Use Codex for research, files, slides and other office chores
Idea + starter prompt, not run by us yet
For: Office workers with tedious tasks across files, spreadsheets and slides
People in a Reddit thread use Codex directly for one-off computer work: research and scraping, searching files and email, filling forms, tidying PowerPoints, light Excel work, building wiki style notes, and following steps for chores like upgrading Pi-hole. One commenter says the key is detailed instructions, planning first and checking each output step by step. Usage limits and flaky workflows held some back.
Steps
- Write detailed instructions for the chore.
- Ask Codex to plan first and show you the steps.
- Work on copies of files and slides.
- Check each output before moving to the next step.
- Pick your targets carefully if you are close to usage limits.
Starter prompt
I need help with this task: [task, for example clean up the formatting in this slide deck]. The files are in [folder]. First write a short plan and wait for my OK. Work on copies only. Do the task step by step and show me each result. Do not submit forms, send messages or delete anything.
Original post: Reddit · found via agentusecases.ai. Written up in our own words. We haven't run it, so test it on made-up data first.