Ken Puls, FCPA, MS MVP
@excelguru.ca
I teach people how to use Excel (https://skillwave.training), host an Excel website (https://excelguru.ca), build software (https://monkeytools.ca) and enjoy watching football (aka soccer).
There's still time to RSVP for today's Vancouver #PowerBI and Modern #Excel meet-up! Faraz Shaikh will show us how to manage the everyday chaos of #SupplyChain #spreadsheets with simple yet powerful Excel tricks! 🤯 Sign up here: www.meetup.com/vancouver-po...
(Session will also be recorded.)
(Session will also be recorded.)
From Chaos to Control: Excel Tips for Every Supply Chain Ninja | Faraz Shaikh, Thu, Nov 20, 2025, 10:00 AM | Meetup
**SESSION TRACK:** Excel & Power BI **SESSION OUTLINE:** First, Joseph Yeates will start things off by showing us some of the newest features and updates in Power BI. Then
www.meetup.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:33 PM
There's still time to RSVP for today's Vancouver #PowerBI and Modern #Excel meet-up! Faraz Shaikh will show us how to manage the everyday chaos of #SupplyChain #spreadsheets with simple yet powerful Excel tricks! 🤯 Sign up here: www.meetup.com/vancouver-po...
(Session will also be recorded.)
(Session will also be recorded.)
The QuerySleuth feature of our Monkey Tools #Excel Add-in is a must-have for every #PowerQuery user. It automatically indents and wraps your M code, and highlights the syntax by colour. 🤓 (However, you can adjust these options as you prefer.)
Learn more at mkyt.ca/querysleuth
#DataAnalytics
Learn more at mkyt.ca/querysleuth
#DataAnalytics
November 19, 2025 at 5:12 PM
The QuerySleuth feature of our Monkey Tools #Excel Add-in is a must-have for every #PowerQuery user. It automatically indents and wraps your M code, and highlights the syntax by colour. 🤓 (However, you can adjust these options as you prefer.)
Learn more at mkyt.ca/querysleuth
#DataAnalytics
Learn more at mkyt.ca/querysleuth
#DataAnalytics
A lively debate broke out in a recent AKA session when someone asked, “When should I use a timeline instead of a slicer to filter dates?” Cue my favorite answer: “It depends.” 😆
I explained that timelines force users to select contiguous date ranges while slicers permit non-contiguous selections. 🧵
I explained that timelines force users to select contiguous date ranges while slicers permit non-contiguous selections. 🧵
November 18, 2025 at 5:18 PM
A lively debate broke out in a recent AKA session when someone asked, “When should I use a timeline instead of a slicer to filter dates?” Cue my favorite answer: “It depends.” 😆
I explained that timelines force users to select contiguous date ranges while slicers permit non-contiguous selections. 🧵
I explained that timelines force users to select contiguous date ranges while slicers permit non-contiguous selections. 🧵
Want your #Excel #PivotTable to refresh automatically—without clicking Refresh every time? 🔄 Check out the new PivotTable Auto Refresh feature (available in the Beta Channel for Office 365) that keeps your reports accurate the moment your source data changes:
PivotTable Auto-Refresh
Want your Excel PivotTables to refresh automatically—without clicking Refresh every time?
In this video, Excel MVP Ken Puls (Excelguru / Skillwave) shows you the new feature - PivotTable Auto Refresh…
www.youtube.com
November 17, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Want your #Excel #PivotTable to refresh automatically—without clicking Refresh every time? 🔄 Check out the new PivotTable Auto Refresh feature (available in the Beta Channel for Office 365) that keeps your reports accurate the moment your source data changes:
I'm leading a course today on how to build charts and dashboards in #Excel for a private client. Here are my 5 Rules of Effective Charting:
1️⃣ Every chart should tell a story
2️⃣ Pick the RIGHT chart type
3️⃣ Make it a SHORT story
4️⃣ Avoid chart junk and noise
5️⃣ Review your completed chart
#DataViz
1️⃣ Every chart should tell a story
2️⃣ Pick the RIGHT chart type
3️⃣ Make it a SHORT story
4️⃣ Avoid chart junk and noise
5️⃣ Review your completed chart
#DataViz
November 14, 2025 at 8:07 PM
While Monkey Tools won't help you build a LAMBDA function, it definitely makes it easy to inject them into your #Excel workbook. I'll show how to use this FREE feature to both store and inject LAMBDA functions into your workbooks. No personal macros, no notepad files:
The FASTEST way to Store/Inject LAMBDA functions in Excel!
