Excel Automation

When to use this skill

Use Excel Automation when an AI agent needs a reusable SKILL.md workflow for this job: Excel Automation: create workbooks, manage worksheets, read/write cell data, and format spreadsheets via Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets integration

When not to use it

Skip Excel Automation when the task is outside the productivity category, or when a more specific skill in this directory already covers the same workflow with clearer triggers.

How to install

1. Personal install: create ~/.claude/skills/excel-automation/SKILL.md (and any bundled scripts) so Claude Code, Claude Desktop, and compatible agents can load it in every project.
2. Project install: commit the same folder at .claude/skills/excel-automation/ so teammates get the skill with the repo.
3. Restart the agent session after copying files so it re-scans the skills directory, then ask for the task in words that match the skill description.

Full install guide for Claude, Cursor, and Codex

What this skill does

# Excel Automation

Automate spreadsheet operations including creating workbooks, writing data, formatting cells, upserting rows, and managing worksheets. Works with Microsoft Excel (OneDrive) and Google Sheets.

**Toolkit docs:** [composio.dev/toolkits/excel](https://composio.dev/toolkits/excel)

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## Setup

This skill requires the **Rube MCP server** connected at `https://rube.app/mcp`.

Before executing any tools, ensure an active connection exists for the `excel` (and optionally `googlesheets`) toolkit. If no connection is active, initiate one via `RUBE_MANAGE_CONNECTIONS`.

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## Core Workflows

### 1. Create a New Excel Workbook

Use `EXCEL_CREATE_WORKBOOK` to generate a new `.xlsx` file and upload it to OneDrive.

**Tool:** `EXCEL_CREATE_WORKBOOK`

**Steps:** 1. Call `EXCEL_CREATE_WORKBOOK` with worksheet names and data 2. The tool creates a `.xlsx` file and uploads it to OneDrive 3. Use the returned file path/URL for subsequent operations

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### 2. Write Data to a Spreadsheet

Use `GOOGLESHEETS_BATCH_UPDATE` to write values to a specific range or append rows.

**Tool:** `GOOGLESHEETS_BATCH_UPDATE`

**Key Parameters:** - `spreadsheet_id` (required) -- The spreadsheet ID from the URL (44-char alphanumeric string) - `sheet_name` (required) -- Tab name, e.g., `"Sheet1"`, `"Sales Data"` - `values` (required) -- 2D array of cell values, e.g., `[["Name","Amount"],["Alice",100]]` - `first_cell_location` -- Starting cell in A1 notation (e.g., `"A1"`, `"D3"`). Omit to append rows - `valueInputOption` -- `"USER_ENTERED"` (default, parses formulas) or `"RAW"` (stores as-is)

**Example:** ``` Tool: GOOGLESHEETS_BATCH_UPDATE Arguments: spreadsheet_id: "1BxiMVs0XRA5nFMdKvBdBZjgmUUqptlbs74OgvE2upms" sheet_name: "Sheet1" values: [["Item","Cost","Stocked"],["Wheel",20.50,true],["Screw",0.50,true]] first_cell_location: "A1" ```

---

### 3. Upsert Rows by Key Column

Use `GOOGLESHEETS_UPSERT_ROWS` to update existing rows by matching a key column, or append new rows if no match is found. Ideal for CRM syncs, inventory updates, and deduplication.

**Tool:** `GOOGLESHEETS_UPSERT_ROWS`

**Key Parameters:** - `spreadsheetId` (required) -- The spreadsheet ID - `sheetName` (required) -- Tab name - `rows` (required) -- 2D array of data rows (min 1 row). If `headers` is omitted, the first row is treated as headers - `headers` -- Column names for the data, e.g., `["Email","Phone","Status"]` - `keyColumn` -- Column header to match on, e.g., `"Email"`, `"SKU"`, `"Lead ID"` - `strictMode` -- `true` (default) errors on mismatched columns; `false` truncates silently

**Example:** ``` Tool: GOOGLESHEETS_UPSERT_ROWS Arguments: spreadsheetId: "1BxiMVs0XRA5nFMdKvBdBZjgmUUqptlbs74OgvE2upms" sheetName: "Contacts" keyColumn: "Email" headers: ["Email","Phone","Status"] rows: [["[email protected]","555-0101","Active"],["[email protected]","555-0102","Pending"]] ```

---

### 4. Format Cells

Use `GOOGLESHEETS_FORMAT_CELL` to apply bold, italic, font size, and background colors to ranges.

**Tool:** `GOOGLESHEETS_FORMAT_CELL`

**Key Parameters:** - `spreadsheet_id` (required) -- The spreadsheet ID - `range` -- Cell range in A1 notation, e.g., `"A1:D1"`, `"B2:B10"` (recommended over index-based) - `sheet_name` -- Worksheet name, e.g., `"Sheet1"` - `bold` -- `true`/`false` - `italic` -- `true`/`false` - `fontSize` -- Font size in points, e.g., `12` - `red`, `green`, `blue` -- Background color components (0.0--1.0 float scale, NOT 0--255)

**Example (bold header row with blue background):** ``` Tool: GOOGLESHEETS_FORMAT_CELL Arguments: spreadsheet_id: "1BxiMVs0XRA5nFMdKvBdBZjgmUUqptlbs74OgvE2upms" range: "A1:D1" sheet_name: "Sheet1" bold: true fontSize: 12 red: 0.2 green: 0.4 blue: 0.9 ```

---

### 5. Add New Worksheet Tabs

Use `GOOGLESHEETS_ADD_SHEET` to create new tabs within an existing spreadsheet.

