| name | csv-column-renamer |
| description | Rename one or more columns in a CSV file in place or to a new path, keeping row order and cell values untouched. Use when the user points at a specific CSV (by path, filename, or pasted content) and asks to rename / relabel / change the header of one or more columns, including requests like "change the column `foo` to `bar`", "the header says revenue but should say sales", or "make these column names snake_case". Do NOT trigger for general CSV editing (row filtering, deduplication, type coercion), for creating a new CSV, for Excel `.xlsx` files, or when the user has not identified which column to rename. |
CSV Column Renamer
When to use
Trigger only when all three are true:
- The user has identified a specific CSV file (path, filename, or pasted content).
- The user wants to change one or more column names, not cell contents.
- The format is CSV (not
.xlsx, not a database table).
If the user wants to filter rows, change values, or convert types, decline and suggest a different tool.
Workflow
- Confirm the target file path and the exact old → new column mappings. If any mapping is ambiguous (e.g. two columns both called
id), ask exactly once which one they mean.
- Read the file's header row only.
- Verify every "old name" exists in the header. If any is missing, stop and list the actual header so the user can correct the mapping.
- Produce the new header by substituting names positionally; do not reorder columns.
- Write the output:
- If the user said "in place", overwrite the original file.
- Otherwise, write to the path the user specified, or to
<original>.renamed.csv if unspecified.
- Report the diff:
old_header → new_header and the output path.
Output format
Always return:
Renamed <N> column(s) in <path>:
<old_1> → <new_1>
<old_2> → <new_2>
...
Output: <output_path>
Failure handling
- Missing old column name → stop, print actual header, ask for correction.
- File not found → stop, ask for the correct path.
- File is
.xlsx or has no header row → decline with one-line reason.
- Ambiguous duplicate header → ask which occurrence to rename.
Safety
- Never modify cell data.
- Never reorder columns.
- When overwriting in place, keep a
.bak copy next to the original.
