How To

Practical automation guides

Step-by-step guides for Power BI, Power Automate, Google Sheets, SharePoint, REST APIs, Python and AI-assisted automation — the same tools and patterns I use to solve real business problems.

Power BIPublished

How to Import a REST API into Power BI

Connect Power BI directly to a REST API and load the response as a query.

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Power BIIn progress

How to Authenticate an API in Power BI

Pass API keys and auth headers into Power Query without exposing secrets.

Power BIPlanned

How to Turn JSON API Data into a Power BI Table

Expand nested JSON responses into clean, flat tables in Power Query.

Power BIPlanned

How to Add API Parameters to Power BI

Use query parameters so reports can be filtered without editing M code.

Power BIPlanned

How to Refresh API Data Automatically

Schedule refreshes so Power BI always reflects the latest API data.

Power BIPlanned

How to Build a Power BI Report from an API

Go from a raw API endpoint to a working report end-to-end.

Power BIPlanned

How to Export Power BI Data for Management Reporting

Package Power BI visuals and tables for stakeholders who don't use Power BI.

Google SheetsIn progress

How to Send Automatic Task Reminder Emails from Google Sheets

Trigger reminder emails straight from a spreadsheet using Apps Script.

Google SheetsPlanned

How to Send Licence Expiry Reminders from Google Sheets

Flag upcoming licence and certification expiries automatically.

Google SheetsPlanned

How to Send an Email When a Spreadsheet Date Is Approaching

Compare dates against today and trigger email alerts on a schedule.

Google SheetsPlanned

How to Create a Simple Task Reminder System in Google Sheets

Build a lightweight task tracker with built-in reminders, no add-ons required.

Google SheetsPlanned

How to Automatically Flag Overdue Tasks

Highlight overdue rows automatically with conditional formatting and scripts.

Google SheetsPlanned

How to Create Recurring Reminder Emails with Apps Script

Set up time-driven triggers so reminders repeat without manual effort.

Power AutomatePlanned

How to Send an Email When a SharePoint Task Is Due

Watch a SharePoint list and notify owners before tasks are due.

Power AutomatePlanned

How to Create an Approval Workflow

Route items for sign-off automatically using Power Automate approvals.

Power AutomatePlanned

How to Automatically Save Email Attachments to SharePoint

Capture incoming attachments into a SharePoint library without manual filing.

Power AutomatePlanned

How to Notify Someone When a SharePoint Item Changes

Trigger notifications on create/update/delete for a SharePoint list or library.

Power AutomatePlanned

How to Create a Simple Document Approval Process

Move documents through review and sign-off stages automatically.

Power AutomatePlanned

How to Send Reminders for Overdue SharePoint Tasks

Escalate overdue SharePoint tasks automatically before they're forgotten.

SharePointPlanned

How to Create a Simple SharePoint Task Tracker

Build a lightweight task tracker using a SharePoint list, no code required.

SharePointPlanned

How to Create a SharePoint List for Licences

Track staff licences and certifications with a structured SharePoint list.

SharePointPlanned

How to Add Calculated Expiry Dates

Use calculated columns to derive expiry dates from issue dates automatically.

SharePointPlanned

How to Create a SharePoint Approval Process

Add approval stages directly to SharePoint list items.

SharePointPlanned

How to Connect a SharePoint List to Power BI

Report on live SharePoint list data from inside Power BI.

SharePointPlanned

How to Replace an Excel Process with SharePoint

Migrate a shared spreadsheet process into a more reliable SharePoint list.

PythonPlanned

How to Use Python to Export API Data to Excel

Pull data from a REST API and write it straight into an Excel workbook.

PythonPlanned

How to Automatically Combine Multiple CSV Files

Merge a folder of CSV exports into a single clean dataset.

PythonPlanned

How to Turn API Data into an Excel Report

Format raw API output into a polished, shareable Excel report.

PythonPlanned

How to Automate a Repetitive Reporting Task with Python

Replace a recurring manual report with a short, repeatable script.

PythonPlanned

How to Generate PDF Reports from Data

Turn tabular data into formatted PDF reports on demand.

AI & AutomationPlanned

How to Use AI to Automate a Repetitive Business Process

Use AI to design and scaffold an automation for a manual, repetitive task.

AI & AutomationPlanned

How to Use AI to Write a Power Automate Expression

Get AI to draft and explain tricky Power Automate expressions.

AI & AutomationPlanned

How to Use AI to Create a Python Automation

Prompt AI to scaffold a working Python automation script from a plain description.

AI & AutomationPlanned

How to Turn a Manual Process into an Automation

A general approach for spotting and automating repetitive manual work.

AI & AutomationPlanned

How to Use AI to Document an Existing Process

Use AI to turn a working process into clear, shareable documentation.