What can ChatGPT do with Excel?
ChatGPT can help explain formulas, turn a plain-English requirement into an Excel formula, troubleshoot errors, suggest spreadsheet structures and help analyze pasted tables. OpenAI's current guidance also emphasizes using ChatGPT for writing, problem solving and working with files.
1. Ask for a formula in plain English
Describe the columns, the result you need and a small example. Ask for the formula and an explanation of each part. Then test it against your own data.
2. Debug an Excel formula
Paste the formula and explain the expected result. Include a few sample rows. Ask ChatGPT to identify assumptions and provide a corrected formula.
3. Clean spreadsheet data
Ask for formulas or steps to standardize names, remove extra spaces, split text, identify duplicates or normalize dates. Keep sensitive information out of the chat unless you understand the service's data controls.
4. Build a report
Give ChatGPT the column meanings and describe the report you need. It can suggest formulas, pivot-table layouts and charts.
5. Verify before using
AI-generated formulas can be wrong. Test them on known examples and inspect references, dates, blank cells and edge cases.
Useful prompt
Prompt: Explain how to calculate [result] from columns [A, B, C]. Give me an Excel formula, explain it step by step, and test it against these sample rows: [small sample].
Bottom line
ChatGPT is most useful as an Excel tutor and troubleshooting assistant. Treat its formulas as suggestions that need verification, especially for financial or business spreadsheets.