4, 2025 Microsoft MVP and productivity expert Chris Menard will be presenting a highly anticipated session titled “Executive Insights: Harnessing Excel for Strategic Analysis” at the EA Ignite Conference, held at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel. This premier event, running from November 3–5, 2025, is tailored for executive assistants
Chris Menard will present “Mastering Microsoft 365 Copilot” at EA Ignite in Nashville on Nov 3, 2025. Learn how Copilot boosts productivity in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams during this hands-on session.
How to use the newly returned feature that lets you save Chat and Channel Messages in Teams so you can keep important conversations at your fingertips.
OneDrive Request Files feature allows you to collect files from people inside or outside your organization, without letting those people see anyone else’s uploads.
As a Microsoft MVP and certified trainer, I’m always excited to share the latest productivity tools that help you work smarter. If you’re a frequent Microsoft Teams user, you’ll be thrilled to hear about the new Teams Follow Threads feature rolling out in public preview as of
Managing emails efficiently is crucial, especially when it comes to handling attachments. I demonstrate an exciting new feature that has rolled out in Microsoft Outlook’s Copilot — the ability to summarize Outlook attachments with Copilot. While Copilot has long been capable of summarizing email bodies, this new enhancement now extends
