# Excel CLI for AI Agents

```json
{
  "title": "Excel CLI for AI Agents",
  "toolkit": "Excel",
  "toolkit_slug": "excel",
  "framework": "CLI",
  "framework_slug": "cli",
  "url": "https://composio.dev/toolkits/excel/framework/cli",
  "markdown_url": "https://composio.dev/toolkits/excel/framework/cli.md",
  "updated_at": "2026-05-06T08:11:03.552Z"
}
```

## 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 1000+ SaaS applications. With Excel, agents can add sales data row to q2 table, create bar chart from revenue column, share this workbook with your manager, 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

- [ChatGPT](https://composio.dev/toolkits/excel/framework/chatgpt)
- [OpenAI Agents SDK](https://composio.dev/toolkits/excel/framework/open-ai-agents-sdk)
- [Claude Agent SDK](https://composio.dev/toolkits/excel/framework/claude-agents-sdk)
- [Claude Code](https://composio.dev/toolkits/excel/framework/claude-code)
- [Claude Cowork](https://composio.dev/toolkits/excel/framework/claude-cowork)
- [Codex](https://composio.dev/toolkits/excel/framework/codex)
- [Cursor](https://composio.dev/toolkits/excel/framework/cursor)
- [VS Code](https://composio.dev/toolkits/excel/framework/vscode)
- [OpenCode](https://composio.dev/toolkits/excel/framework/opencode)
- [OpenClaw](https://composio.dev/toolkits/excel/framework/openclaw)
- [Hermes](https://composio.dev/toolkits/excel/framework/hermes-agent)
- [Google ADK](https://composio.dev/toolkits/excel/framework/google-adk)
- [LangChain](https://composio.dev/toolkits/excel/framework/langchain)
- [Vercel AI SDK](https://composio.dev/toolkits/excel/framework/ai-sdk)
- [Mastra AI](https://composio.dev/toolkits/excel/framework/mastra-ai)
- [LlamaIndex](https://composio.dev/toolkits/excel/framework/llama-index)
- [CrewAI](https://composio.dev/toolkits/excel/framework/crew-ai)

## TL;DR

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 1000+ 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.

## Connect Excel to CLI

### 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
```

## What is the Excel MCP server, and what's possible with it?

The Excel MCP server is an implementation of the Model Context Protocol that connects your AI agent and assistants like Claude, Cursor, etc directly to your Excel account. It provides structured and secure access to your spreadsheets, so your agent can perform actions like adding data, creating tables, managing worksheets, generating charts, and sharing workbooks on your behalf.
- Automated data entry and updates: Let your agent add rows, columns, or clear specific ranges in any worksheet—keeping your data fresh, organized, and accurate.
- Effortless table and worksheet management: Direct your agent to create tables, add new worksheets, or organize data structures for seamless tracking and reporting.
- Dynamic chart generation: Have your agent visualize your data instantly by adding charts to any worksheet for quick insights and analysis.
- Advanced filtering and sorting: Ask your agent to apply filters or custom sorts to tables, making it easy to focus on what matters most in your datasets.
- Secure sharing and permission control: Empower your agent to grant access or update permissions on workbooks, ensuring your team can collaborate safely and efficiently.

