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Excel workbook helper

Read, create, edit and validate .xlsx spreadsheets with formulas, styles and charts via Python.

Repository
HKUDS/DeepTutor
Stars
54,053
Licence
Apache-2.0
Files
1 file

What it does

Once installed, the agent can open, read, create and modify Excel workbooks (.xlsx/.xlsm) and CSV/TSV tables. It writes Python code to do this, handles sheets, formulas, formatting and charts, and includes guidance on common pitfalls, such as openpyxl not calculating formulas, so the resulting files show correct values. It also explains when to write computed numbers instead of live formulas and how to check output for errors like #REF! or #DIV/0!.

Great for

  • People who need an agent to clean, analyze or summarize messy spreadsheet data
  • Analysts who want formatted workbooks with summary sheets and charts generated from a description
  • Developers building Python workflows that produce or consume Excel files

Skip it if

  • Google Sheets via its API, since the skill explicitly excludes it (different tooling)
  • Workbooks where live formulas must recalculate in a non-Excel tool without LibreOffice available; cached values will be blank until the file is opened in Excel
  • Editing sensitive financial files without a backup, because the agent writes new files and may overwrite outputs under the same name

Try asking

  • “Clean this messy CSV of customer records and save it as a formatted .xlsx with a frozen header row”
  • “Add a monthly growth formula column to my budget workbook while keeping the existing styling”
  • “Create a sales summary workbook with a bar chart from this data table”
  • “Scan this workbook for broken formulas like #REF! and list where they are”
Step-by-step guide: how to use Excel workbook helperInstall, first run, examples, tips and FAQs

Install in 3 steps

  1. 1

    Download the skill

    The ZIP contains the 1 original files, the Apache-2.0 licence and an attribution note.

    xlsx.zip
  2. 2

    Add it to your agent

    Claude Code (all projects)

    mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills && unzip xlsx.zip -d ~/.claude/skills/

    Claude Code / Agent SDK (this project only)

    mkdir -p .claude/skills && unzip xlsx.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

  • Ask for static values when you do not need formulas to stay live; this avoids recalculation issues entirely.
  • Install LibreOffice if you need formulas that compute before you open the file in another program.
  • Keep your original file: the skill saves to new output files, but reviewing the result before replacing originals is safest.

What's inside

  • SKILL.md

Redistributed unmodified from HKUDS/DeepTutor under the Apache-2.0 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.