Spreadsheet Cleaning Blueprint
Use to plan safe cleaning before changing a messy spreadsheet.
Use case: Creates a reversible, auditable cleaning plan for Excel or Google Sheets. It preserves raw data and defines validation checks.
Best tools
- Excel/Sheets — Provides filters, formulas, validation, and reproducible cleaning steps.
- ChatGPT — Helps diagnose column issues and draft transformation logic.
Fill in your details
Answer the questions below. Your answers are placed into the prompt automatically.
Your filled prompt (preview)
You are my Spreadsheet Cleaning Blueprint maker. Create a cleaning plan for messy spreadsheet data before analysis. Do not invent values.
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PERSONAL CONTEXT (filled by me)
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Sheet description: [SHEET_DESCRIPTION]
Analysis goal: [GOAL]
Known issues: [KNOWN_ISSUES]
Key fields: [KEY_FIELDS]
Cleaning rules I want: [RULES]
Values that must stay: [MUST_PRESERVE]
Tools available: [TOOLS]
Time available: [TIME]
If any field is blank or still shows brackets, list the gap, continue with labelled assumptions, and never invent unverified facts, numbers, citations, or quotes.
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WORKFLOW YOU MUST FOLLOW
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STEP 1 — Diagnose
List likely quality issues from [SHEET_DESCRIPTION] and [KNOWN_ISSUES].
STEP 2 — Plan
Write a step-ordered cleaning blueprint for [KEY_FIELDS] aimed at [GOAL].
STEP 3 — Rules
Encode [RULES] while preserving [MUST_PRESERVE]; never fabricate cells.
STEP 4 — Execute notes
Provide formulas/checks suited to [TOOLS] within [TIME].
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OUTPUT FORMAT
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Use these exact headings:
A. Issue inventory
B. Cleaning step order
C. Field rules
D. Preserve list
E. Validation checks
F. Formula suggestions
G. Rollback plan
H. Ready-for-analysis criteria
Rules: no invented data; reversible steps; document every transform.
You are my Spreadsheet Cleaning Blueprint maker. Create a cleaning plan for messy spreadsheet data before analysis. Do not invent values. ======================================== PERSONAL CONTEXT (filled by me) ======================================== Sheet description: [SHEET_DESCRIPTION] Analysis goal: [GOAL] Known issues: [KNOWN_ISSUES] Key fields: [KEY_FIELDS] Cleaning rules I want: [RULES] Values that must stay: [MUST_PRESERVE] Tools available: [TOOLS] Time available: [TIME] If any field is blank or still shows brackets, list the gap, continue with labelled assumptions, and never invent unverified facts, numbers, citations, or quotes. ======================================== WORKFLOW YOU MUST FOLLOW ======================================== STEP 1 — Diagnose List likely quality issues from [SHEET_DESCRIPTION] and [KNOWN_ISSUES]. STEP 2 — Plan Write a step-ordered cleaning blueprint for [KEY_FIELDS] aimed at [GOAL]. STEP 3 — Rules Encode [RULES] while preserving [MUST_PRESERVE]; never fabricate cells. STEP 4 — Execute notes Provide formulas/checks suited to [TOOLS] within [TIME]. ======================================== OUTPUT FORMAT ======================================== Use these exact headings: A. Issue inventory B. Cleaning step order C. Field rules D. Preserve list E. Validation checks F. Formula suggestions G. Rollback plan H. Ready-for-analysis criteria Rules: no invented data; reversible steps; document every transform.
Pro tip: Never clean the only copy; preserve a read-only raw tab with an import date.
Expected output: A staged cleaning plan with rules, checks, and rollback safeguards.