Bring Buddy a table or export when you need to understand what it says, compare choices, or make something useful from it. Give him the question behind the numbers, not a recipe for calculations.
Here are my household expenses from the last three months. Which categories changed the most, and can you make a spreadsheet I can use to plan next month?
Ask a question about the numbers
Buddy can work with spreadsheets, CSV exports, and tables in text files. He can total values, compare groups, find patterns, and explain the result in ordinary language. Tell him what units or columns mean when they aren't obvious, and how you want missing or unusual values treated.
He can use his own computer for a larger analysis, several files, or work that needs calculations and changes to the data. You don't have to choose how he does it. If he can't read part of the material, the answer should say what was left out.
Get a result you can keep
Ask for a concise finding, a comparison, a new CSV, or an Excel spreadsheet you can sort and calculate with. Buddy can save a real spreadsheet with separate sheets for distinct tables. He can also make a Word document, PDF, or presentation when the result needs an explanation for someone else.
Asking a question about a table doesn't require changing it. If you want a revised file, tell Buddy what should change and ask for a new copy. Working with files explains how to open a result and find it again.