Building a Data Lineage Document in Excel for LLM Integration
Introduction
Creating a data lineage document in Excel is a practical way to track how data flows through your data warehouse. When structured correctly, it can also be ingested by a language model (LLM) to support automated documentation, querying, and analysis. This guide outlines clear steps and best practices to build an LLM-friendly lineage workbook.
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Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Define the Scope
- Identify which systems, tables, and columns you want to track.
- Decide whether to include only critical data flows or the entire warehouse.
Step 2: Create a Flat Table Structure
- Use one row per lineage step.
- Include clear and consistent column headers.
- Source System
- Source Table
- Source Column
- Transformation Logic
- Target Table
- Target Column
- Data Type
- Business Definition
- Owner
- Update Frequency
- Dependencies
- Used In
- Notes
Step 3: Normalize Naming Conventions
- Use consistent names for tables and columns across all sheets.
- Avoid abbreviations unless documented in a glossary.
Step 4: Add a Glossary Sheet
- Define business terms, acronyms, and transformation types.
- Ensure clarity for both humans and LLMs.
Step 5: Handle Empty Cells Properly
- Avoid leaving cells blank.
- Use placeholders like “N/A”, “Unknown”, or “TBD” to indicate missing data.
Step 6: Enable Cross-Workbook Navigation
- Use consistent identifiers across workbooks.
- Add a column for external references (e.g., “Workbook_B.xlsx > Table: sales_data”).
- Create a master index workbook listing all related files and their contents.
Step 7: Document Metadata
- Include a metadata tab describing the workbook’s structure and purpose.
- Add version history and last updated date.
Best Practices
- Avoid merged cells and complex formatting.
- Keep column headers descriptive and consistent.
- Use filters and data validation to maintain quality.
- Include example rows to guide interpretation.
- Ensure each workbook has a clear owner and update schedule.
Conclusion
By following these steps, you can build a lineage document in Excel that is both human-readable and machine-ingestible. This enables better governance, easier troubleshooting, and the potential for intelligent automation using LLMs.
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One Response
This is a very helpful article, thanks. I would like to see some examples and more detail.