While Monkey Tools won't help you build a LAMBDA function, we definitely make it easier than anyone else to inject them into your workbook. Join Ken as he shows how to use this Free Monkey Tools…
www.youtube.com
November 14, 2025 at 5:27 PM
While Monkey Tools won't help you build a LAMBDA function, it definitely makes it easy to inject them into your #Excel workbook. I'll show how to use this FREE feature to both store and inject LAMBDA functions into your workbooks. No personal macros, no notepad files:
The question of how to convert Julian dates to Gregorian dates using #PowerQuery came up in a course I taught a while ago. 📅 Although I haven't ever used JD Edwards, apparently this is quite common in that system, so it hits a lot of people. Let's look at the method to do this:
Convert Julian Dates to Gregorian Dates with Power Query
In this article we will look at how to convert Julian Dates to Gregorian Dates using Power Query - a particular issue for JD Edwards users,
excelguru.ca
November 13, 2025 at 5:17 PM
The question of how to convert Julian dates to Gregorian dates using #PowerQuery came up in a course I taught a while ago. 📅 Although I haven't ever used JD Edwards, apparently this is quite common in that system, so it hits a lot of people. Let's look at the method to do this:
The latest "News from the Data Monkey" is out! 🐵📰 Our twice-monthly newsletter includes what's new in #Excel and #PowerBI, features from my AKA sessions, meet-up recordings, and info on courses, events, promotions, and more! Sign up today at xlguru.ca/newsletter and get our free eBooks, too!
November 12, 2025 at 8:34 PM
The latest "News from the Data Monkey" is out! 🐵📰 Our twice-monthly newsletter includes what's new in #Excel and #PowerBI, features from my AKA sessions, meet-up recordings, and info on courses, events, promotions, and more! Sign up today at xlguru.ca/newsletter and get our free eBooks, too!
Our European friends aren't fans of the N American week numbering systems. #PowerQuery has a “week number” function but no function to get ISO weeks. Well, our Monkey Tools #Excel add-in will inject a GetISOWeek function into your #BusinessIntelligence solution. 🔥 Learn more: mkyt.ca/get-iso-week
November 12, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Our European friends aren't fans of the N American week numbering systems. #PowerQuery has a “week number” function but no function to get ISO weeks. Well, our Monkey Tools #Excel add-in will inject a GetISOWeek function into your #BusinessIntelligence solution. 🔥 Learn more: mkyt.ca/get-iso-week
Further to the meet-up recording we shared yesterday, Alison Pollecutt mentioned that #Excel for Web doesn't have the "GoTo Special" tool. As it turns out, my friend Jan Karel Pieterse has just released an free add-in for Excel for Web which provides this functionality:
GoTo Pro Excel Add-in | Brings GoTo Special to Web and Teams Excel. Adds a simple worksheet finder
GoTo Pro is a free Excel add-in that adds the GoTo Special dialog to Web and Teams Excel. It also offers other tools, such as a worksheet finder. Works in Excel Desktop, Online, and Teams.