## Supported Tools

| Tool slug | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| `EXCEL_ADD_CHART` | Add Chart | Add a chart to a worksheet using microsoft graph api. |
| `EXCEL_ADD_SHAREPOINT_WORKSHEET` | Add SharePoint Worksheet | Add a new worksheet to a sharepoint excel workbook using microsoft graph sites api. |
| `EXCEL_ADD_TABLE` | Add Table | Create a table in a workbook using microsoft graph api. |
| `EXCEL_ADD_TABLE_COLUMN` | Add Table Column | Add a column to a table using microsoft graph api. |
| `EXCEL_ADD_TABLE_ROW` | Add Table Row | Add a row to a table using microsoft graph api. |
| `EXCEL_ADD_WORKBOOK_PERMISSION` | Add Workbook Permission | Tool to grant access to a workbook via invite. use when you need to share a specific workbook file with designated recipients and roles. |
| `EXCEL_ADD_WORKSHEET` | Add Worksheet | Add a new worksheet to an excel workbook using microsoft graph api. |
| `EXCEL_APPLY_TABLE_FILTER` | Apply Table Filter | Apply a filter to a table column using microsoft graph api. |
| `EXCEL_APPLY_TABLE_SORT` | Apply Table Sort | Apply a sort to a table using microsoft graph api. |
| `EXCEL_CLEAR_RANGE` | Clear Range | Tool to clear values, formats, or contents in a specified worksheet range. use when you need to reset cells before adding new data. |
| `EXCEL_CLEAR_TABLE_FILTER` | Clear Table Filter | Clear a filter from a table column using microsoft graph api. |
| `EXCEL_CLOSE_SESSION` | Close Excel Session | Tool to close an existing excel workbook session. use when you need to explicitly end a persistent session to release workbook locks. |
| `EXCEL_CONVERT_TABLE_TO_RANGE` | Convert Table To Range | Convert a table to a range using microsoft graph api. |
| `EXCEL_CREATE_WORKBOOK` | Create Workbook | Tool to create a new workbook file at a specified drive path. use when uploading a new .xlsx file to onedrive. |
| `EXCEL_DELETE_TABLE_COLUMN` | Delete Table Column | Delete a column from a table using microsoft graph api. |
| `EXCEL_DELETE_TABLE_ROW` | Delete Table Row | Delete a row from a table using microsoft graph api. |
| `EXCEL_DELETE_WORKSHEET` | Delete Worksheet | Tool to delete a worksheet from the workbook. use when cleaning up unused or temporary sheets after verifying no dependencies exist. example: "delete 'sheet2' after review." |
| `EXCEL_GET_CHART_AXIS` | Get Chart Axis | Tool to retrieve a specific axis from a chart. use when you need properties like min, max, interval, and formatting of the chart axis. |
| `EXCEL_GET_CHART_DATA_LABELS` | Get Chart Data Labels | Tool to retrieve the data labels object of a chart. use when you need to inspect label settings like position, separator, and visibility flags after creating or updating a chart. |
| `EXCEL_GET_CHART_LEGEND` | Get Chart Legend | Tool to retrieve the legend object of a chart. use after creating or updating a chart when you need to inspect legend visibility and formatting. |
| `EXCEL_GET_RANGE` | Get Range | Get a range from a worksheet using microsoft graph api. |
| `EXCEL_GET_SESSION` | Create Excel Session | Create a session for an excel workbook using microsoft graph api. |
| `EXCEL_GET_SHAREPOINT_RANGE` | Get SharePoint Range | Get a range from a worksheet in sharepoint using microsoft graph sites api. |
| `EXCEL_GET_SHAREPOINT_WORKSHEET` | Get SharePoint Worksheet | Get a worksheet by name or id from a sharepoint excel workbook using microsoft graph sites api. |
| `EXCEL_GET_TABLE_COLUMN` | Get Table Column | Tool to retrieve a specific column from a workbook table. use when you need to fetch column properties and data by its id or name. |
| `EXCEL_GET_WORKBOOK` | Get workbook | Tool to retrieve the properties and relationships of a workbook. use when you need to inspect comments, names, tables, or worksheets. |
| `EXCEL_GET_WORKSHEET` | Get Worksheet | Get a worksheet by name or id from an excel workbook using microsoft graph api. |
| `EXCEL_INSERT_RANGE` | Insert Range | Tool to insert a new cell range into a worksheet, shifting existing cells down or right. use when you need to create space for new content without overwriting. |
| `EXCEL_LIST_CHARTS` | List Charts | List charts in a worksheet using microsoft graph api. |
| `EXCEL_LIST_CHART_SERIES` | List Chart Series | Tool to list all data series in a chart. use when you need to enumerate chart series for further analysis. |
