In the pack: ChatGPT, Claude & Gemini Prompts for Data Analysis, Excel & Google Sheets
Untangle Mixed Date and Number Formats
Prompt
Source system or how the file was produced (CSV export, copy from PDF, manual entry): {{SOURCE_OF_DATA}}
Ten example values from the problem column, exactly as they appear: {{EXAMPLE_VALUES}}
Locale or region the data came from: {{LOCALE}}
Tool: {{TOOL}}
Do this:
1. Classify the example values into the formats you see (for example 03/04/2026, 3 Apr 2026, 2026-04-03, 1,234.50, 1.234,50, $1,200, (500), 12%).
2. Point out any value that is ambiguous (03/04 could be 3 April or March 4) and say what extra information would settle it. Don't guess silently.
3. Give conversion steps in my tool: a formula, Power Query step, or short script, whichever fits, handling each format.
4. Provide an error-catching check: a formula that flags any cell that did not convert, so failures can't hide.
5. Warn me about Excel's own automatic conversions on import (gene-like names becoming dates, leading zeros dropped) and how to import safely.
Finish with a test: the converted value I should see for each of my ten examples, and a mark on any that need human judgement.
Customize this prompt
Fill in the variables below to personalize this prompt:
Model Settings
Recommended Models
Temperature
Max Tokens
Additional Notes
About this prompt
“Untangle Mixed Date and Number Formats” is a free prompt for ChatGPT in the Productivity category, 189 words long, added to The Prompt Index on October 28, 2026 by The Prompt Index. Copy it with the button above, paste it into ChatGPT or any other AI chat assistant, and send it.
It has 4 placeholders to fill in first:
{{SOURCE_OF_DATA}}, {{EXAMPLE_VALUES}}, {{LOCALE}}, {{TOOL}}.
Use the “Customize this prompt” fields to personalise it before you copy.
Recommended models: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini.
0 upvotes, sent to an AI tool 0 times, viewed 8 times.
Browse all Productivity prompts, the AI prompt database or use the AI prompt finder to search every prompt.