Inherited a Broken Sheet? Rescue It.
Inspect → diagnose → repair → document. FoundryOps fixes #REF! errors, traces broken formulas, and generates documentation so you understand what the sheet does and can trust it again.
Inputs
- Google Sheet URL (the broken one)
- Context about what it should do (optional)
Outputs
- Repaired sheet with zero errors
- Version snapshot for rollback
- Documentation explaining what it does
The Problem
You just inherited a spreadsheet from someone who left. It is covered in errors and nobody knows what it does.
You inherited a sheet with no documentation
Your predecessor left and nobody knows what this spreadsheet does, where the data comes from, or why certain formulas exist.
#REF! errors everywhere
Someone deleted a column or renamed a tab, and now half the formulas are broken. You have no idea which ones matter.
Circular references and mystery formulas
The sheet has complex formula chains that reference each other. Changing one cell breaks five others.
No version history you can trust
You are afraid to make changes because you cannot undo them. There is no audit trail for what happened or why.
How FoundryOps Solves It
A complete workflow from broken sheet to documented, trusted tool.
Inspect the Sheet
FoundryOps analyzes the structure: tabs, formulas, data flow, and named ranges. You get a clear picture of what the sheet is supposed to do.
Diagnose Errors
Identify all #REF!, #NAME?, and circular reference errors. FoundryOps traces each broken formula back to its root cause.
Repair Broken References
Fix broken formulas automatically. FoundryOps remaps deleted columns, corrects unquoted sheet names, and resolves dead references.
Snapshot for Safety
Create a versioned backup before and after repairs. If anything goes wrong, you can roll back instantly.
Generate Documentation
Publish a "How This Sheet Works" guide: what it does, what inputs it expects, and how to use it correctly. No more tribal knowledge.
Before vs. After
Without FoundryOps
- Hours spent tracing formulas by hand
- No idea which errors matter or what they affect
- Afraid to make changes without breaking more things
- Tribal knowledge stays in one person's head
With FoundryOps
- 30 minutes from broken to repaired
- Every error traced to its root cause
- Snapshot before changes — instant rollback
- Documentation published for the whole team
Two Ways to Execute
Choose the execution path that fits your workflow.
Google Sheets Add-on
Interactive, guided workflow inside your spreadsheet. Best for quick repairs and learning what the sheet does.
- Lint formulas and see errors in sidebar
- One-click repair for common issues
- Create snapshots before changes
Deal Desk
Policy-controlled close certification and deal support. Also powers deep sheet analysis and documentation via the Gremlin CLI.
- Deep formula tracing with dependency graphs
- Auto-generate documentation to Notion
- Batch repair complex multi-tab sheets
Key Capabilities Used
This workflow combines multiple FoundryOps features.
Formula Linting
FoundryOps scans every formula for errors, broken references, and potential issues before they cause problems.
Learn moreDependency Tracing
FoundryOps traces formula dependencies upstream and downstream to find root causes and impact.
Learn moreSnapshot & Rollback
FoundryOps creates versioned snapshots so you can roll back instantly if a repair causes unexpected behavior.
Learn moreFrequently Asked Questions
What types of errors can FoundryOps fix?
FoundryOps repairs #REF! errors (broken references), unquoted sheet names, dead references to deleted columns, and identifies circular references. It traces formula dependencies to find the root cause of each error.
Will this break my existing formulas?
FoundryOps creates a snapshot before making any changes. If a repair causes unexpected behavior, you can roll back to the pre-repair state instantly.
Can I understand what the sheet does before fixing it?
Yes. FoundryOps inspects the sheet first and explains its structure: tabs, formulas, data flow, and purpose. You understand what it does before deciding what to fix.
How does documentation get generated?
FoundryOps analyzes the sheet structure and generates a documentation page explaining what the sheet does, what inputs it expects, and how to use it. This can be published to Notion or exported as markdown.
Do I need to know the Gremlin CLI?
No. For basic linting and repair, the Google Sheets Add-on handles everything interactively. For deeper inspection or automated documentation, you can use the Gremlin CLI with natural language prompts — Claude Code figures out the commands.
Ready to rescue your broken sheet?
Install FoundryOps and turn that inherited mess into a documented, trustworthy tool.
Free tier includes 5,000 rows/month. Linting and repair are always free.