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The following assumes that you have used Microsoft's spreadsheets in the past.
Summary: Microsoft Excel 2016 (coming September 2015) seems to be a focus of this suite version, with increased business intelligence tools and more features for keyboard and touch. While little about Office 2016 is vastly different from the 2013 version, Excel aficionados will want to take note.
After the following list, if you would like more information as a new or upgrading user of Office, follow the links and resources.
1. More eye candy
Data looks pretty all gussied up in a chart.
Excel 2016 offers new options in a few categories as Microsoft has described on its main site:
Charts aren't the only objects with an upgrade in this version. Your spreadsheet can also incorporate more shape style presets as well as speedy picture controls now available as soon as you insert them, such as auto image rotation options.
- Financial: Waterfall
- Statistical: Histogram, Pareto, Box and Whisker
- Hierarchical: Treemap and Sunburst
2. Data in dimensions
Well, sortof. No, Excel has not gone 3D, but in a sense you can achieve that sort of benefit thanks to Excel data cards, which allow you to display more information about your data when you hover over it with your cursor.
Think of how this could spruce up a presentation, without cluttering the screen, since you can bring Excel spreadsheets into a PowerPoint, for example.
3. Data matchmaking
Arranged relationships may or may not be your cup of tea for your own romantic life, but you might them helpful for your data.In Excel 2013, thanks to 'data model PivotTable automatic relationship detection', possible relationships are suggested.
You can also initiate the matchmaking yourself. Run this manually under the Relationships tool.
Similarly, you can take advantage of automatic Time Group suggestions in Pivot Charts, allowing you to expand key details about your data.
4. Your spreadsheet turned crystal ball
A new Forecast Sheet function makes it easy to extrapolate for data with a timeline element to it.
Find more detail about this here: Create a forecast in Excel 2016 for Windows.
Find this new feature under the Data menu tab.
5. Easier file management
Excel users can do a few housekeeping tasks even faster in this latest version:
- Share files (with your other devices or with collaborators) more easily with more information controls.
- More saving options including OneDrive, OneDrive for business, and more.
- A tidier Backstage interface (this is the area of commands you find by selecting File). This helps you manage opening, saving, sending, and working with files generally.
6. Do-it-yourself business intelligence (BI)
Microsoft Power Query for Excel is no longer the stuff of add-ins. Now, it's bolted right onto the spreadsheet interface.
This is a tool for self-serve business intelligence.
Read more about these tools here: Microsoft Power BI Business Intelligence Tools.
Note: Consider opting in on all BI settings by selecting File - Options - Advanced - Turn on data analysis features.
7. Nuggets of functionality for keyboardists
We all favor certain methods of input, so here are a few improvements for those who favor the rap-tap-tap of fingers to keys versus clicking a mouse, when working in a spreadsheet.
You can now use Pivot Tables and Slicers.
8. Clippy's best intentions without the freak show
Insights for Office is now available in Excel like it has been in Word. This is like a web browser you access right from your spreadsheet. Insights can deliver Bing-powered information relative to your data.
Similarly, the new Tell Me feature is an information desk that goes way beyond the Help function. It's like Clippy but on-demand, which means, it's less annoying.
Find it at the top right corner of the Excel tool ribbon.
9. Editing powers, even as objects take their merry time loading
No more waiting while large charts and SmartArt diagrams load as the text will appear right away, allowing you to dive right in and start editing. A placeholder for the chart or SmartArt will be displayed until the object fully renders but you can still interact with the document.
10. Nuggets of functionality for inkslingers
Math input control is one example of how touch and ink have been improved, helping you capture values and calculations from stylus or fingertips.
At home, in class, during work meetings, or anywhere else you math and scribble it all out, then have it converted to typed text in your spreadsheet.
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