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This article describes the RPA Excel functionality to smart fill using AI-powered column mapping.
For a full list of available functions, please read EXCEL functions.
Description
Intelligently paste data from memory into a sheet, automatically mapping columns even when names don't match exactly. Takes data stored in a variable (typically from Copy rows or Extract data) and pastes it into the target sheet. First attempts exact case-insensitive matching, then uses AI to resolve remaining columns by recognizing abbreviations, synonyms, different wording, and typos.
Setting it up
To use the EXCEL Smart fill function, follow these instructions:
{{popups:rpas/add:action=excel-smart-fill}}
Once on a process map:
- Navigate to the process where you would like to add the EXCEL Smart fill function
- Click on the green button's drop-down (right side of the green button labelled "Process")
- On the menu that appears, click on the "+ Activity" item
- From here you can select the EXCEL Smart fill option
- Click "Add" once you are done
Input parameters
| Parameter | Required | Type | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| File path | Yes | Text | – | Full path to the Excel file. |
| Sheet | Yes | Text | – | The target sheet to paste data into. |
| Variable | Yes | Text | – | The variable containing the source data (from Copy rows, Extract data, etc.). |
| Result variable | No | Text | smart_fill | Name of the variable where the mapping result will be stored. |
Output variables
The result variable contains:
- mapping – The column mapping used (source to target)
- rows – Number of rows pasted
- success – Whether the paste completed successfully
Examples of AI-resolved mappings
| Source column | Target column | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| Inv. No. | Invoice Number | Abbreviation |
| Amt | Amount | Abbreviation |
| Qty | Quantity | Synonym |
| Cust Name | Customer Name | Abbreviation |
| Unit Prc | Unit Price | Abbreviation + typo |
Errors
| Error | Description |
|---|---|
| File not open | The Excel file must be open before using this function. |
| Sheet not found | The specified sheet does not exist. |
| Variable empty | The source variable contains no data. |
| AI not configured | The AI API endpoint is not configured. |
Tips
- Use Smart fill instead of Paste sheet when source and target column names differ.
- Ideal when data comes from external systems with different naming conventions.
- Check the result variable to see the mapping the AI used.