excel-automation Skill for Claude Code: Control Live Excel with Python

excel-automation makes Claude write xlwings Python that drives a live Excel: ranges, charts, VBA macros and custom functions.

Installs: 16K; on skills.sh
Stars: 556; on GitHub
Updated: Jan 2026; last repo commit

excel-automation is a reference skill from claude-office-skills. It gives Claude a guide to xlwings, a Python library that controls a running copy of Excel, so Claude writes scripts that update dashboards, run VBA macros, build charts and tables, and define Excel functions in Python.

It loads when you ask for Excel automation, especially live Excel interaction. It bundles no scripts. The SKILL.md contains the code patterns, three worked examples (a live dashboard update, a batch merge of workbooks, and an add-in with custom functions) and a Limitations list.

Before you use it, know that xlwings needs Excel installed. The skill itself lists limited macOS support for some features and says it is not suitable for server-side processing.

Good for

Analysts who refresh Excel dashboards and monthly reports by hand
Python developers who need to script Excel, run VBA macros or build add-in functions
Finance and operations staff who merge many workbooks into one summary

Install excel-automation

Claude Code

Copy this prompt.

Install the excel-automation skill in Claude Code. Run this command:

npx skills add https://github.com/claude-office-skills/skills --skill excel-automation

Then check that it loaded and tell me how to use it.

2
Paste it into Claude Code. It shows the change and asks before running it.

Requires Node.js.

From its listing on skills.sh. Source.

What's in the skill

When it loads

>

Sections in SKILL.md

Overview
How to Use
Domain Knowledge
xlwings vs openpyxl
xlwings Fundamentals
Working with Ranges
Formatting
Excel Features
VBA Integration
User Defined Functions (UDFs)
Application Control
Best Practices
Common Patterns
Performance Optimization
Dashboard Update
Report Generator

Key facts

License (per GitHub): MIT
Author: claude-office-skills (repo owner)
Repository: claude-office-skills/skills, folder excel-automation
Installs on skills.sh: 15,959 as of 2026-11-02
Repo stars: 556 as of 2026-11-02 (whole repo)
Last repo commit: 2026-01-31
Files in the skill folder: 1 file including SKILL.md
skills.sh audits: Gen Agent Trust Hub: pass; Socket: pass; Snyk: pass

What it includes

Connect to Excel, open or create a workbook, pick a sheet
Shows how to attach to the active workbook, open a file with xw.Book or start a new one, and select sheets by name or index.
Runs code · xlwings basics
Read and write cells, named ranges and dynamic ranges
Covers single cells, list-of-lists ranges, expand(), current_region, used_range and resize().
Write · Ranges
Fonts, fills, number formats, column width and autofit
Gives the xlwings calls for bold, size, colour, number formats and autofit.
Write · Formatting
Add charts, Excel tables and images, including matplotlib figures
Shows how to add and change a chart, create a table from a range and insert a picture.
Write · Charts, tables, pictures
Run VBA macros with arguments and read their return value
Calls wb.macro(name) and reads module code through the VBProject. The Limitations list says VBA features need trust settings.
Runs code · VBA integration
Write Excel functions in Python with @xw.func
Shows how a Python function becomes a formula such as =my_sum(A1, B1).
Runs code · User defined functions
Turn off screen updating and auto-calc during big jobs
Sets screen_updating, calculation and display_alerts, then restores them.
Runs code · Application control
Batch update, dashboard refresh, monthly report to PDF
Three worked examples: update a live dashboard, merge many workbooks into one summary, and an add-in with custom functions. The report pattern saves a copy and exports a PDF.
Write · Report and dashboard patterns

From the official docs

Permissions

Medium risk

A script written with this skill can change or overwrite your workbooks, run macros inside Excel and close the application. Work on copies and read each script before you run it.

What it can do

Read your data
Create and change things
Delete things
Read-only mode

Watch out for

Scripts can run VBA macros and quit Excel
The skill shows wb.macro() calls, UDFs and app.quit(). Read each script first and try it on a copy of the workbook.
Setup installs a Python package and an Excel add-in
The Installation section lists pip install xlwings and xlwings addin install. Run them yourself in an environment you choose.
It saves and overwrites workbooks and PDFs
The report examples call save() and export a PDF. Point output paths at a new folder.

Technical details

Scopes	Excel workbooks you open Local files the script reads or writes

Questions

What does the excel-automation skill do?

It gives Claude a guide to xlwings, so Claude writes Python that controls Excel for you. Typical jobs are updating a dashboard, running a VBA macro, merging workbooks and adding custom formulas.

How do I install the excel-automation skill?

Use the install box above. The skills CLI command installs only this skill folder from claude-office-skills/skills. The skill is a reference guide, so you also need Python and xlwings on your machine for the scripts it writes.

Does it need Excel installed?

Yes. The Limitations section says it requires Excel to be installed. It also lists limited macOS support for some features and says it is not suitable for server-side processing.

Do I need an API key?

The SKILL.md names no API key and bundles no scripts. The code it teaches runs on your own machine against your own Excel.

Is the excel-automation skill safe?

The scripts Claude writes with it can overwrite cells, run VBA macros, save and export files, and quit Excel. Work on a copy of important workbooks, read each script before you let Claude run it, and keep macro trust settings tight.

What is the office-mcp server in its metadata?

The metadata block lists a server called office-mcp and four tools (read_xlsx, create_xlsx, apply_formula, pivot_table). The SKILL.md body does not mention them. Its instructions are xlwings code.

xlwings or openpyxl?

The skill's own table says xlwings needs Excel and can run VBA and talk to a live workbook, while openpyxl needs no Excel and is easier to deploy on a server. Pick xlwings for live Excel, openpyxl for plain file work.

Information

updated Nov 2, 2026

Repository: claude-office-skills/skills
Folder: excel-automation

claude-office-skills/skills skills.sh

Sources

Docs, issue trackers and discussions this page is built from.

Show all 1

excel-automation SKILL.md · github.com