At Microsoft's Ignite 2017 conference today, the company announced a range of new features that will be coming to its Excel application, such as JavaScript Custom Functions and more.

Let’s begin with a rather silly example that sets a baseline. Consider a simple function called parrot that takes an argument and returns the argument.

Among the new features is support for Azure Machine Learning and custom JavaScript functions to Excel to extend its capabilities. Excel now also allows Power BI developers to bring the custom ...