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Importing data from pictures in Excel |
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A new Excel feature allows you to get data from pictures (you can even review the suggestions before finally inserting the data into your spreadsheet). |
This strangely enjoyable new feature can be found on your Excel Data tab:
If you can't see this option, you will need to wait for it to reach your 365 update channel.
To test this out I used this picture:
Not the world's most exciting data, but a good test for this new feature.
Here's what you get initially when you choose an image from which to extract data:
It only took a couple of seconds to analyse the image, to be fair.
You can then choose whether to insert the data as is, or review it:
You can either take what you're given, or make changes to it first.
The light-bulb icon above gives helpful hints:
Maybe Excel is trying to tell me that holding the sheet of paper didn't optimise the lighting for this picture?
If you choose Review you can step through the items chosen, optionally making changes to each:
I like the way that Excel highlights the item you're reviewing in the picture - very clever!
In general the accuracy is impressive. This misreading was because the s in Kingsmoor is badly typed and slightly smudged on the original picture:
Excel has read Kingsmoor as Kingenoor.
If you choose to insert your data without reviewing everything, you get a scary warning message:
An (understandable) message from Microsoft's legal department.
The final spreadsheet, ready for formatting and checking:
A pretty good rendering of the picture's data.
All in all, a worthwhile (if slightly niche) new addition to Excel!
Some other pages relevant to the above blog include:
Kingsmoor House
Railway Street
GLOSSOP
SK13 2AA
Landmark Offices
99 Bishopsgate
LONDON
EC2M 3XD
Holiday Inn
25 Aytoun Street
MANCHESTER
M1 3AE
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