How to Use the Automatic Data Type Tool in Microsoft Excel May 11, 2021, 10:24 am EDT | 3 min read Add details to your Microsoft Excel spreadsheets for cities, foods, music, plants, and more. With the data type tool, there’s no need to open your web browser. Just type in a keyword and go! When Microsoft implemented its data type tool in Excel, we showed you just how easy it is to use. You could gather geographical data or add stock details to your sheets without scouring the internet. But the tool goes beyond its early stages of a few data types to over a dozen now, including an automatic data detector.