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OCTOBER 20, 2024

Shortcut's Excel Plugin: AI Native in Microsoft Excel

Official Microsoft partnership brings Shortcut directly into Excel—edit .xlsx files natively, handle macros, and use your favorite Excel features with AI superpowers

Nico Christie

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Nico Christie

Shortcut's Excel Plugin: AI Native in Microsoft Excel

Finance professionals live in Excel. Your templates, macros, custom functions, and keyboard shortcuts are muscle memory. Why should AI force you to change that?

Through our official Microsoft partnership, Shortcut runs natively inside Excel. Open your .xlsx files directly, keep all your macros and VBA code, and use Shortcut's AI alongside Excel's full feature set.

Key Advantages vs. Web App

📁 Native .xlsx Editing

Work directly on your Excel files. No import/export cycle. When you save, you're saving a standard .xlsx that opens in Excel anywhere, anytime.

🔧 Full VBA & Macro Support

Complex models often include macros for data refresh or automation. The plugin preserves all of this. Your VBA code runs normally; Shortcut's AI works alongside it.

💾 File System Flexibility

Files live wherever your IT policy requires: local drives, network shares, OneDrive/SharePoint, or encrypted drives for compliance.

⌨️ Excel Keyboard Shortcuts

Use all your favorite shortcuts: Ctrl+C/V, F2, Alt+E+S, F9, Ctrl+`. Finance professionals don't need to relearn anything.

Plugin-Specific Features

Add to Focus

Select any range of cells or entire tabs, then click "Add to Focus." Shortcut will only edit within your selection—perfect for targeted edits on specific model sections.

Common Workflows in the Plugin

  1. Building Models from Data: Open your LBO template, upload target company financials via PDF or EDGAR integration, and prompt. Shortcut fills the model in native Excel.
  2. Updating Recurring Reports: Open last month's deck, import new actuals, focus on relevant sections, update all charts and tables with current data.
  3. Scenario Analysis During Meetings: With the model open in Excel, prompt Shortcut for instant scenario analysis. Show results on screen immediately.

📥 Getting Started

Download the Shortcut plugin from Microsoft AppSource. Once installed:

  1. Open any Excel file or create new
  2. Access Shortcut from the Ribbon or sidebar
  3. Start prompting—Shortcut works on your file directly

Your templates, saved prompts, and AI preferences sync between web app and plugin automatically.

Download the plugin and try it free

Get Started with Excel Plugin