The Library · Insights
Deep dives across data, automation & AI
1253 in-depth articles — from Excel foundations to production machine learning. Filter by topic or difficulty to find exactly what you need.
Power AutomatePractitioner
Implementing Power Automate Custom Telemetry Pipelines: Emitting Structured Flow Events to Azure Log Analytics for Cross-Environment Operational Dashboards and SLA Reporting
Learn how to build a production-grade telemetry pipeline that emits structured events from Power Automate flows to Azure Log Analytics — then query them with KQL to power SLA dashboards, failure rate trends, and cross-environment latency reports that actually answer operational questions.
23 min read
Power AppsPractitioner
Configuring Dataverse Column Mappings for Relationship-Driven Record Creation: Auto-Populating Fields When Creating Child Records from Parent Forms in Model-Driven Apps
Learn how to configure Dataverse column mappings so that child records created from parent forms automatically inherit field values through the relationship — eliminating repetitive data entry and improving data quality in model-driven apps. This lesson covers type compatibility rules, step-by-step configuration, runtime behavior, and programmatic use via InitializeFrom.
25 min read
SQLPractitioner
Calculating Running Totals and Cumulative Sums with GROUP BY and Subqueries
Running totals are one of the most requested patterns in analytical SQL — and GROUP BY alone can't produce them. Learn two reliable techniques using correlated subqueries and self-joins, with real-world examples covering revenue, user growth, and multi-category breakdowns.
20 min read
Microsoft ExcelPractitioner
Building a VBA-Powered Parameter Query System: Dynamically Filter, Aggregate, and Export Dataset Slices to Separate Workbooks on Demand
Learn how to build a production-ready VBA system that accepts multi-criteria filter parameters, applies them against a master dataset, aggregates results, and exports precisely sliced workbooks to disk — all in seconds. This is the automation that eliminates Monday morning data prep for good.
24 min read
Microsoft ExcelPractitioner
Mastering Workbook and Worksheet Management: Create, Organize, and Link Multiple Sheets for Professional Excel Projects
Bad workbook structure is the silent killer of Excel productivity. Learn how to design multi-sheet workbooks with intent — creating, organizing, and linking sheets the way senior data professionals actually do it. Build projects that stay clean, auditable, and scalable.
20 min read
Power AutomatePractitioner
Automating To Do Task Creation and Completion Tracking with Power Automate: Triggering from Emails, Teams Messages, and Forms
Stop losing action items between your communication channels and your task list. This lesson walks you through building four production-ready Power Automate flows that capture tasks from Outlook, Teams, and Microsoft Forms automatically — and close the loop when work is done. You'll finish with a complete task automation system that spans Microsoft 365.
23 min read
Power AutomateFoundation
Designing Power Automate Connection Reference Governance: Naming Standards, Ownership Assignment, and Environment Promotion Checklists for Enterprise Solution Teams
Connection references are the mechanism that makes Power Automate solutions portable across environments — but ungoverned connection references turn every deployment into a firefight. This lesson teaches you a naming convention that scales, an ownership model that survives team turnover, and a promotion checklist your whole team can follow without expert help.
18 min read
Power AppsExpert
Configuring Dataverse Choices and Choice Columns: Global Option Sets, Multi-Select Columns, and Dependency Filtering in Model-Driven App Forms
Dataverse choice columns are simple dropdowns on the surface—but the decisions you make about global vs. local option sets, multi-select behavior, and dependency filtering determine whether your data model stays coherent as your app scales. This lesson teaches the internals, the patterns, and the pitfalls that experts need to know.
30 min read
SQLFoundation
Filtering Joined Results: Applying WHERE and HAVING Conditions Across Multiple Tables
Most SQL writers know WHERE filters rows and HAVING filters groups — but combining both across multiple joined tables is where things get tricky. This lesson builds your mental model from the ground up so you always know exactly where each condition belongs.
18 min read
Microsoft ExcelFoundation
Connecting VBA Macros to Excel's Workbook Events: Automate Actions on Open, Save, and Sheet Change Triggers
Learn how to wire VBA macros to Excel's built-in workbook events so your spreadsheets automatically respond when users open, save, or change data. This hands-on lesson covers Workbook_Open, BeforeSave, BeforeClose, and Worksheet_Change with real-world examples you can use immediately.
16 min read
Microsoft ExcelFoundation
Freezing Panes, Splitting Windows, and Navigating Large Spreadsheets Efficiently in Excel
Scrolling through thousands of rows without losing context is one of Excel's most underrated skills. This lesson teaches you freeze panes, split windows, and keyboard navigation techniques that let you move through large datasets with precision and confidence.
18 min read
Power AutomateExpert
Automating SharePoint Approval Status Tracking with Power Automate: Updating List Fields, Sending Outcome Notifications, and Archiving Completed Requests in a Single End-to-End Flow
Most approval flows send the request and stop there — leaving list fields stale, requesters in the dark, and history scattered. This end-to-end lesson builds a production-ready Power Automate flow that captures approval outcomes, writes them back to SharePoint, sends tailored notifications, and archives completed records automatically.
26 min read