| `EXCEL_LIST_COMMENTS` | List Comments | Tool to list comments in an excel workbook. use when you need to retrieve all workbook comments via microsoft graph api. |
| `EXCEL_LIST_FILES` | List Drive Files | List files and folders in a drive root or specified path. |
| `EXCEL_LIST_NAMED_ITEMS` | List Named Items | List named items in a workbook using microsoft graph api. |
| `EXCEL_LIST_SHAREPOINT_TABLES` | List SharePoint Tables | List tables in a sharepoint worksheet using microsoft graph sites api. |
| `EXCEL_LIST_SHAREPOINT_WORKSHEETS` | List SharePoint Worksheets | List worksheets in an excel workbook stored in sharepoint using microsoft graph sites api. |
| `EXCEL_LIST_TABLE_COLUMNS` | List Table Columns | List columns in a table using microsoft graph api. |
| `EXCEL_LIST_TABLE_ROWS` | List Table Rows | List rows in a table using microsoft graph api. |
| `EXCEL_LIST_TABLES` | List Tables | List tables in a worksheet using microsoft graph api. |
| `EXCEL_LIST_WORKBOOK_PERMISSIONS` | List Workbook Permissions | Tool to list permissions set on the workbook file. use when you need to see which users or links have access to a specific excel file by supplying its drive and item ids. example: "list permissions for workbook with drive id 'b!abc123' and item id '0123456789abcdef'." |
| `EXCEL_LIST_WORKSHEETS` | List Worksheets | List worksheets in an excel workbook using microsoft graph api. |
| `EXCEL_MERGE_CELLS` | Merge Cells | Merge cells in a worksheet range using microsoft graph api. |
| `EXCEL_PROTECT_WORKSHEET` | Protect Worksheet | Tool to protect a worksheet using optional protection options. use when you need to prevent editing certain parts of a sheet before sharing. example: "protect 'sheet1' to lock formatting and sorting." |
| `EXCEL_SORT_RANGE` | Sort Range | Sort a range in a worksheet using microsoft graph api. |
| `EXCEL_UPDATE_CHART` | Update Chart | Update a chart in a worksheet using microsoft graph api. |
| `EXCEL_UPDATE_CHART_LEGEND` | Update Chart Legend | Tool to update formatting or position of a chart legend. use when adjusting legend settings after confirming chart and worksheet exist. |
| `EXCEL_UPDATE_RANGE` | Update Range | Update a range in a worksheet using microsoft graph api. |
| `EXCEL_UPDATE_SHAREPOINT_RANGE` | Update SharePoint Range | Update a range in a sharepoint worksheet using microsoft graph sites api. |
| `EXCEL_UPDATE_TABLE` | Update Table | Update a table in a workbook using microsoft graph api. |
| `EXCEL_UPDATE_WORKSHEET` | Update Worksheet | Update worksheet properties (name, position) in an excel workbook using microsoft graph api. |

## Supported Triggers

None listed.

## Complete Code

None listed.

## Conclusion

- 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

## How to build Excel MCP Agent with another framework

- [ChatGPT](https://composio.dev/toolkits/excel/framework/chatgpt)
- [OpenAI Agents SDK](https://composio.dev/toolkits/excel/framework/open-ai-agents-sdk)
- [Claude Agent SDK](https://composio.dev/toolkits/excel/framework/claude-agents-sdk)
- [Claude Code](https://composio.dev/toolkits/excel/framework/claude-code)
- [Claude Cowork](https://composio.dev/toolkits/excel/framework/claude-cowork)
- [Codex](https://composio.dev/toolkits/excel/framework/codex)
- [Cursor](https://composio.dev/toolkits/excel/framework/cursor)
- [VS Code](https://composio.dev/toolkits/excel/framework/vscode)
- [OpenCode](https://composio.dev/toolkits/excel/framework/opencode)
- [OpenClaw](https://composio.dev/toolkits/excel/framework/openclaw)
- [Hermes](https://composio.dev/toolkits/excel/framework/hermes-agent)
- [Google ADK](https://composio.dev/toolkits/excel/framework/google-adk)
- [LangChain](https://composio.dev/toolkits/excel/framework/langchain)
- [Vercel AI SDK](https://composio.dev/toolkits/excel/framework/ai-sdk)
- [Mastra AI](https://composio.dev/toolkits/excel/framework/mastra-ai)
- [LlamaIndex](https://composio.dev/toolkits/excel/framework/llama-index)
- [CrewAI](https://composio.dev/toolkits/excel/framework/crew-ai)

## Related Toolkits

- [21risk](https://composio.dev/toolkits/_21risk) - 21RISK is a web app built for easy checklist, audit, and compliance management. It streamlines risk processes so teams can focus on what matters.
- [Abstract](https://composio.dev/toolkits/abstract) - Abstract provides a suite of APIs for automating data validation and enrichment tasks. It helps developers streamline workflows and ensure data quality with minimal effort.
