Inkwell Data / Transform & recipes
Transform columns & save recipes
Build up a list of steps, like split Name into First and Last, fix the dates, drop the columns you don’t need. Every step shows its effect instantly, and the whole list can be saved and re-run on next month’s export in one click.
How it works
Add a file, then add steps from the menu: rename, remove, keep and reorder columns; find & replace; split or combine columns; change case; standardize dates to one format; clean up numbers like “$1,200.50” or “(300)”; fill blanks; filter and sort rows; add columns; remove duplicates.
Steps run top to bottom and the preview updates as you go. You can edit, reorder or switch off any step. Steps refer to columns by name, so they keep working when next month’s file has the columns in a different order.
Click Save recipe to keep the steps in this browser, or Export recipe file to keep a copy or send it to a colleague. Next time, add the new file, pick the recipe, and download.
Questions
Are my files uploaded anywhere?
No. Your file is read and transformed by your own browser. Recipes are saved in this browser only, unless you export them as a file.
What is a recipe?
A saved list of steps. Load it on a new file and every step re-runs automatically, so a monthly cleanup takes one click instead of twenty.
What happens if next month’s file has different columns?
Steps find columns by name, ignoring upper/lower case. If a column is missing, that step is flagged and skipped and the rest still run, so you can fix just that one step.
Which date formats can it read?
Most common ones: 2026-03-14, 3/14/2026, 14/03/2026, 14 Mar 2026, March 14, 2026, 20260314 and Excel date serial numbers. You choose whether ambiguous dates like 03/04/2026 are month-first or day-first.
Can I share a recipe with a colleague?
Yes. Use Export recipe file to download it, and they can load it with Import recipe file. The recipe holds only the steps, never your data.