Excel CLI for AI Agents

Use Composio Universal CLI with Excel. Add sales data row to q2 table, create bar chart from revenue column, and more using natural language, with authentication handled for you.

Excel logoExcel
Oauth2S2s Oauth2

Microsoft Excel is a robust spreadsheet application for organizing, analyzing, and visualizing data. It's the go-to tool for calculations, reporting, and flexible data management.

119 Tools

Introduction

CLIs are eating MCPs. The industry is converging on the very same idea. MCPs for all their merit can be token hungry, slow, and unreliable for complex tool chaining. However, coding agents have become incredibly good at working with CLIs, and in fact they are far more comfortable working with CLI tools than MCP.

With Composio's Universal CLI, your coding agents can talk to over 1500+ SaaS applications. With Excel, agents can create workbooks and worksheets, read and update cell ranges, add rows to tables, build charts, and sort and filter data, and more — all without worrying about authentication.

This guide walks you through Composio Universal CLI and explains how you can connect it with coding agents like Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode, etc, for end-to-end Excel automation.

Also integrate Excel with

What is Universal CLI and why use it?

The idea behind building the universal CLI is to give agents a single command interface to interact with all your external applications. Here's what you'll get with it:

  • Agent-friendly: Coding agents like Claude Code, Codex, and OpenCode can use CLI tools natively — no MCP setup required.
  • Authentication handled: Connect once via OAuth or API Key, and all CLI commands work with your credentials automatically.
  • Tool discovery: Search, inspect, and execute 20,000+ tools across 1500+ apps from one interface.
  • Trigger support: Use triggers to listen for events across your apps, powered by real-time webhooks or polling under the hood.
  • Type generation: Generate typed schemas for autocomplete and type safety in your projects.

Prerequisites

Install the Composio CLI, authenticate, and initialize your project:

bash
# Install the Composio CLI
curl -fsSL https://composio.dev/install | bash

# Authenticate with Composio
composio login

During login you'll be redirected to sign in page, finish the complete flow and you're all set.

Composio CLI authentication flow

Connecting Excel to Coding Agents via Universal CLI

Once it is installed, it's essentially done. Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode, OpenClaw, or any other agent will be able to access the CLI. A few steps to give agents access to your apps.

  1. Launch your Coding Agent — Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode, anything you prefer.
  2. Prompt it to "Authenticate with Excel"
  3. Complete the authentication and authorization flow and your Excel integration is all set.
  4. Start asking anything you want.

Universal CLI Commands for Excel

You can also manually execute CLI commands to interact with your Excel.

Connect your Excel account

Link your Excel account and verify the connection:

bash
# Connect your Excel account (opens OAuth flow)
composio connected-accounts link excel

# Verify the connection
composio connected-accounts list --toolkits excel

Discover Excel tools

Search and inspect available Excel tools:

bash
# List all available Excel tools
composio tools list --toolkit excel

# Search for Excel tools by action
composio tools search "excel"

# Inspect a tool's input schema
composio tools info EXCEL_ADD_CHART

Common Excel Actions

Add Chart — Add a chart to a worksheet using microsoft graph api

bash
composio tools execute EXCEL_ADD_CHART \
  --type "<string>" \
  --item_id "<string>" \
  --worksheet "<string>" \
  --sourcedata "<string>"

Add SharePoint Worksheet — Add a new worksheet to a sharepoint excel workbook using microsoft graph sites api

bash
composio tools execute EXCEL_ADD_SHAREPOINT_WORKSHEET \
  --name "<string>" \
  --item_id "<string>" \
  --site_id "contoso.sharepoint.com,2C712604-1370-44E7-A1F5-426573FDA80A,2D2244C3-251A-49EA-93A8-39E1C3A060FE"

Add Table — Create a table in a workbook using microsoft graph api

bash
composio tools execute EXCEL_ADD_TABLE \
  --name "<string>" \
  --item_id "<string>" \
  --table_id "<string>" \
  --hasHeaders "<boolean>"

Add Table Column — Add a column to a table using microsoft graph api

bash
composio tools execute EXCEL_ADD_TABLE_COLUMN \
  --index "<integer>" \
  --values "<array>" \
  --item_id "<string>" \
  --table_id "<string>"

Generate Type Definitions

Generate typed schemas for Excel tools to get autocomplete and type safety in your project:

bash
# Auto-detect language
composio generate --toolkits excel

# TypeScript
composio ts generate --toolkits excel

# Python
composio py generate --toolkits excel

Tips & Tricks

  • Always inspect a tool's input schema before executing: composio tools info <TOOL_NAME>
  • Pipe output with jq for better readability: composio tools execute TOOL_NAME -d '{}' | jq
  • Set COMPOSIO_API_KEY as an environment variable for CI/CD pipelines
  • Use composio dev logs tools to inspect execution logs and debug issues

Next Steps

  • Try asking your coding agent to perform various Excel operations
  • Explore cross-app workflows by connecting more toolkits
  • Set up triggers for real-time automation
  • Use composio generate for typed schemas in your projects
TOOLS

Supported Tools

Every Excel action and event your agent gets out of the box.

