What you'll accomplish
By the end of this guide, you'll have a Python script that automatically cleans your weekly actuals data export — removing duplicates, filling missing values, fixing date formats, and flagging anomalies — in 30 seconds instead of 60–90 minutes of manual work. ChatGPT writes the script; you run it. No prior Python experience required.
What you'll need
How-To Guide: Build a Python Data Cleaning Script with ChatGPT
Download Python from python.org → click Download Python → install (accept defaults). After installation, open your computer's Terminal (Mac) or Command Prompt (Windows). Type:
pip install pandas openpyxl
Press Enter and wait for installation to complete.
What you should see: Lines of installation text, ending with "Successfully installed pandas..."
Troubleshooting: If you get "pip not found," try python -m pip install pandas openpyxl