# Build a Dashboard in Excel with Agent Mode (Step-by-Step Tutorial) Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlKyTKFWI4M Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/MlKyTKFWI4M Generated: 2025-10-03T10:32:03.199+00:00 --- ## Quick Overview Microsoft Excel's new Agent Mode, accessible via the Excel Labs add-in and requiring a Microsoft 365 subscription and Copilot license, builds a fully interactive, dynamic dashboard from raw data simply by describing the desired output in a prompt, as demonstrated by generating a "Cookie Sales Dashboard" that automatically updates when underlying data changes. **Key Points:** - Excel Agent Mode is accessed through the Excel Labs add-in and requires a Microsoft 365 subscription and a Copilot license to function. - The user initiates the dashboard creation by typing a descriptive prompt into the Agent Mode chat box, such as asking to "Build a dashboard to help me understand this data." - Agent Mode automatically creates a new sheet named "Dashboard" containing KPI summaries (Total Revenue: $4,690,319, Total Profit: $2,763,364.45), tables, and multiple interactive charts, including bar charts for revenue by cookie type and line charts for units sold over time. - The generated dashboard is fully dynamic; for example, when the user manually changes the revenue for a Chocolate Chip order from $8,625.00 to $1,000,000.00, all related KPIs, tables, and charts update instantly. - Agent Mode also provides a breakdown of the formulas used, such as helper columns for Year and Month Start, and SUMIFS formulas for data aggregation. - The agent suggests optional interactive controls, like adding a slicer for filtering by 'Cookie Type', which dynamically updates the entire dashboard upon selection (e.g., filtering for only 'Chocolate Chip' updates all visuals). ![Screenshot at 00:02: The initial step where the user selects the raw cookie sales data table \(A1:F701\) and clicks 'Insert Table' to structure the data before engaging with the Agent Mode feature.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/MlKyTKFWI4M/00-00-02.png) **Context:** This video tutorial demonstrates the features of the new "Agent Mode" within Microsoft Excel, which is part of the ongoing integration of AI capabilities, specifically Microsoft Copilot, into the productivity suite. The presenter uses a sample raw dataset containing cookie sales records (Product, Units Sold, Revenue, Cost, Profit, Date) to show how this AI-powered feature can automatically convert structured data into a comprehensive, interactive dashboard simply by receiving a natural language instruction. ## Detailed Analysis The video showcases the capabilities of Excel's Agent Mode, an AI assistant accessible via the Excel Labs add-in, which requires a Microsoft 365 subscription and a Copilot license. The presenter starts with a raw dataset of cookie sales (Product, Revenue, Cost, Profit, Date) and inputs a prompt into the Agent Mode panel: "Build a dashboard to help me understand this data. Include some visuals. Include things like total revenue by cookie type, units sold over time, and profit by month. Add other tables or charts that are relevant and will help tell the story behind this data." Agent Mode processes this request, creates a new sheet named "Dashboard," and populates it with KPIs (like Total Revenue of $4,690,319), summary tables, and charts, all linked dynamically. The presenter confirms the accuracy by manually changing a revenue figure, observing that the dashboard updates immediately. Agent Mode also explains the underlying logic, detailing the specific formulas (like YEAR, DATE, and SUMIFS) and helper columns it created. Finally, the presenter demonstrates interactivity by adding a slicer for 'Cookie Type' (e.g., filtering for 'Chocolate Chip') which instantly filters all components of the dashboard, proving the entire structure is connected and refreshable. ### Initial Setup and Data Transformation - Converting raw data to an Excel Table (0:09-1:26) - Enabling Agent Mode via Excel Labs (1:27-2:01) - Inputting the descriptive dashboard prompt (2:24-2:32) ### Agent Mode Output and Verification - Agent Mode generates a complete dashboard on a new sheet, including KPIs, tables, and charts (2:59-3:34) - Verification section confirms data integrity: 6 cookie types detected, 16 months detected, KPIs computed (Total Revenue: $4,690,319) (3:48-3:58) ### Dynamic Interactivity Demonstration - Manually changing a revenue value in the source data causes the dashboard KPIs and charts to update automatically (3:55-5:45) - Agent Mode explains the underlying formulas used, such as YEAR and SUMIFS (3:38-3:45) ### Adding Interactive Controls - Prompting Agent Mode to add a Slicer based on 'Cookie Type' (5:58-6:04) - Selecting multiple cookie types in the slicer instantly filters all visuals and tables on the dashboard (6:13-6:43) - Demonstrating sharing options like 'Copy Link' (7:39-7:43) ![Screenshot at 0:02: The initial view of the raw cookie sales data before any analysis or dashboard creation begins.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/MlKyTKFWI4M/00-00-02.png) ![Screenshot at 0:11: The presenter inserts the raw data as a structured Excel Table, which is a prerequisite for the Agent Mode functionality.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/MlKyTKFWI4M/00-00-11.png) ![Screenshot at 1:29: The user navigates to Excel Labs and activates Agent Mode by typing a prompt into the chat interface.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/MlKyTKFWI4M/00-01-29.png) ![Screenshot at 2:27: The detailed natural language prompt describing the required dashboard elements \(KPIs, revenue by type, units sold over time, profit by month\).](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/MlKyTKFWI4M/00-02-27.png) ![Screenshot at 3:20: The fully constructed, dynamic "Cookie Sales Dashboard" generated automatically by Agent Mode, featuring multiple tables and charts.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/MlKyTKFWI4M/00-03-20.png) ![Screenshot at 3:49: The Agent Mode sidebar showing the 'Verification' section, confirming the data extracted and KPIs computed from the sheet.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/MlKyTKFWI4M/00-03-49.png) ![Screenshot at 5:03: The presenter demonstrates the dynamic nature of the dashboard by changing a source revenue figure, causing the KPI summary to update instantly.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/MlKyTKFWI4M/00-05-03.png) ![Screenshot at 6:04: The user prompts Agent Mode to add an interactive Slicer based on 'Filter by Cookie Type' to the dashboard.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/MlKyTKFWI4M/00-06-04.png)