Guide · Agent skill
How to use the Google Sheets to Docs Report agent skill
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
This guide explains the recipe-generate-report-from-sheet skill, a set of written instructions that teaches an AI agent to read rows from a Google Sheet, create a Google Doc with a summary and top deals list, and share it with an email address you name. It is aimed at people who have never used agent skills before, as well as analysts and office staff who want a repeatable monthly report. By the end you will know how to install the skill, how to ask for a report in plain language, and what you need in place before it runs.
Google Sheets to Docs Reportgoogleworkspace/cli · Apache-2.0 Download the skill Quick start
- 1Check the requirements. Confirm the gws command-line tool is installed and that you have access to Google Sheets, Docs and Drive. Make sure the gws-sheets, gws-docs and gws-drive skills are also loaded.
- 2Download and unzip the skill. Download the ZIP from this page and unzip it so the recipe-generate-report-from-sheet folder contains SKILL.md.
- 3Place the skill folder. Move the folder into ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use or into a project's .claude/skills/ folder. In the Claude apps, upload it under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
- 4Ask for the report in plain language. Name the spreadsheet, the data range, the report title and the recipient email address in your request.
- 5Review the recipient and data. Before the sharing step runs, check that the email address and the data are correct for this report.
- 6Check the resulting Google Doc. Open the new document, confirm the summary and top deals list are right, and adjust the formatting if needed.
What the skill makes the agent do
An agent skill is a folder containing a SKILL.md file that describes a task in steps. When the skill is loaded, the agent follows those steps using tools available to it. This skill, from the googleworkspace/cli project, is a recipe for turning spreadsheet data into a written report.
The recipe has four steps: read the data from a Google Sheet range, create a new Google Doc with a title, write a report into it with a summary and a numbered list of top deals, and share the document with a named email address as a reader. The skill uses the gws command-line tool to make each of these Google calls.
Install the skill from the ZIP or the Claude apps
Download the ZIP for this skill from our page and unzip it. For personal use across projects, place the unzipped skill folder in ~/.claude/skills/. For a single project, place it in that project's .claude/skills/ folder.
If you use the Claude apps instead, open Settings, go to Capabilities, and upload the skill under Skills.
The skill's own dependencies must also be available. The recipe requires the gws tool and the skills gws-sheets, gws-docs and gws-drive to be loaded. Without them the recipe cannot run.
- Personal install: ~/.claude/skills/
- Project install: .claude/skills/ inside your project
- Claude apps: Settings → Capabilities → Skills, then upload
Trigger the skill with a natural request
You do not need to type the skill name or any commands. Describe the job in plain language, naming the spreadsheet, the range of data, and the email address that should receive the report. The agent is expected to pick up the recipe from the task description.
Make the request specific. Mention which sheet or range holds the data, what the report should be called, and who should get access. Vague requests leave the agent to guess, and sharing is the step where a wrong guess matters most.
- Example: Read the Sales sheet columns A to D, make a January 2025 sales report doc, and share it with my manager.
- Example: Summarise the deals in this spreadsheet into a Google Doc and give read access to the CFO address I will give you.
Run the underlying commands yourself
The source file shows the exact gws commands the recipe uses. Knowing them helps you check what the agent is doing. The read step uses a spreadsheet ID and a range, the create step uses a JSON title, the write step sends text to a document ID, and the share step creates a permission with a role and email address.
Replace the placeholders SHEET_ID and DOC_ID with real values from your own files. The example report text, including figures and company names, is sample content from the source and should be replaced with your data.
gws sheets +read --spreadsheet SHEET_ID --range "Sales!A1:D"
gws docs documents create --json '{"title": "Sales Report - January 2025"}'
gws docs +write --document-id DOC_ID --text '## Sales Report - January 2025
### Summary
Total deals: 45
Revenue: $125,000
### Top Deals
1. Acme Corp - $25,000
2. Widget Inc - $18,000'
gws drive permissions create --params '{"fileId": "DOC_ID"}' --json '{"role": "reader", "type": "user", "emailAddress": "cfo@company.com"}'Safety notes before you run it
This skill runs scripts and uses the network. It calls Google Workspace through the gws tool, so it reads your Sheets and creates and shares Docs in your account. Check the email address before the share step runs.
The skill file does not describe a confirmation step before sharing. The share command grants read access to whichever address is named, so a typo or wrong recipient can expose data. Do not use it for sensitive financial or personal data unless you have reviewed the steps and the recipient list.
- Confirm the recipient email address before the agent shares the document.
- Use it only with data you are allowed to share with that person.
- Review the SKILL.md file so you know exactly which commands will run.
Tips for better reports
The example output is plain: headings, lines of text and a numbered list. It does not show charts, colours or advanced formatting, so treat it as a basic report. If you need a designed layout, you will need to adapt the recipe or edit the document afterwards.
Keep the range you read tight, such as Sales!A1:D, so the agent summarises the rows you intend. Use a clear report title with a date so repeated monthly runs are easy to find.
- Give a precise sheet name and range.
- Use a dated title for each run.
- Expect plain formatting; customise the layout afterwards if needed.
What people use it for
- Turning a monthly sales sheet into a short written summary for managers.
- Producing a results digest from a sheet of experiment or campaign figures.
- Prototyping a workflow that connects Google Sheets and Google Docs.
- Creating a repeatable report with a dated title each month.
Frequently asked questions
How do I install the recipe-generate-report-from-sheet skill?
Download the ZIP from this page and unzip it. Place the folder in ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use or in a project's .claude/skills/ folder. In the Claude apps, upload it under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
What do I need to run this skill?
You need the gws command-line tool, access to Google Sheets, Docs and Drive in Google Workspace, and the gws-sheets, gws-docs and gws-drive skills loaded. The recipe cannot run without these.
Is this skill free and what is its licence?
The source lists the licence as Apache-2.0. The source does not describe pricing, so check the project's terms for any costs connected to Google Workspace or the gws tool.
Does the skill ask me to confirm before sharing the report?
The SKILL.md file does not describe a confirmation step. The share command gives read access to the email address you name, so check the recipient before it runs.
Can this skill create charts or fancy formatting in the Doc?
Not according to the example. It writes plain headings, lines of text and a numbered list. For a designed report you would need to adapt the recipe or edit the document afterwards.
What should I use if this skill does not fit my needs?
Choose another approach if you need complex layouts, charts, or handling of highly sensitive data without a review step. This skill suits basic, repeatable text summaries from spreadsheet rows.
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Our verdict
This skill suits office staff and analysts who want a repeatable way to turn spreadsheet rows into a plain written summary shared by email. It is less suitable for designed reports, charts, or sensitive financial and personal data, because the recipient is shared without a confirmation step described in the file. You also need the gws tool and Google Workspace access before it will run.
Download the skill