Let AI write your  Prompt with you.

You just provide the context,  AI completes the prompt &  builds the spreadsheet.

This system uses a two-step workflow to make AI much more reliable for Excel tasks.

Instead of asking AI for a formula immediately, you first provide the real-world context: the goal of the spreadsheet, your Excel version, and the sheets and columns you already have. Then you ask the AI to complete the prompt structure and solve the task using a safe, step-by-step modelling process.

This approach reduces hidden assumptions, forces the AI to think about the data before writing formulas, and includes built-in verification so errors don’t go unnoticed.

In short: you provide the context , AI provides the structure and solution . Finally  you implement and verify in Excel.

  1. Fill in the required parts of the template  below – coloured in red.
  2. Then copy and paste all of the template into your AI model
  3. Add this text to complete the prompt.

“Using the Excel prompt template above, complete any missing sections (assumptions, risks, data relationships, constraints, and verification requirements). Then solve the Excel task using this structure: restate the problem → identify table grain and relationships → confirm the current layout and suggest minimal improvements → explain the logic in plain English → choose the safest Excel approach for my version → provide exact formulas with placement and copy-down rules → include verification with two cross-checks, one spot-check example, and one common failure case. Clearly state assumptions and respect all constraints”

Free Downloads:

  • Download our Excel Cheatsheet. Download
  • Download Excel AI Template PDF Format.  Download
  • Download Template In Word Format. Download

The Prompt Template For Excel Tasks.

Only fill the sections in red, AI can complete the rest.

 

1) Goal (business outcome, not a formula):

  • I am using Excel to: ________________________________
  • Success looks like : ______________________________
  • Current issue / risk: ________________________________

2) Existing workbook (what you already have):

  • Sheets/tables involved: ______________________________
  • Exact column headers (copy/paste): ____________________
  • What one row represents (if known): ___________________
  • Allowed changes:
    ☐ add helper columns ☐ add summary table ☐ add new sheet ☐ restructure table ☐ must keep layout unchanged

3) Constraints :

  • Excel version:
  • Allowed functions only: _______________________________
  • Avoid: ☐ VBA ☐ Power Query ☐ volatile functions ☐ other: ______
  • Data size (approx rows): ______________________________

4) Reader level (optional but helpful):

  • Primary reader: ☐ beginner ☐ intermediate ☐ advanced
  • Must be: ☐ easy to explain ☐ easy to audit ☐ easy to maintain ☐ hard to break
  1. B) AI MUST DO (before formulas)

Step Back (Mandatory):

  1. Restate the problem in plain English
  2. Identify the grain of each table (what one row means)
  3. Describe relationships and risks (keys, duplicates, date logic, missing data)
  4. List assumptions (clearly labelled)

(If anything critical is ambiguous, ask up to 3 questions; otherwise proceed with stated assumptions.)

  1. C) AI MUST FOLLOW (solution order)

Task Scaffold (Mandatory):

Step 1 — Fit-to-Workbook Data Structure

  • Confirm the current layout from the user
  • Recommend minimal changes (don’t redesign unless allowed)
  • Propose helper columns / summary tables only if needed

Step 2 — Rules / Logic (No Excel Yet)

  • Explain the calculation rules in plain English

Step 3 — Choose One Excel Approach

  • Pick the safest method for the user’s Excel version
  • Prefer auditability (helper columns over giant formulas)

Step 4 — Exact Formulas

  • Provide exact formulas, placement, and copy-down rules
  • Use Tables/structured references if appropriate and allowed

Step 5 — Verification (Mandatory)
Include:

  • 2 cross-checks
  • 1 spot-check example
  • 1 common failure case + how to detect it
    State what result would indicate an error.
  1. D) OUTPUT FORMAT (Non-Negotiable)

Return the answer exactly in this structure:

  1. Summary of logic
  2. Current layout + recommended layout (headers + meaning)
  3. Formulas (exact Excel syntax)
  4. Where each formula goes
  5. Copy/fill instructions and how to extend safely
  6. Verification checks + what “wrong” looks like
  7. Assumptions + constraints checklist
  1. E) OPTIONAL: BRANCH (only if real trade-offs exist)

If more than one approach is genuinely viable (e.g., Pivot vs formulas), present 2 options max, compare by:

  • correctness risk
  • auditability
  • maintainability
    Recommend one.
  1. F) STYLE RULES
  • Calm, instructional tone
  • No unexplained jumps
  • Reliability over elegance
  • Prefer beginner-safe structure unless user asks for advanced
  1. G) FINAL SELF-CHECK (AI)

Before finalising:

  • confirm constraints respected
  • restate the result in one sentence
  • repeat assumptions briefly

Helper Note for Users.

Tip: If you don’t know the “grain”, write “Not sure” — AI must infer it and state assumptions.

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