Spreadsheet Generator Skill

Generate professional Excel spreadsheets with structured data, formulas, charts, and professional formatting. This skill leverages Anthropic's xlsx Agent Skill to create Excel documents programmatically.

Instructions

** IMPORTANT: vtcode Compatibility Note**

This skill requires Anthropic's container skills feature (xlsx skill) which is only available through:

• Anthropic's official CLI (anthropic command)
• Claude Desktop app with skills enabled
• Direct Anthropic API with container.skills parameter

vtcode does not currently support Anthropic container skills. Instead, use one of these approaches:

Option 1: Use Anthropic CLI (Recommended)

# Install Anthropic CLI: pip install anthropic
# Set API key: export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=your_key
anthropic messages create \
  --model claude-4-5-sonnet \
  --max-tokens 4096 \
  --container-skills anthropic:xlsx:latest \
  --message "Create an Excel file with [your specification]"

Option 2: Python Script with openpyxl

Use vtcode's execute_code tool with Python and openpyxl library:

import openpyxl
from openpyxl.styles import Font, PatternFill, Alignment
from openpyxl.chart import BarChart, Reference

# Create workbook
wb = openpyxl.Workbook()
ws = wb.active
ws.title = "Financial Dashboard"

# Add headers
headers = ["Month", "Revenue", "Expenses", "Profit"]
ws.append(headers)

# Style headers
for cell in ws[1]:
    cell.font = Font(bold=True)
    cell.fill = PatternFill(start_color="366092", fill_type="solid")

# Add sample data
data = [
    ["Q1", 150000, 90000, 60000],
    ["Q2", 175000, 95000, 80000],
    ["Q3", 200000, 100000, 100000],
    ["Q4", 225000, 110000, 115000]
]
for row in data:
    ws.append(row)

# Save file
wb.save("financial_dashboard.xlsx")
print("Spreadsheet created: financial_dashboard.xlsx")

Option 3: Use CSV + Manual Import

Generate CSV data that users can import into Excel:

import csv

data = [
    ["Month", "Revenue", "Expenses", "Profit"],
    ["Q1", 150000, 90000, 60000],
    ["Q2", 175000, 95000, 80000],
]

with open("data.csv", "w", newline="") as f:
    writer = csv.writer(f)
    writer.writerows(data)

print("CSV created: data.csv (import into Excel manually)")

Original Anthropic API Instructions (For Reference)

When using Anthropic's official tools with container skills:

1. Understand Requirements: Parse data content, structure, formatting, charts, formulas

2. Plan the Spreadsheet: Sketch layout, identify calculations, determine chart types

3. Create with Anthropic API:

   import anthropic
   
   client = anthropic.Anthropic()
   response = client.messages.create(
       model="claude-4-5-sonnet",
       max_tokens=4096,
       tools=[{"type": "code_execution", "name": "bash"}],
       messages=[{
           "role": "user",
           "content": "Create an Excel file with [specification]"
       }],
       container={
           "type": "skills",
           "skills": [{"type": "anthropic", "skill_id": "xlsx", "version": "latest"}]
       },
       betas=["code-execution-2025-08-25", "skills-2025-10-02"]
   )
   

4. Extract File Reference: Locate file_id in response content blocks

Examples

Financial Dashboard

Input: "Create a quarterly financial dashboard with revenue, expenses, and profit margins" Output: Excel file with multiple sheets - raw data, calculations, visual dashboard

Sales Analysis

Input: "Generate a sales report for Q4 2024 by region with growth percentages and trend analysis" Output: Structured spreadsheet with regional data, metrics, and charts

Inventory Tracking

Input: "Create an inventory management spreadsheet with SKU, quantity, cost, and reorder levels" Output: Professional inventory tracker with formulas and conditional formatting

Features Supported

• Multiple Sheets: Create and organize data across sheets
• Formatting: Colors, fonts, number formats, borders
• Formulas: SUM, AVERAGE, IF, VLOOKUP, and complex calculations
• Charts: Bar, line, pie, scatter plots with proper labeling
• Tables: Formatted data ranges with filters
• Conditional Formatting: Highlight cells based on values
• Merged Cells: Professional layout with spans
• Number Formats: Currency, percentages, dates

Use Cases

• Financial reporting and analysis
• Sales performance dashboards
• Employee records and payroll
• Inventory and asset management
• Budget planning and tracking
• Data analysis and summaries
• Project timelines and schedules
• Survey results compilation

Best Practices

1. Clear Structure: Use headers and organize data logically
2. Formulas Over Static Data: Use calculations for maintainability
3. Professional Formatting: Match company standards and branding
4. Documentation: Include notes or instructions sheets
5. Chart Selection: Use appropriate visualization for data type
6. Performance: Optimize large datasets with summaries

Related Skills

• doc-generator - For written reports and documentation
• pdf-report-generator - For final distribution-ready reports
• presentation-builder - For stakeholder presentations

Limitations

• Maximum file size: ~50MB for code execution environment
• Complex VBA macros not supported
• Real-time data connection limitations
• Advanced Power Query workflows require manual setup post-generation