Spreadsheet Formula Repair Card

Problem: scattered formula errors

When VLOOKUP returns #N/A, SUMIF returns 0, or =A2+B2 fails with #VALUE! because a number is stored as text, the missing piece is often not a function name but a verifiable repair basis. This skill turns app, formula, error, expected result, headers, row numbers, ranges, separators, and fill direction into a repair card.

Workflow: diagnose, then produce paste-ready output

It first confirms the spreadsheet dialect, such as Excel, Google Sheets, or Numbers. Then it classifies likely issues, including syntax, range shape, absolute or relative references, lookup mismatch, array spill, date or text coercion, and circular references. It points to the failing fragment, provides one primary corrected formula and an optional alternate when useful, adds two to five test cases with inputs, expected outputs, and pass conditions, and notes paste location, copy-down or copy-across safety, locked references, and a short explanation suitable for a ticket or teammate message.

Boundaries and cautions

It relies only on the formula and context supplied by the user and does not pretend to inspect the workbook unless content is provided. It should not request passwords, hidden sheets, credentials, or sensitive datasets; use anonymized sample rows when real data is sensitive. Unavailable column names, ranges, or sample values must be marked as assumptions. Executable scripts and macros are not the primary answer, and the user should test on a copy before replacing formulas in production, finance, legal, medical, payroll, inventory, or other high-impact files.