How do you launch Excel from SQL Server Management Studio?

I am using SQL Server Management Studio Version 17.1. You may user another version.

Launch SSMS 17.1

Click Tools | External Tools...

External Tools window is displayed as shown.

Replace the Title with a name of your own, herein Excel Application. The menu contents also
changes to the one you provided, herein Excel Application.

You need to provide the location of the executable in the Command box. In the present case the
executable is here:

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\EXCEL.EXE"

Now you External Tools window should appear as shown.

Click OK.

Now you will find 'Excel Application' as shown in the Tools menu.

Now when you click this menu item, Excel Application is launched.

Does Stock Analysis with Microsoft Excel work?

This appears to be a new thing that Excel is supposed to do. It is really
Business Analysis, and I was just curious to see how much intelligence can
be gathered and how interactive the application. It uses the GET and TRANSFORM
features of EXCEL. Get started with Power Pivot to reap the benefits.

This program came with my Office 365 subscription and I was encouraged to
take the tour. Here are some images of my tour. It only worked partially. When
I added a third stock symbol, it could not come up with an anticipated response.
I think it is still in the works! More can be found on Excel Team blog.

This is what you would see after launching EXCEL2016 from its shortcut.

Click on Stock Analysis

Click Create.

 Click My Stock Analysis. It comes up with a two default stocks, their performance over a number of years as well as a chart. The application is supposed to allow you enter one more NASDAQ stock.

 I tried a couple of them like XOM, AAPL, GOOGL, etc. It asks for privacy information as shown in the next. For both option choose, PUBLIC and it should allow the third stock to enter

I could change the default stocks but the third stock did not work as expected. The charts, I suppose is no more relevant.

As I said earlier, it is still in works. It could become a great tool in the future.