**Tool:** `GOOGLESHEETS_ADD_SHEET`

**Key Parameters:** - `spreadsheetId` (required) -- The spreadsheet ID - `title` -- Name for the new tab, e.g., `"Q4 Report"` - `forceUnique` -- `true` (default) auto-appends suffix if name exists

**Example:** ``` Tool: GOOGLESHEETS_ADD_SHEET Arguments: spreadsheetId: "1BxiMVs0XRA5nFMdKvBdBZjgmUUqptlbs74OgvE2upms" title: "Q4 Report" forceUnique: true ```

---

### 6. Read Data and Verify Content

Use `GOOGLESHEETS_BATCH_GET` to retrieve data from specified cell ranges for validation or further processing.

**Tool:** `GOOGLESHEETS_BATCH_GET`

**Steps:** 1. Call `GOOGLESHEETS_BATCH_GET` with the spreadsheet ID and target ranges 2. Validate headers and data alignment 3. Use results to inform subsequent write or update operations

**Supporting Tools:** - `GOOGLESHEETS_GET_SHEET_NAMES` -- List all tab names in a spreadsheet - `GOOGLESHEETS_GET_SPREADSHEET_INFO` -- Get metadata (sheet IDs, properties) - `GOOGLESHEETS_FIND_WORKSHEET_BY_TITLE` -- Check if a specific tab exists

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## Recommended Execution Plan

1. **Create or locate the spreadsheet** using `GOOGLESHEETS_CREATE_GOOGLE_SHEET1` or reuse an existing `spreadsheetId` 2. **Confirm the destination tab** using `GOOGLESHEETS_GET_SHEET_NAMES` or `GOOGLESHEETS_FIND_WORKSHEET_BY_TITLE`; create it with `GOOGLESHEETS_ADD_SHEET` if missing 3. **Read existing headers** (optional) using `GOOGLESHEETS_BATCH_GET` to align columns 4. **Write or upsert data** using `GOOGLESHEETS_BATCH_UPDATE` or `GOOGLESHEETS_UPSERT_ROWS` 5. **Apply formatting** (optional) using `GOOGLESHEETS_FORMAT_CELL` 6. **Verify results** (optional) using `GOOGLESHEETS_BATCH_GET` 7. **Fallback:** If Google Sheets creation is blocked (HTTP 403), use `EXCEL_CREATE_WORKBOOK` for local `.xlsx` output

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## Known Pitfalls

| Pitfall | Detail | |---------|--------| | **HTTP 403 on sheet creation** | `GOOGLESHEETS_CREATE_GOOGLE_SHEET1` fails when Drive create scope is missing. Reuse an existing `spreadsheetId` or fall back to `EXCEL_CREATE_WORKBOOK`. | | **Cell limit and rate throttling** | Google Sheets has a ~5,000,000 cell limit per spreadsheet. Excessive write frequency triggers HTTP 429. Batch changes and chunk large writes (~500 rows/call). | | **Format range off-by-one** | `GOOGLESHEETS_FORMAT_CELL` uses 0-based, endIndex-exclusive ranges when using index mode. Background color uses 0--1 float RGB, NOT 0--255 integer RGB. | | **Sheet title uniqueness** | Sheet titles are not guaranteed unique across API responses. Prefer operating by numeric `sheetId` and verify the resolved tab before writing. | | **Upsert payload shape** | `GOOGLESHEETS_UPSERT_ROWS` requires headers + 2D rows array. Sending list-of-dicts or empty `rows` causes validation errors. Ensure at least 1 data row. |

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## Quick Reference

| Tool Slug | Description | |-----------|-------------| | `EXCEL_CREATE_WORKBOOK` | Create a new `.xlsx` workbook and upload to OneDrive | | `GOOGLESHEETS_BATCH_UPDATE` | Write values to a range or append new rows | | `GOOGLESHEETS_UPSERT_ROWS` | Update existing rows by key or append new ones | | `GOOGLESHEETS_FORMAT_CELL` | Apply text/background formatting to cell ranges | | `GOOGLESHEETS_ADD_SHEET` | Add a new worksheet tab to a spreadsheet | | `GOOGLESHEETS_CREATE_GOOGLE_SHEET1` | Create a new Google Spreadsheet in Drive | | `GOOGLESHEETS_GET_SHEET_NAMES` | List all worksheet names in a spreadsheet | | `GOOGLESHEETS_GET_SPREADSHEET_INFO` | Retrieve spreadsheet metadata | | `GOOGLESHEETS_FIND_WORKSHEET_BY_TITLE` | Check if a worksheet exists by title | | `GOOGLESHEETS_BATCH_GET` | Read data from specified cell ranges |

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*Powered by [Composio](https://composio.dev)*

Intended uses

• Use Excel Automation when this documented workflow matches the task.