- [Addressfinder](https://composio.dev/toolkits/addressfinder) - Addressfinder is a data quality platform for verifying addresses, emails, and phone numbers. It helps you ensure accurate customer and contact data every time.
- [Agentql](https://composio.dev/toolkits/agentql) - Agentql is a toolkit that connects AI agents to the web using a specialized query language. It enables structured web interaction and data extraction for smarter automations.
- [Agenty](https://composio.dev/toolkits/agenty) - Agenty is a web scraping and automation platform for extracting data and automating browser tasks—no coding needed. It streamlines data collection, monitoring, and repetitive online actions.
- [Ambee](https://composio.dev/toolkits/ambee) - Ambee is an environmental data platform providing real-time, hyperlocal APIs for air quality, weather, and pollen. Get precise environmental insights to power smarter decisions in your apps and workflows.
- [Ambient weather](https://composio.dev/toolkits/ambient_weather) - Ambient Weather is a platform for personal weather stations with a robust API for accessing local, real-time, and historical weather data. Get detailed environmental insights directly from your own sensors for smarter apps and automations.
- [Anonyflow](https://composio.dev/toolkits/anonyflow) - Anonyflow is a service for encryption-based data anonymization and secure data sharing. It helps organizations meet GDPR, CCPA, and HIPAA data privacy compliance requirements.
- [Api ninjas](https://composio.dev/toolkits/api_ninjas) - Api ninjas offers 120+ public APIs spanning categories like weather, finance, sports, and more. Developers use it to supercharge apps with real-time data and actionable endpoints.
- [Api sports](https://composio.dev/toolkits/api_sports) - Api sports is a comprehensive sports data platform covering 2,000+ competitions with live scores and 15+ years of stats. Instantly access up-to-date sports information for analysis, apps, or chatbots.
- [Apify](https://composio.dev/toolkits/apify) - Apify is a cloud platform for building, deploying, and managing web scraping and automation tools called Actors. It lets you automate data extraction and workflow tasks at scale—no infrastructure headaches.
- [Autom](https://composio.dev/toolkits/autom) - Autom is a lightning-fast search engine results data platform for Google, Bing, and Brave. Developers use it to access fresh, low-latency SERP data on demand.
- [Beaconchain](https://composio.dev/toolkits/beaconchain) - Beaconchain is a real-time analytics platform for Ethereum 2.0's Beacon Chain. It provides detailed insights into validators, blocks, and overall network performance.
- [Big data cloud](https://composio.dev/toolkits/big_data_cloud) - BigDataCloud provides APIs for geolocation, reverse geocoding, and address validation. Instantly access reliable location intelligence to enhance your applications and workflows.
- [Bigpicture io](https://composio.dev/toolkits/bigpicture_io) - BigPicture.io offers APIs for accessing detailed company and profile data. Instantly enrich your applications with up-to-date insights on 20M+ businesses.
- [Bitquery](https://composio.dev/toolkits/bitquery) - Bitquery is a blockchain data platform offering indexed, real-time, and historical data from 40+ blockchains via GraphQL APIs. Get unified, reliable access to complex on-chain data for analytics, trading, and research.
- [Brightdata](https://composio.dev/toolkits/brightdata) - Brightdata is a leading web data platform offering advanced scraping, SERP APIs, and anti-bot tools. It lets you collect public web data at scale, bypassing blocks and friction.
- [Builtwith](https://composio.dev/toolkits/builtwith) - BuiltWith is a web technology profiler that uncovers the technologies powering any website. Gain actionable insights into analytics, hosting, and content management stacks for smarter research and lead generation.
- [Byteforms](https://composio.dev/toolkits/byteforms) - Byteforms is an all-in-one platform for creating forms, managing submissions, and integrating data. It streamlines workflows by centralizing form data collection and automation.
- [Cabinpanda](https://composio.dev/toolkits/cabinpanda) - Cabinpanda is a data collection platform for building and managing online forms. It helps streamline how you gather, organize, and analyze responses.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the Composio Universal CLI?

The Composio Universal CLI is a single command-line interface that lets coding agents and developers interact with 1000+ SaaS applications. It handles authentication, tool discovery, action execution, and trigger setup — all from the terminal, without needing to configure MCP servers.

### Which coding agents work with the Composio CLI?

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.

### How is the CLI different from using an MCP server for Excel?

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.

### How safe is my Excel data when using the Composio CLI?

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.

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