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Using Monkey Tools

Author: Ken Puls
(530 Students Trained)

Monkey Tools is an Excel add-in containing a set of tools to help you build better Excel solutions more quickly and follow data modeling best practices. The philosophy of Monkey Tools is simple: Build better, faster. It is targeted at modelers and analysts who work primarily in Excel, but is also useful for those who push their models into Power BI. This free course will explain how to unleash our army of monkeys and put them to work for you!

Duration:
5h 40m
Tools:
  • Excel
  • Power BI
Skills:
  • Formulas
  • Data Preparation
  • Data Analysis
  • Data Modeling

What you'll learn?

  • How to acquire, install and activate Monkey Tools
  • Automatically injecting useful queries, formulas, LAMBDAs and measures into your workbook
  • Writing DAX measures, from simple aggregations to complex patterns
  • Creating pivots and filters for your data model
  • Importing and exporting your data models, and restoring a model from backup
  • Identifying where queries load change multiple query load destinations at once
  • Reviewing, editing, and tracing relationships in you M code and DAX
  • Timing and comparing query refreshes, including the effects of privacy settings
  • Gathering insights into the quality of your data model, including: memory usage, unused items, key statistics, and more!
Course

Using Monkey Tools

FREE
  • 5h 40m of training content
  • 13 modules
  • Downloadable files and Handouts
  • Certificate of Completion

Using Monkey Tools

FREE

Check our Group Discounts here!

Course Description

Monkey Tools is an Excel add-in developed by Ken Puls. It contains a set of tools to help you build better data models more quickly and follow data modeling best practices.

The philosophy of Monkey Tools is simple: Build better, faster. It is targeted at modelers and analysts who work primarily in Excel, but is also useful for those who push their models into Power BI.

Our aim is to provide you with a good set of tools that help you, as a business intelligence author to:

  • Build models more rapidly
  • Follow recommended practices
  • Export model data to CSV
  • Document your work
  • Audit files you receive
  • Import Power BI files to Excel

Monkey Tools adds a broad set of new features specifically for working with Power Query and the Data Model, and is divided into two general collections: Monkeys and Sleuths. Located on their own dedicated Monkey Tools ribbon tab, our team of Monkeys make things happen, and the Sleuths figure out what has happened.

In this free course, Ken Puls demonstrates how the various Monkeys and Sleuths work, so you can get the most from these amazing features.

Who this course is for?

  • Anyone who wants to learn more about the various features Monkey Tools
  • Every data modeler and data analyst working in Excel, and those who push their models to Power BI

