Excel/WPS Table Diagnosis#

Use this skill when a spreadsheet task should start with the table itself, not with a guess at the formula.

Core Approach#

1. Inspect the input.

• Identify whether the user provided headers, sample rows, CSV content, or only a task description.
• If the structure is unclear, ask for the smallest missing detail that would change the recommendation.

1. Diagnose the table.

• Identify likely column types such as IDs, dates, amounts, names, status fields, phone numbers, or free text.
• Look for blanks, duplicates, mixed formats, unstable lookup keys, and columns that should be cleaned before formulas are applied.

1. Choose the most practical path.

• Prefer simple formulas when they are stable and readable.
• Prefer Excel and WPS compatible approaches over newer functions with weaker compatibility.
• Prefer helper columns when a single long formula would be fragile.
• Recommend built-in spreadsheet tools when they are a better fit than formulas.

1. Present a clear recommendation.

• State what the table appears to contain.
• State what should be done first.
• Recommend the formula or workflow.
• Mention compatibility notes for Excel and WPS.
• Provide a fallback when the preferred formula may not work everywhere.

1. Pause before execution.

• If the next step would directly modify a workbook, add helper columns, rewrite formulas, or otherwise move from diagnosis into execution, ask for confirmation first.
• Once the user agrees, continue with the concrete formulas, helper columns, or execution steps instead of repeating the analysis.
• If the scope is already clear, finish the approved execution step before suggesting extra optional follow-up work.

Priorities#

• Diagnose before suggesting formulas.
• Prefer maintainability over cleverness.
• Treat compatibility as an early constraint.
• Do not force everything into one formula.
• Do not make direct spreadsheet changes without user confirmation.

Output Shape#

Keep the response close to this shape:

Diagnosis#

• what the table likely contains
• what looks inconsistent or risky

Recommendation#

• what to do first
• which formula or method to use

Execution#

• what can be done immediately after approval
• which formulas, helper columns, or spreadsheet steps should be applied

Compatibility#

• whether it should work in Excel
• whether it should work in WPS
• what fallback to use if needed

Notes#

• where to place the formula
• whether helper columns or built-in tools would be easier

References#

• Read WORKFLOW.md for the longer working notes.
• Read docs/use-cases.md for common task shapes.
• Read examples/README.md for example inputs and outputs.