Profile a pasted CSV and answer one question with totals you can verify—no invented metrics, and watch the PII.

Top picks

Protocol

1. 1

   Paste or describe the CSV and one question (5 min).

   Include headers, a sample of rows or the full small file, types you know, and exactly one question (e.g. “sum of amount where status=paid”). Remove emails, phones, SSNs, and free-text that names a person if the question does not need them. Say the delimiter if it is not comma.

2. 2

   Lock “verified totals / no invented metrics.”

   Paste the rules first. A number without a row count and filter is not done.

   Copy-paste prompt

   Copy

   Profile my CSV and answer ONE question with verified totals.
   
   Hard rules:
   - Use only columns and rows I pasted. Do not invent a metric, join, or missing value fill.
   - If a column is absent, say so and stop. Do not assume order_id exists.
   - Every number needs: filter, column, operation (SUM/COUNT/AVG), row count used, and exclusions.
   - If I pasted emails, phones, SSNs, or account numbers, redact in your reply and tell me.
   - Prefer showing a Sheets/Excel formula I can recompute.
   
   Output:
   1) Profile: columns, types as seen, row count as pasted, quality issues
   2) Answer to my one question with verification math
   3) Formula I can paste into Sheets
   4) PII note
   5) What I did not ask — do not answer extra questions
   
   Confirm the rules, then wait.

3. 3

   Paste the data and recompute the total yourself.

   If the chat’s number and Sheets disagree, Sheets wins. Then send:

   Generate command

   Copy

   Here is the CSV (or sample + headers) and my one question. Profile, then answer only that question. Show the filter and a formula. Do not invent a column. Redact leftover PII.

4. 4

   Verify in Sheets, then decide.

   Re-run the formula on the real file. If you need a second question, start a new turn with the same rules—do not stack silent extras.

   Second question (same CSV)

   Copy

   Same CSV rules. New question: [PASTE]. Do not reuse a prior total unless you recompute it. Show filter + formula + row count.

When not to

• Do not let the model invent an average, a join, or a column that is not in the header row.
• Do not paste SSNs, full card numbers, or a customer list you would not email to yourself at work.
• A chat total is not an audit. Recompute in Sheets or your warehouse.
• Skip this recipe for a 2-million-row dump in chat. Sample + aggregate upstream first.