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npx skills add https://github.com/claude-office-skills/skills --skill excel-automation
This skill enables advanced Excel automation using xlwings - a library that can interact with live Excel instances. Unlike openpyxl (file-only), xlwings can control Excel in real-time, execute VBA, update dashboards, and automate complex workflows.
Example prompts:
| Feature | xlwings | openpyxl |
|---------|---------|----------|
| Requires Excel | Yes | No |
| Live interaction | Yes | No |
| VBA execution | Yes | No |
| Speed (large files) | Fast | Slow |
| Server deployment | Limited | Easy |
import xlwings as xw
# Connect to active Excel workbook
wb = xw.Book.caller() # From Excel add-in
wb = xw.books.active # Active workbook
# Open specific file
wb = xw.Book('path/to/file.xlsx')
# Create new workbook
wb = xw.Book()
# Get sheet
sheet = wb.sheets['Sheet1']
sheet = wb.sheets[0]
# Single cell
sheet['A1'].value = 'Hello'
value = sheet['A1'].value
# Range
sheet['A1:C3'].value = [[1, 2, 3], [4, 5, 6], [7, 8, 9]]
data = sheet['A1:C3'].value # Returns list of lists
# Named range
sheet['MyRange'].value = 'Named data'
# Expand range (detect data boundaries)
sheet['A1'].expand().value # All connected data
sheet['A1'].expand('table').value # Table format
# Current region (like Ctrl+Shift+End)
data = sheet['A1'].current_region.value
# Used range
used = sheet.used_range.value
# Last row with data
last_row = sheet['A1'].end('down').row
# Resize range
rng = sheet['A1'].resize(10, 5) # 10 rows, 5 columns
# Font
sheet['A1'].font.bold = True
sheet['A1'].font.size = 14
sheet['A1'].font.color = (255, 0, 0) # RGB red
# Fill
sheet['A1'].color = (255, 255, 0) # Yellow background
# Number format
sheet['B1'].number_format = '$#,##0.00'
# Column width
sheet['A:A'].column_width = 20
# Row height
sheet['1:1'].row_height = 30
# Autofit
sheet['A:D'].autofit()
# Add chart
chart = sheet.charts.add(left=100, top=100, width=400, height=250)
chart.set_source_data(sheet['A1:B10'])
chart.chart_type = 'column_clustered'
chart.name = 'Sales Chart'
# Modify existing chart
chart = sheet.charts['Sales Chart']
chart.chart_type = 'line'
# Create Excel Table
rng = sheet['A1'].expand()
table = sheet.tables.add(source=rng, name='SalesTable')
# Refresh table
table.refresh()
# Access table data
table_data = table.data_body_range.value
# Add picture
sheet.pictures.add('logo.png', left=10, top=10, width=100, height=50)
# Update picture from matplotlib
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
fig, ax = plt.subplots()
ax.plot([1, 2, 3], [1, 4, 9])
sheet.pictures.add(fig, name='MyPlot', update=True)
# Run VBA macro
wb.macro('MacroName')()
# With arguments
wb.macro('MyMacro')('arg1', 'arg2')
# Get return value
result = wb.macro('CalculateTotal')(100, 200)
# Access VBA module
vb_code = wb.api.VBProject.VBComponents('Module1').CodeModule.Lines(1, 10)
# Define a UDF (in Python file)
import xlwings as xw
@xw.func
def my_sum(x, y):
"""Add two numbers"""
return x + y
@xw.func
@xw.arg('data', ndim=2)
def my_array_func(data):
"""Process array data"""
import numpy as np
return np.sum(data)
