Publications by George Mount
Python in Excel: How to simulate IRR with Copilot
The Internal Rate of Return (IRR) is a financial metric used to evaluate the profitability of an investment by calculating the discount rate at which the net present value (NPV) of a series of cash flows equals zero. In finance, IRR helps investors compare the potential returns of different projects, guiding decisions on whether to pursue or abando...
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Here are some Excel features you should know to get the most of Python in Excel
When introducing newcomers to Python in Excel, I typically recommend that they have some basic Python knowledge beforehand. This helps reduce the mental effort required to grasp the Python in Excel environment. However, using Python within Excel also assumes a solid understanding of Excel itself.Like many technological advancements, embedding Pytho...
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Python in Excel: How to create a dashboard with Copilot
Lately I’ve been digging into how Python in Excel’s AI-powered analysis might disrupt traditional static dashboards. It offers a flexible, lightweight way to explore data—letting you ask questions, adjust them as the data shifts, and uncover what’s worth focusing on. Traditional dashboards, with their fixed visuals, can feel stiff and limit...
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Python in Excel: How to make a process control chart with Copilot
Many Excel users dismiss statistics as irrelevant, focusing solely on getting the numbers to add up and then moving on, rather than thinking in probabilities and uncertainties. Yet, these numbers often represent moments in time where they’re monitoring for significant changes to alert the business—precisely where statistics shines. Process cont...
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Python in Excel: How to create regular expressions with Copilot
After years of being unable to work with regular expressions, Excel has finally introduced a set of convenient and useful functions for doing so:How to understand regular expressions in ExcelHowever, around the same time, regular expressions also became accessible in Excel as a result of its integration with Python: The addition of regex support in...
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Python in Excel: How to create checkbox-driven visualizations
Integrating Python into Excel unlocks a wide range of data visualization options, though interactivity with Python-generated plots remains somewhat limited.In Excel, Python plots are essentially static images, lacking features like tooltips or the ability to explore series data. That said, with a bit of creativity, it’s possible to introduce some...
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How to cross-check AI-generated insights in Excel
I’m a huge proponent of using AI-powered insights and automation in Excel. In fact, I think it’s the only way forward to keep Excel competitive, and in fact, Excel will get stronger from this disorder—antifragile in a way, to borrow from Nassim Taleb. The chaos AI introduces isn’t a weakness; it’s a chance for Excel to evolve, adapting an...
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Python in Excel: How to create PivotTables with Copilot
PivotTables in Excel are a fast, user-friendly way to summarize data and gain quick insights. However, they’re not formula-driven, which can limit control and flexibility compared to dynamic options like GROUPBY() or PIVOTBY() functions that embed logic directly into your analysis.How to understand the GROUPBY() function in ExcelHow to understand...
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How to understand regular expressions in Excel
If you’ve ever encountered the challenge of sorting through data to find or manipulate specific text, you’ll know the potential headaches it can cause. Excel’s integration of regular expression (regex) functions has been a game changer, equipping users with powerful tools to search, extract, and replace text in ways that go beyond the capabil...
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Python in Excel: How to create custom date ranges and metrics
In previous posts, we explored building interactive visualizations in Excel, including interactive window functions like moving averages and dynamic measures:Python in Excel: How to create moving averagesHow to create dynamic measures in Excel with Python in ExcelIn this post, we’re going to merge these concepts and delve into dynamic window func...
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