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Convert Excel to Markdown

Turns .xlsx workbooks into Markdown tables (plus embedded images) so an agent can read and analyze them.

Source Download skill
Repository
github/awesome-copilot
Stars
40,703
Licence
MIT
Files
4 files

What it does

Excel files are hard for AI agents to read reliably because .xlsx is a compressed bundle of XML. With this skill installed, the agent first runs a bundled Python script that converts each sheet into a Markdown table, saves any embedded pictures as image files, and writes everything into a folder next to the original workbook. The agent then reads that Markdown to summarize, search, compare, or pull out data. It only handles .xlsx files, not older .xls files, and does not extract native Excel charts as images.

Great for

  • Someone who wants an AI assistant to summarize or question a budget, tracker, or data export
  • Analysts processing a whole folder of workbooks in one batch
  • Users who need a readable text copy of spreadsheet contents

Skip it if

  • Legacy .xls files, which the skill rejects and asks the user to re-save as .xlsx first
  • Workbooks that must keep their original formulas or formatting, since the output is a plain Markdown snapshot
  • Sensitive or confidential spreadsheets where you have not reviewed the script and do not want code run locally or the data sent over a network

Try asking

  • “Summarize the key figures in C:\Finance\Q3_budget.xlsx”
  • “Pull all rows where Status is Overdue from this tracker workbook”
  • “Compare the sales sheets across every .xlsx in this folder”
  • “Convert all workbooks in D:\Exports, including subfolders, and then chart the monthly totals”
Step-by-step guide: how to use Convert Excel to MarkdownInstall, first run, examples, tips and FAQs

Install in 3 steps

  1. 1

    Download the skill

    The ZIP contains the 4 original files, the MIT licence and an attribution note.

    convert-excel-to-md.zip
  2. 2

    Add it to your agent

    Claude Code (all projects)

    mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills && unzip convert-excel-to-md.zip -d ~/.claude/skills/

    Claude Code / Agent SDK (this project only)

    mkdir -p .claude/skills && unzip convert-excel-to-md.zip -d .claude/skills/

    Claude apps (web/desktop): Settings → Capabilities → Skills → Upload skill, and choose the ZIP.

  3. 3

    Ask for the task

    No special command needed — the agent reads the skill's description and loads it when your request matches. Try one of the prompts above.

Get better results

  • Review scripts/convert_excel_to_md.py and the requirements file before running it on important or confidential workbooks.
  • Give the agent a full absolute file path so it does not have to guess where to write output.
  • Use the --recursive flag only when you actually want subfolders processed, to avoid converting more files than intended.

What's inside

  • references/setup.md
  • scripts/convert_excel_to_md.py
  • scripts/requirements.txt
  • SKILL.md

Redistributed unmodified from github/awesome-copilot under the MIT licence. The assessment was drafted with AI from the skill's files on 2026-10-29. Skills can instruct your agent to run code — read SKILL.md and any scripts before installing.