Excel Automation

Automation Auto-detects your installed agents and installs the skill to each one.

What This Skill Does

This skill automates spreadsheet operations in Microsoft Excel (One Drive) and Google Sheets. It enables users to programmatically create, read, update, and manage spreadsheets. It is designed for data analysts, business users, and developers.

When to Use

• Create new Excel workbooks programmatically.
• Write data to specific ranges in spreadsheets.
• Upsert rows based on a key column.
• Format cells and manage worksheets.
• Automate data entry and reporting.
• Integrate spreadsheet data with other systems.

Key Features

• Supports both Microsoft Excel (One Drive) and Google Sheets.
• Provides tools for creating, reading, and updating spreadsheets.
• Includes functions for upserting rows by key.
• Offers control over cell formatting and worksheet management.
• Requires Rube MCP server connection.
• Uses GOOGLESHEETS_BATCH_UPDATE to write data.

Excel Automation

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

Toolkit docs: composio.dev/toolkits/excel

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.

Core Workflows

1. Create a New Excel Workbook

Use EXCEL_CREATE_WORKBOOK to generate a new .xlsx file and upload it to One Drive.

Tool: EXCEL_CREATE_WORKBOOK

Steps: Call EXCEL_CREATE_WORKBOOK with worksheet names and data The tool creates a .xlsx file and uploads it to One Drive Use the returned file path/URL for subsequent operations

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 value Input Option -- "USER_ENTERED" (default, parses formulas) or "RAW" (stores as-is)

Example: Tool: GOOGLESHEETS_BATCH_UPDATE Arguments: spreadsheet_id: "1Bxi MVs0XRA5n FMd Kv Bd BZjgm UUqptlbs74Ogv E2upms" 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: spreadsheet Id (required) -- The spreadsheet ID sheet Name (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"] key Column -- Column header to match on, e.g., "Email", "SKU", "Lead ID" strict Mode -- true (default) errors on mismatched columns; false truncates silently

Example: Tool: GOOGLESHEETS_UPSERT_ROWS Arguments: spreadsheet Id: "1Bxi MVs0XRA5n FMd Kv Bd BZjgm UUqptlbs74Ogv E2upms" sheet Name: "Contacts" key Column: "Email" headers: ["Email","Phone","Status"] rows: [["john@example.com","555-0101","Active"],["jane@example.com","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 font Size -- 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: "1Bxi MVs0XRA5n FMd Kv Bd BZjgm UUqptlbs74Ogv E2upms" range: "A1:D1" sheet_name: "Sheet1" bold: true font Size: 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: spreadsheet Id (required) -- The spreadsheet ID title -- Name for the new tab, e.g., "Q4 Report" force Unique -- true (default) auto-appends suffix if name exists

Example: Tool: GOOGLESHEETS_ADD_SHEET Arguments: spreadsheet Id: "1Bxi MVs0XRA5n FMd Kv Bd BZjgm UUqptlbs74Ogv E2upms" title: "Q4 Report" force Unique: 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: Call GOOGLESHEETS_BATCH_GET with the spreadsheet ID and target ranges Validate headers and data alignment 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

Recommended Execution Plan

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

Known Pitfalls

Quick Reference