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Create data analysis charts in Excel with a Copilot agent

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Summary

This sample shows how to include a custom Copilot agent in an Excel add-in, and use it to insert charts that plot one column of data against another.

Description

This add-in lets the user create charts using Copilot's natural language processing. The user begins by opening the task pane and using it to insert sample data. Then, the user opens Copilot and opens the Chart Analysis Agent. Using natural language, the user asks Copilot to insert into the open worksheet a chart that plots the data of one column in a table against the data of another column. The user specifies the columns but doesn't have to use the precise column names in the table.

Chart Analysis Agent pane with inserted chart.

Applies to

  • Excel on Windows
  • Excel on the web

Prerequisites

Solution

Solution Authors
How to insert charts with natural language agents Microsoft

Version history

Version Date Comments
1.0 05-16-2025 Initial release

Install the sample

  1. Clone or download this repo.

  2. Go to the Samples\excel-copilot-agent folder and open it in Visual Studio Code.

  3. In command prompt, bash shell, or TERMINAL in Visual Studio Code, navigate to the Samples\excel-copilot-agent folder and run npm install.

  4. Open Microsoft 365 Agents Toolkit from the Activity Bar in Visual Studio Code.

  5. In the ACCOUNTS pane, ensure that support is enabled for both Copilot and uploading custom apps.

    Account pane in the toolkit.

Sideload the sample and start the server

  1. In the LIFECYCLE pane, select Provision. This sideloads the add-in to Microsoft 365, including Excel.

  2. In a command prompt, bash shell, or TERMINAL in Visual Studio Code at the root of the project, run npm run dev-server to start the server on localhost.

    Note: If you are prompted to delete an old certificate or to install a new one, agree to both prompts.

    Wait until a line that is similar to the following appears at the end of the server window before continuing.

    webpack 5.99.8 compiled successfully in 102 ms

Try it out

  1. The first step in testing depends on the platform.

    • Office on Windows: Open Excel, and then open (or create) a workbook.
    • Office on the web: In a browser, navigate to https://excel.cloud.microsoft, and then open or create a workbook.

  2. Wait until the add-in has loaded. This may take as much as two minutes. The Show Task Pane button should appear on the Home ribbon automatically. If it doesn't, you need to manually activate the add-in: Select the Add-ins button on the Home ribbon, and then in the flyout that opens, select the Chart Analysis add-in.

  3. On the Home tab and choose the Show Task Pane button in the ribbon to open it.

    Task pane of Chart Analysis add-in.

  4. Select the Initialize data button on the task pane to insert a table of sample data into the workbook. Because this table gets focus, the Table Design ribbon opens.

  5. Switch back to the Home ribbon.

  6. Open Copilot from the ribbon and select the hamburger control in the Copilot pane. The Chart Analysis Agent agent should be be in the list of agents. You may need to select See more to ensure that all agents are listed. If the agent isn't listed, try one or both of the following actions.

    • Wait a few minutes and reload Copilot.
    • With Copilot open to the list of agents, click the cursor on the Copilot window and press Ctrl+R.

    List of agents in Copilot with Chart Analysis Agent circled in red.

  7. When the agent is listed, select it and the pane for the agent opens.

    Chart Analysis Agent pane.

  8. Select the Show me a chart that correlates sales and temperature conversation starter, and then press the arrowhead (send) control in the conversation box at the end of the pane. After a few moments, you are prompted to confirm. Select Confirm. A chart is inserted onto the worksheet. See the screenshot at the beginning of this readme file.

  9. Try entering natural language prompts for other combinations of columns in the table.

Make changes in the app

Live reloading is supported for task pane portion of the app, but not the Copilot agent portion. To make changes, first shut down the server and uninstall the combined agent and add-in with these steps.

  1. Close the Office application.

  2. In the web server window, press Ctrl+C. Choose Y in response to the prompt to end the process.

    Note: If the web server doesn't shut down, in a command prompt, bash shell, or Visual Studio Code TERMINAL in the root of the project, run npm run stop.

  3. Clear the Office cache following the instructions at Manually clear the cache.

  4. Open Teams and select Apps from the Activity Bar, then select Manage your apps at the end of the Apps pane.

  5. Find the Chart Analysis Agent agent in the list of apps.

  6. Select the arrowhead to the left of the name to expand its row.

  7. Select the trash can icon near the right end of the row, and then select Remove in the prompt.

  8. Make your changes and then repeat the steps in Sideload the sample and start the server and Try it out.

Questions and feedback

  • Did you experience any problems with the sample? Create an issue and we'll help you out.
  • We'd love to get your feedback about this sample. Go to our Office samples survey to give feedback and suggest improvements.
  • For general questions about developing Office Add-ins, go to Microsoft Q&A using the office-js-dev tag.

Copyright (c) 2025 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

This project has adopted the Microsoft Open Source Code of Conduct. For more information, see the Code of Conduct FAQ or contact opencode@microsoft.com with any additional questions or comments.