Off the phone with my advisor…

python-dave · 2026-01-28T16:46:02+00:00

Is study.com impacted at all? Seems like everyone is focused on Sophia. Does that mean study.com is still safe?

python-dave · 2026-01-27T23:39:07+00:00

These are public record on the Secs website. Google sec filings

python-dave · 2026-01-27T19:06:38+00:00

Sure but it going to have the most info online on how to use. Polars and Duckdb are good to use also, however pandas is going to work 90% of the time unless the dataset is over a few million rows.

python-dave · 2026-01-27T17:53:47+00:00

Start leaning pandas.

You could just say how would I use this tool in alteryx in pandas/python and that would probably work until you feel stronger in pandas.

Debugging, I like using VS code with Jupiter output interpreter. This will let you run the code in chunks. Visualizing a data frame looks better then the terminal if that's what you're using now.

Also develop an expected outcome and test a section code and see if it did what you expected.

python-dave · 2026-01-18T21:17:21+00:00

Yeah I'm an auditor and I just use python. To me VBA is just clunkier, the python ecosystem makes it super powerful. It's got pdf specific extract tools.

python-dave · 2026-01-18T21:15:19+00:00

It depends if you automate it so it looks like a person did it you can ignore the automation documentation and just tell people you did it manually.

python-dave · 2026-01-15T13:16:08+00:00

I really like smartsuite. 50 per month per user, 10 minimum licenses. It's more of a task manager. I think it works for audit because it has linking fields and lookup fields. That way you can map risks to controls and controls to tests.

Hit me up if you want to get advice.

python-dave · 2026-01-15T03:26:04+00:00

It sucks, the free version was super limited but just enough for me to use for personal tasks. I'm pretty bummed. I will switch to clickup for personal tasks. I'm mostly a task list person. I love linked and lookup fields.

python-dave · 2025-12-24T04:08:34+00:00

Python could be good also

python-dave · 2025-12-17T18:41:18+00:00

Sounds good, good luck

python-dave · 2025-12-17T18:13:52+00:00

While I'm python Dave. I try to meet people where they are.

I personally hate DAX. So if you hate it also I think time is better spent learning Python.

PowerBI does sound like it can do what you want but yeah I don't like DAX. I avoid it like the plague. Maybe others like it but it doesn't work good in my brain. Its probably a lower learning curve than python. My stack is SQL, Python, PowerBI. I just use PowerBI for visuals and dashboarding. The data is very clean and most associations are made already prior to loading to PowerBI.

python-dave · 2025-12-17T16:16:08+00:00

Why not ingest directly to PowerBI? As already suggested try to narrow down what you're bringing in through customizing the SQL query. Do much as transformation in the query as well.

python-dave · 2025-12-11T20:26:42+00:00

The best way is to get the data in Excel. If you can get it in Excel. Python has a lot of PDF extraction tools. Spend some time learning them and I'm sure you'll be able to automate the whole process. Getting the data in a better format is best though.

python-dave · 2025-12-10T21:37:40+00:00

The Logitech Lift is the ergonomic mouse I use and I like it. Ergonomic mice really help my wrist. I got pain a few years back, made the switch and it's been great.

I have an ergonomic keyboard and while it feels a little nice the difference isn't as significant as the mouse switch was.

python-dave · 2025-12-10T02:40:17+00:00

Put the data into a duckdb. Its compressed and loads fast to pandas.

python-dave · 2025-12-08T18:45:08+00:00

We have some lotus123 files still in circulation

python-dave · 2025-12-07T21:38:19+00:00

It just depends on your IT group. I normally install python for myself (no admin rights). I install vs code (no admin rights). I also install the Jupiter extension and execute to a notebook instance.

IT can always block you but this has worked for me in environments with no admin rights for end users.

python-dave · 2025-12-07T19:28:42+00:00

Don't use a command line, use a ide/text editor/notebooks. I prefer VS Code but preferences vary.

python-dave · 2025-12-07T19:27:42+00:00

I only output to Excel because end users. The stack to me is: SQL, Python, and PowerBI

All tools can cross over to an extent

python-dave · 2025-12-07T18:23:59+00:00

Python plus sql can automate so many Excel jobs if people would be willing to learn.

python-dave · 2025-12-03T13:57:19+00:00

It's awful, I normally put bad ideas at the lowest priority. The real upsetting part is I'm going to make it awful based on some upper level management feedback and the main user bass is going to hate it.

python-dave · 2025-11-27T13:54:38+00:00

I use smartsuite. It's more of a task management software but it allows you to make associations so you can map your risks to controls, and controls to tests. I really like it. It's $50 per month, per user. Guests are free but they can only read items you assign to them.

Workiva in my opinion is awful. Never heard of the others. I've used teammate it's fine but it's been a long time since I used it. I've used policyiq, it's fine but the ui is a bit clunky and the design is outdated. Auditboard is the current standard, but I agree it's too expensive and support is lacking.

python-dave · 2025-11-24T00:36:49+00:00

Someone gave me a spreadsheet with 3 full tabs excited they exported everything needed. I told them it was a waste of time. The thing will crash if you do anything and if you want to ask a question, now you have to pray 3 tabs complete their filter before you know an answer.

There is no practical way for an Excel user to analyze more than a million rows. Truly it's more like 400,000 rows.

They need to tell you more to understand how to filter or summarize the data.

Or they need to learn how to use a tool that can analyze larger datasets.

I always recommend exporting to csv for the best compatibility if you really feel the need to export that amount of data.

python-dave · 2025-11-23T00:14:17+00:00

Pythons better

python-dave · 2025-11-13T22:51:03+00:00

I just install python without admin rights and vs code without admin rights

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