Field manual

ConsultChimps turns recurring document and data chores into deterministic tools. Use the online tools when a file is already in front of you, the command-line interface when you need an answer now, or the focused TypeScript packages when you are building a repeatable workflow. The browser tools are built from the same operation code as the CLI and libraries; a few defaults differ by design and are called out in each tool's guide.

Built for client work

Inputs are immutable by default, outputs include provenance, and the core operations do not require a hosted service.

Start with a tool

Use the tools online

Work with Excel, PDF, and PowerPoint files in your browser

Consolidate spreadsheets

Combine visible, non-empty worksheets into one auditable Excel table

Merge workbook tabs

Copy every source worksheet into one workbook without flattening the tabs

Split a spreadsheet

Create one Excel workbook for each distinct value in a selected column

Inspect a workbook

Report the worksheets, header rows, Excel Tables, and named ranges a workbook holds

Populate a PowerPoint template

Create one formatted slide for every nonempty Excel record

Split a PDF

Write every page to a predictably named PDF

Merge PDFs

Assemble PDFs in resolved input order

Compose with libraries

Import the file, table, workbook, PowerPoint, and PDF modules directly

The operating model

Every operation returns the same result shape:

interface OperationResult {
  operation: string;
  artifacts: Array<{
    kind: "file" | "directory";
    path: string;
    mediaType?: string;
  }>;
  warnings: string[];
  metrics: Record<string, number>;
}

Normal terminal output turns that result into a detailed explanation for a non-technical reader. It explains what happened, translates counts into plain language, lists every created file, calls out warnings, confirms source-file safety, and suggests what to do next. Automations can use --json to receive the stable result shape directly.

Design principles

Local-first: client files remain on the machine running the operation.
Immutable source documents: operations write new files and leave their inputs unchanged.
Composable modules: each capability is useful without the CLI.
Explicit provenance: consolidated rows can retain file, sheet, and row.
Plain-language guidance: every CLI tool explains its results and next steps without assuming technical knowledge.
Replaceable intelligence: future OCR or AI providers remain optional.