jkp-ads.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Further to the meet-up recording we shared yesterday, Alison Pollecutt mentioned that #Excel for Web doesn't have the "GoTo Special" tool. As it turns out, my friend Jan Karel Pieterse has just released an free add-in for Excel for Web which provides this functionality:
A big thank you to Alison Pollecutt for presenting on the "Go To Special" tool in #Excel at last week's meet-up! 🙏 We learned how it can be used to select things in your workbook based on special criteria and help speed up things that you've been doing manually. Here's the recording:
The Simple Magic of "Go To Special" | Alison Pollecutt
“Go To Special” is a tool that you might easily miss amongst the many other options on the Excel ribbon. Let’s face it, what does “Go To Special” even mean? Well, spreadsheet enthusiast Alison…
www.youtube.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:06 PM
A big thank you to Alison Pollecutt for presenting on the "Go To Special" tool in #Excel at last week's meet-up! 🙏 We learned how it can be used to select things in your workbook based on special criteria and help speed up things that you've been doing manually. Here's the recording:
Ever wondered how to make a #PowerPivot-backed #PivotTable suppress rows full of zeros? A student asked that exact question in an AKA session, and turned it into a great learning moment for everyone! I showed a simple #DAX pattern to suppress zeros dynamically so only meaningful values remain. 🧵 1/3
![Zero Means Nothing... Literally!
Ever wondered how to make a PowerPivot-backed PivotTable suppress rows full of zeros?
In our last Ask Ken Anything session, Ken Puls wowed the group with a simple DAX pattern to suppress zeros dynamically so only meaningful values remain.
Screenshot of DAX formula:
=VAR vAmount = SUM( Sales[Amount] )
VAR vResult = IF( vAmount = 0, BLAND(), vAmount)
RETURN
vResult
(Skillwave Training logo)](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:xpiehblln2cworixrwklvoyv/bafkreihi27usklvjc364pyxfdv3wz6f2zbwdjw5x4s5ik3sufewnwkkshq@jpeg)
November 10, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Ever wondered how to make a #PowerPivot-backed #PivotTable suppress rows full of zeros? A student asked that exact question in an AKA session, and turned it into a great learning moment for everyone! I showed a simple #DAX pattern to suppress zeros dynamically so only meaningful values remain. 🧵 1/3
I wrapped up the week with a great day of #PowerQuery training for CPABC.
One of the best things about PQ is that if you have a report that you update regularly, you can set things up so that you just save the new data, refresh your query with a SINGLE CLICK, and your chart or visual is updated! 🔄📊
One of the best things about PQ is that if you have a report that you update regularly, you can set things up so that you just save the new data, refresh your query with a SINGLE CLICK, and your chart or visual is updated! 🔄📊
November 7, 2025 at 11:44 PM
I wrapped up the week with a great day of #PowerQuery training for CPABC.
One of the best things about PQ is that if you have a report that you update regularly, you can set things up so that you just save the new data, refresh your query with a SINGLE CLICK, and your chart or visual is updated! 🔄📊
One of the best things about PQ is that if you have a report that you update regularly, you can set things up so that you just save the new data, refresh your query with a SINGLE CLICK, and your chart or visual is updated! 🔄📊
Have you ever wanted to add your favourite icons to the QAT (Quick Access Toolbar) in the #PowerQuery editor in #Excel or #PowerBI? 🤔 Wonder no more, as I'll show you how! Check out how I added the "Detect Data Types" button to the Power Query QAT:
Customize the Power Query QAT - Monkey Shorts Episode 049
Have you ever wanted to add your favourite icons to the QAT (Quick Access Toolbar) in the Power Query editor in Excel or Power BI? Wonder no more as Ken shows you how to do so! In this video, Ken…
www.youtube.com
November 7, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Have you ever wanted to add your favourite icons to the QAT (Quick Access Toolbar) in the #PowerQuery editor in #Excel or #PowerBI? 🤔 Wonder no more, as I'll show you how! Check out how I added the "Detect Data Types" button to the Power Query QAT:
This is good news!
Stuff all the AI announcements. This is the best news so far...
From SharePoint Folder is now available regardless of which subscription plan. Business Premium users rejoice!
Looks like a few other connectors have lit up too!
If you're on an M365 plan then check it out now
#Excel #PowerQuery
From SharePoint Folder is now available regardless of which subscription plan. Business Premium users rejoice!
Looks like a few other connectors have lit up too!
If you're on an M365 plan then check it out now
#Excel #PowerQuery
November 6, 2025 at 5:15 PM
This is good news!
