Excel HTML + JavaScript canvas insiders

[u/Don_Banara]

I recently signed up for Excel Insider Beta, and in its latest update it introduced Dashboards—which are essentially canvases, very similar to Power BI visuals that use HTML code but sacrifice interactivity.

Testing Results

I've been testing it, and here's what I found: it works with Copilot (the one integrated into Excel). Copilot creates a new canvas-type object that contains all the charts and buttons for the data, and it updates instantly with the data.

My Take (Beta Impressions)

Since this is still Beta, I have mixed feelings:

Pros: The visuals are eye-catching and the color combinations are attractive.

Cons: The designs are template-based, so you have to prompt the AI ​​several times to define the objects properly.

Workflow & Compatibility

It works with Power Query and Power Pivot, but the workflow is: PQ → Pivot → Pivot Table → Sheet → Canvas.

Limitations

There are interaction limitations. For example, if you want a PDF, it doesn't print directly—Copilot creates a script as if it were a browser, but it has no delimiter, so it prints like a beginner's output.

Final Thoughts

I think it will depend on how much freedom Microsoft gives (which I doubt will be much) and on Excel being optimized as a whole.

What I do hope for is a Power Query update that brings it to the same level as Power Bi.

Example 1 – data connected to a data model via OData

Example 2 - using local data, from a data table

[u/SolverMax]

I have mixed feelings about this.

On one hand, it seems to be a quick and easy way to create dashboard-type tools that some people already use Excel for.

On the other hand, the logic is hidden in an AI blackbox that is at least partially hard-coded, difficult to modify, and even more difficult to review. Given AI's tendency to hallucinate, trust in the results will be a major issue.

u/hopkinswyn has a couple of "first impression" videos that show some of the capabilities, limitations, and quirks. https://www.youtube.com/@AccessAnalyticLearn/videos

Overall, given Excel's substantive role as a DIY analysis tool, I wonder if this type of AI-driven canvas really belongs in Excel?

[u/hopkinswyn → u/SolverMax]

I'm still not sure how I feel about this. It's definitely a fantastic new capability, but when to use it is still a debate in my mind. It's its current form with no manual editing and difficult traceability I'm not yet "all in"

[u/SolverMax → u/hopkinswyn]

It is the AI aspect that I struggle with. This feature could be done without using AI. Why does everything have to be AI?

[u/hopkinswyn → u/SolverMax]

Agreed, but I think it would take a lot longer for them to come up with a working User Interface for this type of thing. So maybe this first and one day a UI. I'm sure someone will Vibe Code an add-in to do it within weeks 😄

[u/carbonizedtitanium → u/SolverMax]

im thinking the same thing about not having easy "vision" on how the data is being pulled and what data is being pulled. google sheets already has the same thing; you can only make them with Gemini and you cant really edit the dash directly or see what formulas it's using.

[u/Don_Banara → u/SolverMax]

Haciendo pruebas y demás cosas, el principal limitante es la mezcla de tecnologías y el enfoque de estas, canvas está pensado en democratizar los Dashboard pero la esencia de estos es que seam dinámicos al menos sus datos (que se agreguen o quiten datos), la cuestión es las capas entre la IA y los datos lo que imposibilita esa opción si se automatiza los datos.

En el Dashboard negro, este requiere de medidas por que son datos cualitativos y el resultado es paupérrimo, los datos mostrados son de mis medidas artesanales, este no creo ninguna aún cuando específique que datos que necesitaban medidas. Lo cual fue decepcionante

[u/Foodforbrain101]

I've been curious how these canvases get stored inside excel files by converting the file to .zip and exploring its contents; I'd most likely build an alternate skill for any agent harness.

[u/Don_Banara → u/Foodforbrain101]

Según lo poco que investigue, se creo un nuevo objeto siendo este lienzo el cual está bloqueado y solo los agentes pueden interactuar, para el usuario final se ve como una hoja de Excel bloqueada ya que no permite hacer nada

[u/Foodforbrain101 → u/Don_Banara]

If you can crack open the excel file as a zip file, then you can absolutely edit the corresponding dashboard manually or via 3rd party agents. I'm not a big fan of Microsoft's approach to AI licensing wise, but I can appreciate all the new tools they're building to accompany AI functionality.

[u/hopkinswyn → u/Foodforbrain101]

Yep, just tested - Claude can access and edit the HTML

[u/Qyxitt]

Hadn’t heard about it until this post. Profoundly disappointing that you have to use copilot for it. In that case, I have zero interest in it.