Inspiration
Spreadsheets are widely used for financial calculations, business reports, and data analysis, but a single incorrect formula or broken cell reference can lead to costly mistakes. FixCell — The Spreadsheet Pathologist was inspired by the need to detect these hidden errors before they affect important decisions.
What it does
FixCell analyses Excel spreadsheets to identify suspicious formulas, inconsistent ranges, broken references, and potentially problematic hardcoded values. It explains detected issues and suggests possible corrections, allowing users to review changes before applying them.
How we built it
We designed FixCell around automated spreadsheet analysis, rule-based anomaly detection, and formula validation. The system processes spreadsheet data, identifies suspicious patterns, and presents findings with explanations and proposed fixes through a user-friendly interface.
Challenges we ran into
One major challenge is distinguishing genuine errors from intentional spreadsheet logic. Formulas can be complex, and unusual patterns do not always indicate mistakes. We focused on making findings understandable and keeping users in control of corrections rather than blindly changing their data.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
We developed the concept of a spreadsheet-focused diagnostic tool that goes beyond basic error messages. FixCell aims to make spreadsheet auditing more accessible by highlighting potential problems, explaining why they matter, and helping users investigate them systematically.
What we learned
We learned that effective automation requires more than detecting anomalies. A useful tool must provide understandable evidence, minimise false positives, and validate proposed changes. We also recognised the importance of building trust through transparent explanations and user-approved corrections.
What's next for FixCell--The Spreadsheet Pathologist
Our next steps include expanding formula analysis, improving detection of silent calculation errors, adding visual explanations of cell dependencies, supporting larger datasets, and introducing AI-assisted recommendations with stronger validation. Our long-term goal is to make spreadsheet auditing faster, safer, and more reliable for everyone.
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