Add Chart

Add a chart to a worksheet using Microsoft Graph API.

Add Named Item

Add Named Item

Add SharePoint Worksheet

Add a new worksheet to a SharePoint Excel workbook using Microsoft Graph Sites API.

Add Table

Create a new table in a worksheet using the Microsoft Graph API.

Add Table Column

Add a column to a table using Microsoft Graph API.

Add Table Row

Add a row to a table using Microsoft Graph API.

Add Workbook Permission

Tool to grant access to a workbook via invite.

Add Worksheet

Add a new worksheet to an Excel workbook using Microsoft Graph API.

Apply Table Filter

Apply a filter to a table column using Microsoft Graph API.

Apply Table Sort

Apply a sort to a table using Microsoft Graph API.

Autofit Range

Autofit columns or rows intersecting a workbook range.

Calculate Workbook Function

Run one allowlisted Microsoft Graph v1.

Calculate Excel Workbook

Calculate Excel Workbook

Clear Range

Tool to clear values, formats, or contents in a specified worksheet range.

Clear Table Filter

Clear a filter from a table column using Microsoft Graph API.

Clear All Table Filters

Clear All Table Filters

Clear Table Sort

Clear Table Sort

Close Excel Session

Tool to close an existing Excel workbook session.

Convert Table To Range

Convert a table to a range using Microsoft Graph API.

Copy Drive Item

Create a non-destructive asynchronous copy of a file or folder.

Create Folder

Create a folder under a parent Microsoft Graph drive item.

Create Workbook

Tool to create a new Excel workbook file at a specified drive path.

Delete Drive Item

Move a OneDrive or SharePoint drive item to the recycle bin by item ID.

Delete Named Item

Permanently delete a workbook-scoped named item; this cannot be undone.

Delete Range

Delete worksheet cells and shift the remaining cells up or left.

Delete Table

Permanently delete an Excel table by its ID or name.

Delete Table Column

Delete a column from a table using Microsoft Graph API.

Delete Table Row

Delete a row from a table using Microsoft Graph API.

Delete Worksheet

Tool to delete a worksheet from the workbook.

Download Workbook

Download an Excel workbook in its original file format.

Export Workbook to PDF

Tool to export an Excel workbook to PDF via Microsoft Graph's format conversion.

Get Excel Application

Get Excel Application

Get chart

Get chart

Get Chart Axis

Tool to retrieve a specific axis from a chart.

Get chart component

Get chart component

Get Chart Data Labels

Tool to retrieve the data labels object of a chart.

Get chart image

Get chart image

Get Chart Legend

Tool to retrieve the legend object of a chart.

Get chart point

Get chart point

Get chart series

Get chart series

Get Comment

Retrieve one workbook comment by its exact ID.

Get Comment Reply

Retrieve one reply to a workbook comment by its exact ID.

Get Derived Range

Return a range derived from another range by navigation or geometry.

Get Drive Item

Retrieve OneDrive or SharePoint drive item metadata by exact ID or path.

Get Named Item

Retrieve a workbook-scoped named item by exact name.

Get Named Item Range

Get Named Item Range

Get Excel Operation Status

Get Excel Operation Status

Get Pivot Table

Get Pivot Table

Get Projected Worksheet Subresource

Read selected properties from a worksheet range, its used range, or worksheet protection.

Get Range

Get a range from a worksheet using Microsoft Graph API.

Get Range Format

Read one formatting component from a workbook range.

Create Excel Session

Create a session for an Excel workbook using Microsoft Graph API.

Get SharePoint Range

Get a range from a worksheet in SharePoint using Microsoft Graph Sites API.

Get SharePoint Worksheet

Get a worksheet by name or ID from a SharePoint Excel workbook using Microsoft Graph Sites API.

Get Table

Retrieve one workbook- or worksheet-addressed table by ID or exact name.

Get table column

Tool to retrieve a specific column from a workbook table.

Get Table Column Cell

Read one cell by row within a selected table column's data body.

Get Table Column Range

Get Table Column Range

Get Table Range

Get Table Range

Get Table Row

Get Table Row

Get Table Row Range

Get Table Row Range

Get Table Sort

Get Table Sort

Get Visible Range

Read cells visible after worksheet filtering.

Get workbook

Tool to retrieve the properties and relationships of a workbook.

Get Worksheet

Get a worksheet by name or ID from an Excel workbook using Microsoft Graph API.

Get Worksheet Protection

Get Worksheet Protection

Get Worksheet Row Range

Read a zero-based worksheet row bounded to columns containing values.

