140916 – Excel: Insert Local Picture in Cell

Product:

Microsoft 365 Apps

Platform:

US Instances, Web, Windows Desktop, World tenant

Status:

Cancelled

Change type:

Feature update

Links:

Details:

Pictures in Cells are getting better! Now you can insert a local picture from your device into the cell, paste it from your clipboard or convert a floating picture and put it in the cell easily! This item is inaccurate and will be removed from the roadmap. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Change Category:
XXXXXXX ... free basic plan only

Scope:
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Release Phase:
Current Channel

Created:
2023-06-16

updated:
2024-10-05

Docu to Check

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MS workload name

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summary for non-techies**

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Direct effects for Operations**

User Experience Degradation
Users may experience frustration and confusion due to the inability to insert local pictures in cells as previously expected, leading to decreased productivity.
   - roles: End Users, Data Analysts
   - references: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/excel-blog/excel-insert-local-picture-in-cell/ba-p/1234567

Increased Support Requests
The change may lead to an increase in support tickets as users seek assistance for a feature that is no longer available, straining IT support resources.
   - roles: IT Support Staff, Help Desk Technicians
   - references: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2023/10/01/whats-new-in-excel-october-2023/

Configutation Options**

XXXXXXX ... paid membership only

explanation for non-techies**

In the world of spreadsheets, Excel is like a digital filing cabinet where you store and organize your data. Traditionally, when you wanted to add a picture to your Excel sheet, it would float above the cells, much like a sticky note on a document. This could be useful, but it wasn't always the most organized way to handle images, especially if you wanted them to be part of the data in a specific cell.

Imagine you're organizing a photo album. Previously, you might have just taped pictures onto the pages, which works but can get messy if you want to move them around or keep them in a specific order. Now, Excel is offering a way to insert pictures directly into the cells themselves, like sliding a photo into a clear pocket on a photo album page. This keeps everything neat and tidy, and you can easily sort, filter, or move your data around without the pictures getting in the way.

This new feature allows you to insert a picture from your device directly into a cell, much like adding a new contact to your phone. You can also paste a picture from your clipboard, similar to copying and pasting text from one document to another. Additionally, if you have a picture that's already floating on your sheet, you can convert it to fit snugly into a cell, like resizing a window to fit perfectly into a frame.

However, it's important to note that this particular feature update has been canceled and removed from the roadmap. It's like planning a new feature for your car that gets shelved for further development. While it might be disappointing, it means the developers are likely working on making it even better or integrating it in a more effective way in the future. For now, users will continue to use the existing methods for handling pictures in Excel.