Custom Script for Office Task Automation
We were contacted by a small team that regularly needed to generate PDF reports from Excel files and send them to a fixed list of recipients. The process involved copying data, formatting tables, exporting to PDF, writing emails, and attaching the files — all performed manually several times a week.
We proposed an automation solution using a lightweight Python script with a simple interface. The script accepts an Excel file, extracts the necessary sheets, applies formatting (e.g., borders, headings, column widths), converts the content to a polished PDF, and then sends it as an email attachment to predefined recipients.
We designed the system to be user-friendly: no coding was required to operate it. Configuration settings such as email addresses, subject lines, and export paths were stored in a separate editable file. We also provided an icon-clickable version so that the client could run the tool without opening a terminal or script editor.
Platform: Local automation, Windows
Tools Used: Python, Pandas, openpyxl, FPDF, smtplib
Duration: 5 days
Scope of Work:
Task analysis and workflow mapping
Script development for Excel → PDF conversion
Email integration with attachment and templated message
Interface simplification for non-technical users
User guide and configuration documentation
Outcome:
The final solution reduced a 20–30 minute task to just a few seconds. The client reported time savings, fewer manual errors, and a smoother workflow — freeing up their team to focus on more value-added tasks. This kind of lightweight automation proved especially effective for repetitive internal reporting processes.