Build a script with AI

Let’s build a real Pybes script together, using an AI chat to write the code.

The task — merge every Excel file in a folder into one

You have a folder full of .xlsx files and you want to consolidate them into a single Excel workbook. It’s the kind of thing that comes up constantly in office work.

In this walkthrough, we’ll have the AI write a script that merges the files, keeping each source file’s contents on its own sheet.

Step 1 — Generate a prompt in Pybes

1. Create a new script
2. In the editor toolbar, click the Prompt button
3. The prompt is copied to your clipboard

Step 2 — Tell the AI what you want

1. Open an AI chat (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, etc.)
2. Paste the prompt
3. At the end of the prompt, write something like:

Write this part in whatever language you think in, but be specific. “Merge Excel files” isn’t enough — say exactly how you want them merged (separate sheets, appended rows, etc.).

Step 3 — Paste the generated code into Pybes

The AI will produce something like this:

import sys
import json
import os
from openpyxl import load_workbook, Workbook

with open(sys.argv[1], encoding="utf-8") as f:
    inputs = json.load(f)

input_folder = inputs["input_folder"]
output_file = inputs["output_file"]

wb_out = Workbook()
wb_out.remove(wb_out.active)

files = [f for f in os.listdir(input_folder) if f.endswith(".xlsx")]
print(f"Found {len(files)} Excel file(s)")

for i, fname in enumerate(files, 1):
    path = os.path.join(input_folder, fname)
    wb_in = load_workbook(path)

    for sheet in wb_in.sheetnames:
        ws_in = wb_in[sheet]
        sheet_name = os.path.splitext(fname)[0]
        if sheet_name in wb_out.sheetnames:
            sheet_name = f"{sheet_name}_{sheet}"
        ws_out = wb_out.create_sheet(title=sheet_name[:31])

        for row in ws_in.iter_rows(values_only=False):
            for cell in row:
                ws_out.cell(row=cell.row, column=cell.column, value=cell.value)

    print(f"[{i}/{len(files)}] Loaded {fname}")

wb_out.save(output_file)
print(f"Merge complete: {output_file}")

Paste this straight into the Pybes editor.

Step 4 — Variables are auto-detected

The moment you paste, Pybes detects inputs["input_folder"] and inputs["output_file"]:

• The detected variables appear on the right side of the editor
• Click them to add as config fields
• Change input_folder to the Folder type
• Change output_file to the File type and set the extension to xlsx

Step 5 — Fill in the values and run

1. Point input_folder at the folder with your Excel files
2. Set output_file to where you want the merged file saved
3. Click Run
4. The console shows progress as files are merged

If something goes wrong

• If the console shows an error, click the Consult button
• A debug-ready prompt is copied. Paste it into the AI chat
• The AI reviews the error and fixes the code

Take it further

• Browse the scripts page for ready-to-use examples
• Other ideas: CSV conversions, batch file renaming, PDF merging
• Your finished scripts can be exported as .pybes files and shared with your team
• Read more about AI prompting in Prompt generator