Reviews

Using Monkey Tools

Average Rating

4.87 / 5

Rated 4.9 out of 5
Bryon Smedley
Bryon Smedley
November 27, 2024
Great exploration of the features. I learned in 1 day what would have taken me 3 months of general exploration to learn. Can't wait to start putting it to use.
Rodger Moran
Rodger Moran
July 18, 2024
I love Ken's attention to detail, but always being described within a larger context. I love how he will periodically use data that he knows will create an error, so that he can show us how he fixes it. I love Ken's self-effacing demeanor and his unabashed disclosure that his original intent for these Monkey tools were for himself first, and then us. You keep that up, Ken!!! I love that there are options for close captioning, and speed control.
Valerie Strafe
Valerie Strafe
February 18, 2026
I loved the direct, clear examples, well separated into what each video will show so I can come back and see it again if I forgot how to do something.
Kevin Duke
Kevin Duke
September 19, 2025
I found the approach of taking each feature and explaining everything about it very helpful. It allowed me to quickly learn whether this tool would be useful for me (and my organization) or not. I feel that I have walked away with a great understanding of all the features and how they can be used.
Lance M.
Lance M.
March 9, 2025
The course is comprehensive, well paced, and well produced. Features are meticulously explained and not oversold. Makes it easy to justify a Pro license.
Matthew K.
Matthew K.
September 24, 2025
I liked the explaining of the features - straightforward.
John Garnier
John Garnier
March 1, 2025
Honestly - it's just so impressive. So many moments of "Wow", or "That's Awesome". Favorite sections was the Biblio Monkey and the slowly changing dimension.
Lynn Mathieson
Lynn Mathieson
December 30, 2024
Good examples, good chronology and knowledgeable explanations. Ken is good at breaking things down into easy to understand steps. Clearly, shows in-depth knowledge of the subject.
Ria M.
Ria M.
November 10, 2024
This course provided a deep dive into what at first looked like a simple tool, had I known that Monkey Tools had such capability I would have saved myself loads of time! Ken, you have developed an excellent add-in which will be very useful. Thank you!
Heather R.
Heather R.
September 20, 2024
I started using Monkey Tools as a trial to understand a Power Query report from a user no longer with our company. I fell in love and convinced my manager to let me keep it. But until this course, there were items that I just didn't use - because I didn't fully know HOW. Thank you, you've made an already great tool even better by providing this training all in one place!
C.W.
C.W.
August 30, 2024
Good overview of what Monkey Tools does. Having this course available was what finally convinced me to install the free version, and I appreciate having a complete idea of exactly what the features I could get if I went up to the Pro version. However, for monkeys that work a bit for the free version, with more features for the pro version, I was sometimes a bit confused about exactly what the free version does.
T. M.
T. M.
August 26, 2024
I love that the course (finally :-)) ) is provided. Great explanations. Extraordinary tool... I still learned new stuff.
Stuart A.
Stuart A.
August 25, 2024
Well organized topics with short focused lessons. Easy to follow examples. Good speed / tempo. Good video.
Dan M.
Dan M.
July 30, 2024
Fantastic tools; wish I had this available last week. Very happy you built the course: I have had Monkey Tools for some time but prefer to watch a video and then determine which features are important to me. The folder and file path parameters automation will save me much time. Ken, I am truly amazed at your skills; thanks for sharing all of your hard work!
Misca Mustonen
Misca Mustonen
July 9, 2024
Lots of information in an easy to digest format. The Using Monkey Tools course was super useful. Thank you for making it!

Course Update Log

First release of the course to the Skillwave Training site.

Course Formats

On Demand
This is an on-demand course, delivered via pre-recorded video modules that you can consume at your own pace. It includes all required sample files.

Course Content

Welcome to the Course! 2 Lessons
Module Content
0% Complete 0/2 Steps
Measure Monkeys 3 Lessons
Pivots & Filters Monkeys 3 Lessons
Model Sleuths 5 Lessons
Connection Monkeys 1 Lesson
Module Content
0% Complete 0/1 Steps
Options Monkey 1 Lesson
Module Content
0% Complete 0/1 Steps
Help Monkeys 4 Lessons
Rate the Course 1 Lesson
Module Content
0% Complete 0/1 Steps

About the author

Ken Puls

Ken Puls

Microsoft MVP, FCPA, FCMA
Ken Puls is one of the founding partners of Skillwave.Training, the President and Chief Training Officer of Excelguru Consulting Inc. in Canada, and the developer of the Monkey Tools Excel Add-in. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Professional Accountant, blogger, author, and trainer with over 30 years of business and IT experience. His passion lies in exploring tools to turn data into information, and teaching others how to use them. Ken is a Microsoft MVP and a leading expert in Excel, Power Query, and Power BI.

FAQs

How long do I have access to this course?

You have unlimited access to this course. Unlike our other courses, it is not built on a subscription basis so there is no renewal or expiry date.

How do I access the course materials? Are they downloadable?

The videos are streamed on-demand and may be watched as often as you like. However, they are not downloadable. The example files and handouts for each lesson are downloadable.

Where are the course videos hosted?

All the videos for the course are hosted on Vimeo. Please note that some networks block access to Vimeo, in which case the videos will not be watchable. You may want to double-check that your network allows access to Vimeo before registering in the Academy, to ensure that you will be able to see the videos.

Where do I get a Monkey Tools license?

Go to https://monkeytools.ca and select the license option you prefer.

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