excel-workbook-to-python-v2

name	excel-workbook-to-python-v2
description	Convert engineering Excel workbooks to Python code using Claude Desktop cowork on Windows. Proven superior quality vs Linux openpyxl extraction (24 vs 7 functions, 81 vs 53 tests). Validated on Ballymore jumper installation analysis.
trigger	User asks to convert an Excel workbook to Python code, or references workbook conversion (#1934,
effort	medium
model	any
context	7/12/10

Excel Workbook to Python — Claude Cowork on Windows (v2)

Benchmark Results

Metric	Windows Cowork	Linux openpyxl
Functions	24	7
Tests passing	81	53
OrcaFlex breakdown	27-section	Basic counts
COG calcs	Insulated + uninsulated	Not implemented
Architecture docs	ASCII diagram, formula table	Basic README
Code quality	__post_init__, typed	Good but fewer features

Execution Machine

• ws014 (licensed-win-2): Claude Desktop with cowork mode + MCP
• Excel installed, openpyxl and pytest available in Python environment
• client-c repo cloned to ws014

Step-by-Step Workflow

Step 1: Open Excel workbook on Windows

Open the workbook in Excel. Launch Claude Desktop cowork session.

Step 2: Copy workbook path

Locate workbook path in client-c/engineering_workbooks/. Copy full Windows path (e.g., C:\path\to\client-c\engineering_workbooks\ballymore\...).

Step 3: Prompt in Claude Desktop cowork

Convert this workbook to Python:
Workbook: {full Windows path to .xlsx/.xlsm}
Module name: {snake_case_module_name}

RULES:
1. Read EVERY sheet with openpyxl — extract all cell values, formulas,
   cross-sheet refs, constants, and named ranges. Map dependency graph.

2. Create {module_name}.py in the SAME FOLDER as the workbook:
   - Python 3.11+ with dataclasses, typing, math (no external deps)
   - Use __post_init__ for derived fields that auto-compute from inputs
   - Separate dataclass per logical input group (pipe, buoyancy, rigging, etc.)
   - One function per calculation step — at least one per sheet
   - Dedicated function for OrcaFlex section breakdown if workbook has it
   - Dedicated functions for COG (insulated + uninsulated)
   - Dedicated functions for pipe weight estimation
   - Dedicated connector/clamp dataclasses as separate entities
   - Every unit conversion is a named constant (INCH_TO_M = 0.0254, etc.)
   - Every derived value has a cell reference comment: # Source: Sheet!Cell -- description
   - CRITICAL: Every function must return its result (no missing returns!)
   - run_all() pipeline function that returns dict of all results
   - generate_orcaflex_line_sections_yaml() for 27-section line-type breakdown
   - if __name__ == "__main__" block that prints summary

3. Create test_{module_name}.py in the same folder:
   - Use pytest (NOT unittest)
   - One test class per sheet
   - Test every intermediate and final value against spreadsheet formulas
   - Expected values traced to cell references in docstrings
   - Test cross-sheet data flow (e.g. bend_radius from Bare pipe → GA)
   - test_all_sheets_pipeline end-to-end test
   - Target 80+ tests per workbook

4. Create README.md in the same folder:
   - Engineering purpose
   - Architecture data flow diagram (ASCII)
   - Table: Sheet → Function → Dataclass mapping
   - Key formulas with cell references
   - Quick start: how to run module and tests

5. Run: pytest test_{module_name}.py -v — fix ALL failures before finishing

6. CRITICAL PITFALLS — avoid these:
   - ALWAYS return props/results from functions that create them
   - Use os.path.dirname(__file__) for sys.path, NOT hardcoded /tmp
   - Never use unittest — only pytest
   - Handle both dict and dataclass result types

Step 4: Verify on Windows

python -m pytest test_{module_name}.py -v

Step 5: Save workbook to client-c repo

cd client-c
git add engineering_workbooks/path/to/{module_name}.py
git add engineering_workbooks/path/to/test_{module_name}.py
git commit -m "feat: {workbook_name} — cowork conversion, N tests passing"
git push

Step 6: Copy to digitalmodel repo

# On ace-linux-1
cd /mnt/local-analysis/workspace-hub/digitalmodel
# Copy module
cp path/to/{module_name}.py src/digitalmodel/marine_ops/installation/
# Copy tests
cp path/to/test_{module_name}.py tests/marine_ops/installation/
# Convert imports: from {module_name} import → from digitalmodel.marine_ops.installation.{module_name} import
# Update __init__.py exports
git commit -m
git push

Step 7: Create spec.yml

Create docs/domains/orcaflex/subsea/{domain}/spec.yml following the pattern from existing docs/domains/orcaflex/pipeline/installation/ specs.

Critical Pitfalls

1. Missing return statements

Claude sometimes omits return in functions that use __post_init__:

def compute_buoyancy(props=None):
    if props is None:
        props = BuoyancyModuleProperties()
    return props  # <--- EASY TO MISS

Fix: Verify EVERY function returns its result. Check the test file for AttributeError like 'NoneType' object has no attribute — this means a return was missed.

2. sys.path hardcoded to /tmp

Test file may have: sys.path.insert(0, "/tmp") Fix: Change to sys.path.insert(0, os.path.dirname(__file__))

3. unittest vs pytest

Prompt explicitly says pytest. If unittest appears, convert:

• unittest.TestCase → plain class
• setUp(self) → self.setup_method()
• self.assertAlmostEqual(a, b, places=N) → assert a == pytest.approx(b, abs=1e-N)
• self.assertEqual(a, b) → assert a == b
• self.assertTrue(x) → assert x

4. Code in Excel cells

If code ends up as Excel column A text (one line per cell), extract with openpyxl:

import openpyxl
wb = openpyxl.load_workbook("workbook.xlsx")
for sheet_name in ["module.py", "test_module.py", "README.md"]:
    ws = wb[sheet_name]
    lines = [str(row[0].value) if row[0].value else "" for row in ws.iter_rows(max_col=1)]
    open(sheet_name, "w").write("\n".join(lines) + "\n")

5. pyproject.toml conflicts

Run tests with -o addopts= to override repo pytest config that adds coverage.

Conversion Checklist

For each workbook:

• All sheets have at least one function
• OrcaFlex line-type section breakdown (if workbook has it)
• COG calculations (insulated + uninsulated variants)
• Both insulated and uninsulated weight variants
• Connector and clamp properties as separate dataclasses
• Pipe weight estimation per KIT
• All tests pass on both Windows and Linux
• run_all() returns all sections in a dict
• README has data flow diagram with ASCII art
• spec.yml created for digitalmodel integration

Integration Pattern

After conversion:

1. Commit to client-c repo
2. Copy to digitalmodel (update imports)
3. Create/update digitalmodel __init__.py exports
4. Create spec.yml in docs/domains/orcaflex/subsea/
5. Create GitHub issue for tracking

Registry Reference

• Priority list: docs/document-intelligence/EXCEL-CONVERSION-PRIORITY.md
• Workbook registry: docs/document-intelligence/EXCEL-CONVERSION-REGISTRY.md
• Workspace-hub issues: vamseeachanta/workspace-hub#1933-1940
• Digitalmodel issues: vamseeachanta/digitalmodel#471-477