Please note: The algorithm descriptions in English have been automatically translated. Errors may have been introduced in this process. For the original descriptions, go to the Dutch version of the Algorithm Register.
Excel Standardiser
- Publication category
- Other algorithms
- Impact assessment
- Field not filled in.
- Status
- In use
General information
Theme
Begin date
Contact information
Responsible use
Goal and impact
The purpose of the Excel Standardiser is to make dynamic Excel documents static. In this way, an Excel file can then be anonymised by a lawyer in a safe and efficient manner, without losing the functionality of the original file. The Excel Standardiser makes it possible to publish Excel files in their original format with Woo requests, allowing the requester to directly use the data in the file for further processing. This replaces publishing Excel files in PDF format, which resulted in unreadable and unusable large PDFs.
The tool is an improvement in the processing efficiency of Woo requests involving Excel files. As a result, requesters receive more readable and reliable documents in original file format. In addition, lawyers can work more efficiently and pleasantly, resulting in better turnaround times and job satisfaction.
Considerations
Deploying the Excel Standardiser significantly reduces the time required to process Excel documents, increasing efficiency and improving the quality of delivered documents. The risk of accidentally releasing sensitive information is reduced. Moreover, requesters often expect their request to be published in native format, which is made possible by using the Excel Standardiser.
Human intervention
Lawyers check the output before the file is further processed for manual anonymisation. The algorithm only performs the transformation from dynamic to static, the content assessment remains entirely with the staff.
Risk management
Possible loss of functionality in complex Excel files, potential incompatibility with certain Excel functions, risk of incomplete transformation leaving dynamic elements still present. The lawyer interacts with the Excel after using the tool, so inconsistencies are noticed and can be adjusted manually if necessary.
Legal basis
Open Government Act
Links to legal bases
Operations
Data
All kinds of Excel files to be made public under the Open Government Act.
Technical design
The Excel Standardiser is a Python tool developed to convert dynamic content in Excel files to static content. Lawyers have to handle thousands of Excel documents that were converted to PDF before using this tool, which resulted in poorly readable documents. There was a great desire to be able to offer native files with requests, but making redactions in Excel is difficult because of many dependencies such as sequential calculations that can be disrupted if a cell is modified. For some elements, such as pivot tables, cells cannot be modified at all. The Excel Standardiser solves this problem by making all dynamic content static, making it safe to anonymise in the original Excel files without disrupting functionality. The tool can handle both individual files and batches.
External provider
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