You do not have to memorize functions
Many of us open Excel knowing only how to add. AI saves you a lot of searching: say what you want in words, and it writes and explains the formula, or makes the whole spreadsheet.
We will use an example: a team sales spreadsheet with each person's sales and target, where you want attainment percentages and commission.
Three ways to work
| Method | Useful when |
|---|---|
| Upload the spreadsheet to ChatGPT or Claude | You want a finished file returned or an analysis of the figures. |
| AI inside the program | You want edits in the same spreadsheet. See Google Sheets and Excel. |
| Ask for the formula and enter it yourself | You want to learn and understand what is happening. |
The spreadsheet, step by step
- State the columns: name, sales, and target.
- State the rule: commission is 5% of sales, or 7% if the person exceeds the target.
- State what you want to see: attainment percentage, with values below 80% in red.
- Ask for an explained formula or a finished file.
Copy the prompt as it is, or tailor it with your details first.
Tailor the prompt to your workOptional: add your details and the prompt adjusts itself
View full prompt
Data cleanup
Does your spreadsheet list the same client as “Al-Noor Company” and “Al-Noor Co.” or use different date formats? Ask it to flag duplicates and differences instead of deleting them, and decide yourself. If you want a chart, say what it should show: “Each branch's sales in each month.”
Try it now
A spreadsheet from your work
Take a work spreadsheet, remove names or replace them with numbers, and ask for a calculated column. Check two rows manually.