office-spreadsheet-workflow

name

office-spreadsheet-workflow

description

Workflow guidance for Codex agents creating, editing, analyzing, visualizing, validating, or formatting Microsoft Excel, XLSX, CSV, TSV, Office spreadsheet, and Google Sheets-targeted files through available spreadsheet tools or MCP/plugin integrations. Use for Excel models, tables, dashboards, formulas, charts, data cleaning, research data workbooks, financial models, trackers, and Chinese requests about Excel, xlsx, biaoge, shuju fenxi, gongshi, or tubiao.

Office Spreadsheet Workflow

Purpose

Use this skill to guide spreadsheet work through available Excel-compatible tools, Office MCP servers, spreadsheet plugins, or local artifact builders. It does not include proprietary MCP code.

First Check

Before changing a workbook:

• Identify the source format: .xlsx, .xls, .csv, .tsv, Google Sheets, or generated workbook.
• Determine whether formulas, charts, pivots, validation rules, comments, or macros matter.
• Preserve existing formulas and formatting unless the user asks for a rebuild.
• Decide whether the task needs calculation verification.

Workflow

1. Understand the workbook goal.

   • Data entry, cleaning, analysis, dashboard, model, tracker, chart pack, or template.

2. Design workbook structure.

   • Put summary or dashboard sheets first.
   • Keep source data, assumptions, calculations, checks, and outputs separated for nontrivial models.
   • Use tables, named ranges, and consistent formatting where useful.

3. Build or edit.

   • Prefer available Office/MCP/plugin tools.
   • Keep formulas auditable and editable.
   • Avoid hardcoding calculated values unless the user explicitly wants static output.

4. Validate.

   • Check formula errors, missing references, inconsistent ranges, and obvious outliers.
   • Verify charts point to the intended data.
   • For analytical workbooks, add checks or reconciliation rows when helpful.

5. Deliver.

   • Export the final .xlsx or target format.
   • Summarize what changed and note any assumptions.

Common Tasks

• Clean and format raw CSV data into an Excel workbook.
• Build a research-data workbook with formulas and charts.
• Create a KPI dashboard.
• Add formulas, conditional formatting, dropdowns, or charts.
• Audit formulas and highlight likely issues.
• Convert Excel-ready output to Google Sheets when supported.

Quality Checklist

• Formulas calculate correctly and use the intended ranges.
• Formatting improves readability without hiding data.
• Charts are labeled and not misleading.
• Workbook structure is understandable to another person.
• Source data and derived calculations are distinguishable.
• No accidental overwrite of user data.