Working with Spreadsheets Skill

Working with Spreadsheets

Quick Start

from openpyxl import Workbook

wb = Workbook()
sheet = wb.active
sheet['A1'] = 'Revenue'
sheet['B1'] = 1000
sheet['B2'] = '=B1*1.1'  # Use formulas, not hardcoded values!
wb.save('output.xlsx')

Critical Rule: Use Formulas, Not Hardcoded Values

Always use Excel formulas instead of calculating in Python.

# WRONG - Hardcoding calculated values
total = df['Sales'].sum()
sheet['B10'] = total  # Hardcodes 5000

# CORRECT - Using Excel formulas
sheet['B10'] = '=SUM(B2:B9)'

Financial Model Color Coding Standards

| Color | RGB | Usage | |-------|-----|-------| | Blue text | 0,0,255 | Hardcoded inputs, scenario values | | Black text | 0,0,0 | ALL formulas and calculations | | Green text | 0,128,0 | Links from other worksheets | | Red text | 255,0,0 | External links to other files | | Yellow background | 255,255,0 | Key assumptions needing attention |

from openpyxl.styles import Font

# Input cell (user changeable)
sheet['B5'].font = Font(color='0000FF')  # Blue

# Formula cell
sheet['C5'] = '=B5*1.1'
sheet['C5'].font = Font(color='000000')  # Black

# Cross-sheet link
sheet['D5'] = "=Sheet2!A1"
sheet['D5'].font = Font(color='008000')  # Green

Number Formatting Standards

# Currency with thousands separator
sheet['B5'].number_format = '$#,##0'

# Zeros display as dash
sheet['B5'].number_format = '$#,##0;($#,##0);-'

# Percentages with one decimal
sheet['C5'].number_format = '0.0%'

# Valuation multiples
sheet['D5'].number_format = '0.0x'

# Years as text (not 2,024)
sheet['A1'] = '2024'  # String, not number

Library Selection

| Task | Library | Example | |------|---------|---------| | Data analysis | pandas | df = pd.read_excel('file.xlsx') | | Formulas & formatting | openpyxl | sheet['A1'] = '=SUM(B:B)' | | Large files (read) | openpyxl | load_workbook('file.xlsx', read_only=True) | | Large files (write) | openpyxl | Workbook(write_only=True) |

Reading Excel Files

import pandas as pd
from openpyxl import load_workbook

# pandas - data analysis
df = pd.read_excel('file.xlsx')
all_sheets = pd.read_excel('file.xlsx', sheet_name=None)  # Dict of DataFrames

# openpyxl - preserve formulas
wb = load_workbook('file.xlsx')
sheet = wb.active
print(sheet['A1'].value)  # Returns formula string

# openpyxl - get calculated values (WARNING: loses formulas on save!)
wb = load_workbook('file.xlsx', data_only=True)

Creating Excel Files

from openpyxl import Workbook
from openpyxl.styles import Font, PatternFill, Alignment

wb = Workbook()
sheet = wb.active
sheet.title = 'Model'

# Headers
sheet['A1'] = 'Metric'
sheet['B1'] = '2024'
sheet['A1'].font = Font(bold=True)

# Data with formulas
sheet['A2'] = 'Revenue'
sheet['B2'] = 1000000
sheet['B2'].font = Font(color='0000FF')  # Blue = input

sheet['A3'] = 'Growth'
sheet['B3'] = '=B2*0.1'
sheet['B3'].font = Font(color='000000')  # Black = formula

# Formatting
sheet['B2'].number_format = '$#,##0'
sheet.column_dimensions['A'].width = 20

wb.save('model.xlsx')

Editing Existing Files

from openpyxl import load_workbook

wb = load_workbook('existing.xlsx')
sheet = wb['Data']  # Or wb.active

# Modify cells
sheet['A1'] = 'Updated Value'
sheet.insert_rows(2)
sheet.delete_cols(3)

# Add new sheet
new_sheet = wb.create_sheet('Analysis')
new_sheet['A1'] = '=Data!B5'  # Cross-sheet reference

wb.save('modified.xlsx')

Formula Recalculation

openpyxl writes formulas but doesn't calculate values. Use LibreOffice to recalculate:

# Recalculate and check for errors
python recalc.py output.xlsx

The script returns JSON:

{
  "status": "success",  // or "errors_found"
  "total_errors": 0,
  "total_formulas": 42,
  "error_summary": {
    "#REF!": {"count": 2, "locations": ["Sheet1!B5", "Sheet1!C10"]}
  }
}

Formula Verification Checklist

Before Building

[ ] Test 2-3 sample references first
[ ] Confirm column mapping (column 64 = BL, not BK)
[ ] Remember: DataFrame row 5 = Excel row 6 (1-indexed)

Common Pitfalls

[ ] Check for NaN with pd.notna() before using values
[ ] FY data often in columns 50+ (far right)
[ ] Search ALL occurrences, not just first match
[ ] Check denominators before division (#DIV/0!)
[ ] Verify cross-sheet references use correct format (Sheet1!A1)

After Building

[ ] Run recalc.py and fix any errors
[ ] Verify #REF!, #DIV/0!, #VALUE!, #NAME? = 0

Common Errors

| Error | Cause | Fix | |-------|-------|-----| | #REF! | Invalid cell reference | Check deleted rows/columns | | #DIV/0! | Division by zero | Add IF check: =IF(B5=0,0,A5/B5) | | #VALUE! | Wrong data type | Check cell contains expected type | | #NAME? | Unknown function | Check spelling, quotes around text |

Verification

Run: python scripts/verify.py

Related Skills

building-nextjs-apps - Frontend for spreadsheet uploads
scaffolding-fastapi-dapr - API for spreadsheet processing

Agent Skills: Working with Spreadsheets

Install this agent skill to your local

Skill Files