excel-wps-table-diagnosis

# 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. 2. 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. 3. 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. 4. 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. 5. 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.