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Declare the row meaning before cleaning

Data preparation practice · Use the messy source and independent clean control. Corrections belong in a derived output and a change log.

Learn → Try → ExplainReviewed 2026-10-15
01

Your task

Someone asks you to make the order table one row per month. Is that cleaning? Describe the risk of an automatic correction.

02

Hint

Distinguish formatting fixes from changes in business meaning. Specify what evidence authorizes each correction.

Worked solution

No. One row currently means one order. Monthly aggregation creates a new analytical dataset and loses order-level detail. Keep both tables, document the transformation and reconcile completed cents before and after.

04

What to hand over

Provide raw source fingerprint, old/new values, rule, evidence, affected row IDs and validation totals. A clean-looking table alone is insufficient.

Make the reasoning yours.

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