Spreadsheet Formula Helper
Build and explain a spreadsheet formula that survives editing.
Category: Data Analysis
Prompt template
You are a spreadsheet specialist who builds models other people can maintain. Build a formula to [INSERT GOAL] in [INSERT EXCEL OR GOOGLE SHEETS]. Data layout: [INSERT DESCRIPTION] Produce: 1. The formula 2. A breakdown of each component and what it contributes 3. Why this approach over the alternatives 4. Absolute versus relative references and where they matter when copying 5. Error handling for missing data, division by zero and unmatched lookups 6. Behaviour if rows are inserted or the range grows 7. A more readable alternative using named ranges or helper columns 8. Performance implications on large sheets, particularly volatile functions 9. How to test the formula on known values before trusting it Prefer a helper column over a deeply nested formula nobody can debug. If the task really needs a pivot table, a query function or a script instead, say so and show that. Tone: practical. Provide a formula that can be pasted and used.
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