Just an hour to go until today's Vancouver #PowerBI and Modern #Excel meet-up gets underway! Spreadsheet enthusiast Alison Pollecutt is willing to bet that there are things you're doing manually that "Go To Special" could help you do a lot quicker. 😲
Sign up here:
Sign up here:
The Simple Magic of "Go To Special" | Alison Pollecutt, Thu, Nov 6, 2025, 9:00 AM | Meetup
**SESSION TRACK:** Excel **SESSION OUTLINE:** “Go To Special” is a tool that you might easily miss amongst the many other options on the Excel ribbon. Let’s face it, what
www.meetup.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:03 PM
When you first open Query Sleuth in our Monkey Tools #Excel Add-in, you’ll notice that your queries are colour coded with up to four different colours: 🟠🟡🔵🟢 This adds a bit of extra insight around the query load destinations. Learn more at mkyt.ca/querysleuth
#PowerQuery #DataAnalyticsTools
#PowerQuery #DataAnalyticsTools
November 5, 2025 at 5:16 PM
When you first open Query Sleuth in our Monkey Tools #Excel Add-in, you’ll notice that your queries are colour coded with up to four different colours: 🟠🟡🔵🟢 This adds a bit of extra insight around the query load destinations. Learn more at mkyt.ca/querysleuth
#PowerQuery #DataAnalyticsTools
#PowerQuery #DataAnalyticsTools
A new student joined my last Ask Ken Anything session with a familiar #Excel headache: “Every month I download new CSVs from our billing system – and every month I spend hours cleaning them up.” 😭
I walked her through how #PowerQuery can automate every step in a single refreshable query.
I walked her through how #PowerQuery can automate every step in a single refreshable query.
November 4, 2025 at 5:06 PM
A new student joined my last Ask Ken Anything session with a familiar #Excel headache: “Every month I download new CSVs from our billing system – and every month I spend hours cleaning them up.” 😭
I walked her through how #PowerQuery can automate every step in a single refreshable query.
I walked her through how #PowerQuery can automate every step in a single refreshable query.
For local folks in Nanaimo, BC: I'm leading a FREE hands-on workshop at VI University on Dec 4. It's is designed for accounting and finance students, helping them build essential #Excel skills for real-world #FinancialAnalysis and #FinancialReporting. 📉 Sign up here: xlguru.ca/viu-excel-wk...
Microsoft Excel Interactive Workshop
Learn Excel with expert Ken Puls! Hands-on workshop for accounting students, build real financial statements & skills employers love.
www.eventbrite.ca
November 3, 2025 at 7:56 PM
For local folks in Nanaimo, BC: I'm leading a FREE hands-on workshop at VI University on Dec 4. It's is designed for accounting and finance students, helping them build essential #Excel skills for real-world #FinancialAnalysis and #FinancialReporting. 📉 Sign up here: xlguru.ca/viu-excel-wk...
#PowerQuery doesn't have a great concept of row context, making it very difficult to compare values across rows. In this episode of Monkey Shorts, I'll demonstrate a super-cool black magic technique that allows you to do exactly that.🧙
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdNY...
#Excel #PowerBI #DataAnalysis
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdNY...
#Excel #PowerBI #DataAnalysis
Compare vs Prior Row in Power Query - Monkey Shorts Episode 048
Power Query doesn't have a great concept of row context, making it very difficult to compare values across rows. In this week's episode of Monkey Shorts, Ken demonstrates a super-cool black magic…
www.youtube.com
October 31, 2025 at 4:13 PM
#PowerQuery doesn't have a great concept of row context, making it very difficult to compare values across rows. In this episode of Monkey Shorts, I'll demonstrate a super-cool black magic technique that allows you to do exactly that.🧙
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdNY...
#Excel #PowerBI #DataAnalysis
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdNY...