Get Worksheet Used Range

Tool to retrieve a worksheet's used range (active data region) without specifying a fixed range address.

Insert Range

Tool to insert a new cell range into a worksheet, shifting existing cells down or right.

List chart points

List chart points

List Charts

List charts in a worksheet using Microsoft Graph API.

List Chart Series

Tool to list all data series in a chart.

List Comment Replies

List replies to one workbook comment.

List Comments

Tool to list comments in an Excel workbook.

List Drive Item Children

Tool to list immediate children (files/folders) of a folder DriveItem using driveId and itemId.

List Drive Item Versions

List retained versions of a OneDrive or SharePoint workbook file.

List Drive Files

List files and folders in a drive root or specified path.

List Named Items

List named items in a workbook using Microsoft Graph API.

List Pivot Tables

List Pivot Tables

List SharePoint Tables

List tables in a SharePoint worksheet using Microsoft Graph Sites API.

List SharePoint Worksheets

List worksheets in an Excel workbook stored in SharePoint using Microsoft Graph Sites API.

List Site Lists

List SharePoint lists in a known Microsoft Graph site.

List Table Columns

List columns in a table using Microsoft Graph API.

List Table Rows

List rows in a table using Microsoft Graph API.

List Tables

List tables in a worksheet using Microsoft Graph API.

List Workbook Permissions

Tool to list permissions set on the workbook file.

List Worksheets

List worksheets in an Excel workbook using Microsoft Graph API.

Merge Cells

Merge cells in a worksheet range using Microsoft Graph API.

Protect Worksheet

Tool to protect a worksheet using optional protection options.

Reapply All Table Filters

Reapply All Table Filters

Reapply Table Sort

Reapply Table Sort

Refresh Pivot Tables

Refresh Pivot Tables

Refresh Excel Session

Refresh Excel Session

Run Graph Mutation Batch

Create, update, or delete drive or workbook resources in up to 20 requests; inspect every subresponse status because individual mutations can fail.

Run Graph Read Batch

Read drive or workbook data in up to 20 GET requests; inspect every subresponse status because individual requests can fail.

Search Drive Files

Tool to search OneDrive drive items by query to discover Excel workbook IDs.

Search Microsoft 365 Content

Search OneDrive and SharePoint content using Microsoft Search.

Search Sites

Search SharePoint sites by free-text query for workbook discovery.

Set chart data

Set chart data

Set chart position

Set chart position

Sort Range

Sort a range in a worksheet using Microsoft Graph API.

Unmerge Range

Split a merged worksheet range back into separate cells.

Unprotect Worksheet

Remove protection from a worksheet so it can be edited again.

Update Chart

Update a chart in a worksheet using Microsoft Graph API.

Update chart component

Update chart component

Update Chart Legend

Tool to update formatting or position of a chart legend.

Update chart series

Rename one Excel chart series by ID or zero-based collection position.

Update Drive Item

Rename, move within the same drive, or update client timestamps for a DriveItem by stable ID.

Update Named Item

Update a workbook named item's visibility or comment.

Update Range

Update a range in a worksheet using Microsoft Graph API.

Update Range Format

Update exactly one formatting component on a workbook range.

Update SharePoint Range

Update a range in a SharePoint worksheet using Microsoft Graph Sites API.

Update Table

Update a table in a workbook using Microsoft Graph API.

Update Table Column

Update Table Column

Update Table Column Range

Update raw values in a table column's data-body cells by zero-based index.

Update Table Row

Update Table Row

Update Worksheet

Update worksheet properties (name, position) in an Excel workbook using Microsoft Graph API.

Upload Workbook from URL

Tool to upload an external Excel file from a URL into OneDrive/SharePoint.

Who Am I

Return the identity (email, name) of the connected Excel (Microsoft) account.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The Composio Universal CLI is a single command-line interface that lets coding agents and developers interact with 1500+ SaaS applications. It handles authentication, tool discovery, action execution, and trigger setup — all from the terminal, without needing to configure MCP servers.

Any coding agent that can run shell commands works with the Composio CLI — including Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode, OpenClaw, and others. Once the CLI is installed, agents automatically discover and use the composio commands to interact with Excel and other connected apps.

MCP servers require configuration and can be token-heavy for complex workflows. The CLI gives agents a direct, lightweight interface — no server setup needed. Agents simply call composio commands like any other shell tool. It's faster to set up, more reliable for multi-step tool chaining, and works natively with how coding agents already operate.

All sensitive data such as tokens, keys, and configuration is fully encrypted at rest and in transit. Composio is SOC 2 Type 2 compliant and follows strict security practices so your Excel data and credentials are handled as safely as possible. You can also bring your own OAuth credentials for full control.

Start with Excel.It takes 30 seconds.

Managed auth, hosted MCP servers, and every Excel tool your agent needs.Free to start.

Start building