Microsoft Excel
Insert spreadsheet
data using
your camera
Don’t spend ages inputting pre-created data into a
spreadsheet.AllowExcelto doit automatically5
D
ata inputting is a laborious task but with your iOS
device to hand, it doesn’t need to be. Microsoft
has added a great new feature to its Excel app
which makes use of online image recognition. Take a
photo of some printed data (or use an existing photo) and
within a few moments you can have the information neatly
laid out on a spreadsheet.
In reality, it doesn’t always work as smoothly as you’d
hope but there are some basic editing tools available
in a preview. Of course, if you tend to use Apple’s
Numbers,app then you may be put off switching to Excel,
but the app is free to install and use. You can also select
Send a Copy when you’re done with Excel and choose
Send with Another App: selecting Copy to Numbers will
import the data from Excel.Step-by-step Insert data from a picture
1
Create a new file
Launch Microsoft Excel on your device
and start a new workbook. Tap the Data
from Picture icon located at the bottom of the
screen (it looks like a grid with a camera).2
Allow camera access
After granting Excel access to your
camera, you can position a set of printed data
beneath your device. When you’re satisfied,
take a photo using the onscreen button.3
Select the data
Use the handles to crop the image,
ensuring the data you want to import is
highlighted. Tap ‘Done’ and the image begins
to process. You will have a chance to review it.Using your iPhone camera to input spreadsheet data is a
great time-saver and hopefully Numbers will follow suit...Time neededDeveloper
Microsoft
Corporation
Difficulty