Check a generated spreadsheet before sharing it

A workbook can look polished while its formulas, units or reporting period are wrong. Review the data contract and calculations before judging the formatting.

Work through these checks

1. Source

record the exact input files and period. Record the evidence or the unresolved question before moving on.

2. Schema

check required columns and identifier types. Record the evidence or the unresolved question before moving on.

3. Calculations

recompute representative totals independently. Record the evidence or the unresolved question before moving on.

4. Exceptions

inspect missing, rejected and duplicate records. Record the evidence or the unresolved question before moving on.

5. Presentation

open the workbook and check labels and formula results. Record the evidence or the unresolved question before moving on.

Put the checklist to work

Choose one ordinary row, one boundary case and one rejected record for a quick trace from source to final summary.

Keep the checklist beside the task brief and the actual output. Mark a check complete only after inspecting the relevant file, setting or event. If a required check cannot run in the current environment, describe that gap and choose an appropriate next review rather than substituting a confident summary.

A boundary to remember

Do not call formulas recalculated if the generating library only wrote formula text.

For the corresponding controls and troubleshooting steps, read the desktop help guide. These checks are a practical review aid; adapt them to the specific source material and intended use of your deliverable.