# These become Excel functions: =my_sum(A1, B1)
# Excel application settings
app = xw.apps.active
app.screen_updating = False # Speed up
app.calculation = 'manual' # Manual calc
app.display_alerts = False # Suppress dialogs
# Perform operations...
# Restore
app.screen_updating = True
app.calculation = 'automatic'
app.display_alerts = True
import xlwings as xw
def batch_update(data, workbook_path):
app = xw.App(visible=False)
try:
app.screen_updating = False
app.calculation = 'manual'
wb = app.books.open(workbook_path)
sheet = wb.sheets['Data']
# Write all data at once
sheet['A1'].value = data
app.calculation = 'automatic'
wb.save()
finally:
wb.close()
app.quit()
def update_dashboard(data_dict):
wb = xw.books.active
# Update data sheet
data_sheet = wb.sheets['Data']
for name, values in data_dict.items():
data_sheet[name].value = values
# Refresh all charts
dashboard = wb.sheets['Dashboard']
for chart in dashboard.charts:
chart.refresh()
# Update timestamp
from datetime import datetime
dashboard['A1'].value = f'Last Updated: {datetime.now()}'
def generate_monthly_report(month, data):
template = xw.Book('template.xlsx')
# Fill data
sheet = template.sheets['Report']
sheet['B2'].value = month
sheet['A5'].value = data
# Run calculations
template.app.calculate()
# Export to PDF
sheet.api.ExportAsFixedFormat(0, f'report_{month}.pdf')
template.save(f'report_{month}.xlsx')
import xlwings as xw
import pandas as pd
from datetime import datetime
# Connect to running Excel
wb = xw.books.active
dashboard = wb.sheets['Dashboard']
data_sheet = wb.sheets['Data']
# Fetch new data (simulated)
new_data = pd.DataFrame({
'Date': pd.date_range('2024-01-01', periods=30),
'Sales': [1000 + i*50 for i in range(30)],
'Costs': [600 + i*30 for i in range(30)]
})
# Update data sheet
data_sheet['A1'].value = new_data
# Calculate profit
data_sheet['D1'].value = 'Profit'
data_sheet['D2'].value = '=B2-C2'
data_sheet['D2'].expand('down').value = data_sheet['D2'].formula
# Update KPIs on dashboard
dashboard['B2'].value = new_data['Sales'].sum()
dashboard['B3'].value = new_data['Costs'].sum()
dashboard['B4'].value = new_data['Sales'].sum() - new_data['Costs'].sum()
dashboard['A1'].value = f'Updated: {datetime.now().strftime("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M")}'
# Refresh charts
for chart in dashboard.charts:
chart.api.Refresh()
print("Dashboard updated!")
import xlwings as xw
from pathlib import Path
def process_sales_files(folder_path, output_path):
"""Consolidate multiple Excel files into one summary."""
app = xw.App(visible=False)
app.screen_updating = False
try:
# Create summary workbook
summary_wb = xw.Book()
summary_sheet = summary_wb.sheets[0]
summary_sheet.name = 'Consolidated'
headers = ['File', 'Total Sales', 'Total Units', 'Avg Price']
summary_sheet['A1'].value = headers
row = 2
for file in Path(folder_path).glob('*.xlsx'):
wb = app.books.open(str(file))
data_sheet = wb.sheets['Sales']
# Extract summary
total_sales = data_sheet['B:B'].api.SpecialCells(11).Value # xlCellTypeConstants
total_units = data_sheet['C:C'].api.SpecialCells(11).Value
# Calculate and write
summary_sheet[f'A{row}'].value = file.name
summary_sheet[f'B{row}'].value = sum(total_sales) if isinstance(total_sales, (list, tuple)) else total_sales
summary_sheet[f'C{row}'].value = sum(total_units) if isinstance(total_units, (list, tuple)) else total_units
summary_sheet[f'D{row}'].value = f'=B{row}/C{row}'
wb.close()
row += 1
# Format summary
summary_sheet['A1:D1'].font.bold = True
summary_sheet['B:D'].number_format = '$#,##0.00'
summary_sheet['A:D'].autofit()
summary_wb.save(output_path)
finally:
app.quit()
print(f"Consolidated {row-2} files to {output_path}")
# Usage
process_sales_files('/path/to/sales/', 'consolidated_sales.xlsx')
# myudfs.py - Place in xlwings project
import xlwings as xw
import numpy as np
@xw.func
@xw.arg('data', pd.DataFrame, index=False, header=False)
@xw.ret(expand='table')
def GROWTH_RATE(data):
"""Calculate period-over-period growth rate"""
values = data.iloc[:, 0].values
growth = np.diff(values) / values[:-1] * 100
return [['Growth %']] + [[g] for g in growth]
@xw.func
@xw.arg('range1', np.array, ndim=2)
@xw.arg('range2', np.array, ndim=2)
def CORRELATION(range1, range2):
"""Calculate correlation between two ranges"""
return np.corrcoef(range1.flatten(), range2.flatten())[0, 1]
@xw.func
def SENTIMENT(text):
"""Basic sentiment analysis (placeholder)"""
positive = ['good', 'great', 'excellent', 'amazing']
negative = ['bad', 'poor', 'terrible', 'awful']
text_lower = text.lower()
pos_count = sum(word in text_lower for word in positive)
neg_count = sum(word in text_lower for word in negative)
if pos_count > neg_count:
return 'Positive'
elif neg_count > pos_count:
return 'Negative'
return 'Neutral'
pip install xlwings
# For add-in functionality
xlwings addin install
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Take claude-office-skills/excel-automation from the repository into ~/.claude/skills for personal
use, or into .claude/skills inside a project.
The agent identifies a skill by the name field in its header. Two skills with the
same name cannot sit side by side — one of them will be ignored.
The instructions reference pip.
Without those the skill loads but fails at the first command.