#Excel #PowerBI #DataAnalysis
Check out what's new this month in #Excel, including these 2 features in the Windows version:
🟢 #PivotTables #SPILL! (similar to the experience in Dynamic Arrays)
🟢 Formula by Example (previously only in the Web version)
🟢 #PivotTables #SPILL! (similar to the experience in Dynamic Arrays)
🟢 Formula by Example (previously only in the Web version)
What's New in Excel (October 2025) | Microsoft Community Hub
This month, look for Agent Mode in Excel (Frontier) in the Tools menu of Copilot for Excel. Additionally, PivotTable #SPILL and accessibility assistant...
techcommunity.microsoft.com
October 30, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Check out what's new this month in #Excel, including these 2 features in the Windows version:
🟢 #PivotTables #SPILL! (similar to the experience in Dynamic Arrays)
🟢 Formula by Example (previously only in the Web version)
🟢 #PivotTables #SPILL! (similar to the experience in Dynamic Arrays)
🟢 Formula by Example (previously only in the Web version)
Join us on Nov 20 to learn how to manage the everyday chaos of supply chain spreadsheets with simple yet powerful #Excel tricks! Faraz Shaikh will share real-world tips used by planners and logistics pros to
🧹clean data,
🔎track stock, and
📊visualize key insights
Sign up here:
🧹clean data,
🔎track stock, and
📊visualize key insights
Sign up here:
From Chaos to Control: Excel Tips for Every Supply Chain Ninja | Faraz Shaikh, Thu, Nov 20, 2025, 10:00 AM | Meetup
**SESSION TRACK:** Excel **SESSION OUTLINE:** Manage the everyday chaos of supply chain spreadsheets with simple yet powerful Excel tricks! In this fast-paced, practical s
www.meetup.com
October 30, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Join us on Nov 20 to learn how to manage the everyday chaos of supply chain spreadsheets with simple yet powerful #Excel tricks! Faraz Shaikh will share real-world tips used by planners and logistics pros to
🧹clean data,
🔎track stock, and
📊visualize key insights
Sign up here:
🧹clean data,
🔎track stock, and
📊visualize key insights
Sign up here:
I LOVE hearing from happy students! ❤️
Another happy student! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Elevate your #FinancialReporting game with our advanced #Excel #PowerPivot course by CPA and FCMA, @excelguru.ca. Learn how to correctly lay out chart of accounts, build P&L measures, and generate Balance Sheet measures using #DAX. Enroll today at skw-t.com/buildfs
Elevate your #FinancialReporting game with our advanced #Excel #PowerPivot course by CPA and FCMA, @excelguru.ca. Learn how to correctly lay out chart of accounts, build P&L measures, and generate Balance Sheet measures using #DAX. Enroll today at skw-t.com/buildfs
October 29, 2025 at 10:51 PM
I LOVE hearing from happy students! ❤️
It was the final day of my in-person #SelfServiceBI Boot Camp in Munich. The first part of the day was focused on #DAX and Calendar Intelligence. 📅 We then finished off the training with building and sharing dashboards with #PowerBI, and how to choose when to use Power BI or #Excel. 💪
![The Importance of a Calendar Dimension
(Screenshot of the Data Model structure, highlighting the Transactions and Budgets tables and cross-referencing them to a monthly chart)
Transactions[End of Month] cannot cross filter Budgets
Filters cannot go against arrow direction
Solution: Separate table to filter both Budgets & Transactions](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:xpiehblln2cworixrwklvoyv/bafkreiara7o4wi64uux6xz7sn3ybxoxcm6awc7tqbomr2yfyarkhzrm2fy@jpeg)
October 29, 2025 at 7:14 PM
It was the final day of my in-person #SelfServiceBI Boot Camp in Munich. The first part of the day was focused on #DAX and Calendar Intelligence. 📅 We then finished off the training with building and sharing dashboards with #PowerBI, and how to choose when to use Power BI or #Excel. 💪
The Basic Explicit Measure Monkey provides a simple interface to build basic #DAX measures without writing any code yourself. 😎 It also gives aggregation choices based on your data types, shows the DAX written, and lets you set default measure formats. Learn more: mkyt.ca/bem
#Excel #PowerQuery
#Excel #PowerQuery
October 29, 2025 at 4:11 PM
The Basic Explicit Measure Monkey provides a simple interface to build basic #DAX measures without writing any code yourself. 😎 It also gives aggregation choices based on your data types, shows the DAX written, and lets you set default measure formats. Learn more: mkyt.ca/bem
#Excel #PowerQuery
#Excel #PowerQuery