Creating Columns and Formulas

Adding New Columns To A Table

Once you have a table in Excel, Copilot can extend it by suggesting or creating new columns — saving you from writing formulas manually and from having to guess which calculations would be useful in the first place.

There are two ways to do this: let Copilot suggest columns, or describe the column you want yourself.

Getting Formula Column Suggestions

When you're not sure which extra columns would add value, ask Copilot for ideas:

1. Highlight the table;
2. Right-click to open the context menu;
3. Select Copilot Suggestions;
4. Choose Suggest a formula column.

Copilot analyses the table and returns a list of recommended columns — usually a mix of calculations, classifications, and summary insights — along with the logic behind each one.

That logic preview matters: you can sanity-check what Copilot would actually compute before committing to the column.

Applying A Suggestion

When you see a suggestion you want, tell Copilot to create that column. Excel inserts it and applies the formula across the entire table automatically — no manual fill-down, no per-row work.

Creating Custom Columns From A Prompt

You don't have to wait for Copilot's suggestions. If you already know what column you want, describe it directly.

Give Copilot a clear prompt with:

• The column name;
• The logic it should follow — the calculation, classification, or rule.

Excel generates the formula and adds the column to the table. This is the right path when you need a custom calculation that Copilot wouldn't have proposed on its own — domain-specific rules, business logic, or derived values tied to your particular use case.

Suggestions vs. Custom Prompts

The two modes match different situations:

• Suggestions — when you don't yet know what extra columns would be useful and want to see options;
• Custom prompts — when you already know exactly what column you need.

Same pattern as Design Suggestions vs. Copilot Chat in PowerPoint: browse when open, instruct when specific.