excel-author

Generate auditable financial Excel workbooks headlessly using openpyxl with formula-driven cells.

16|Updated Sep 22, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/igniteenow/robo --skill excel-author-igniteenow
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: excel-author
Source: https://github.com/igniteenow/robo/tree/main/optional-skills/finance/excel-author
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/igniteenow/robo --skill excel-author-igniteenow

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill requires openpyxl, and includes scripts (resource) components.

What problem does it solve? Building financial models in Excel by hand or pasting Python-computed values into cells produces workbooks that break when assumptions change and cannot be audited. This Skill generates .xlsx files programmatically where every derived cell is a live Excel formula, inputs are color-coded and sourced, and a Checks tab validates the model. ## Core Features & Use Cases - Banker-grade conventions: Enforces blue/black/green font coloring to distinguish hardcoded inputs, formulas, and cross-sheet links, plus cell comments documenting the source of every hardcoded number. - Formula-driven models with named ranges: Writes live Excel formulas instead of pasted values and uses named ranges for cross-sheet references like WACC. - Sensitivity tables and balance checks: Builds odd-sized sensitivity grids with a highlighted base-case center cell and a Checks tab that surfaces TRUE/FALSE ties. - Headless recalculation: Ships a script that recalculates formulas via LibreOffice so downstream tools reading with data_only=True get computed values. - Use Case: Ask for a DCF model for a company and receive an ./out/model.xlsx with an Inputs tab, projection formulas, a Checks tab, and a 5x5 WACC/terminal-growth sensitivity table. ## Quick Start Ask the agent to build a DCF valuation workbook for a company with revenue, growth, and WACC assumptions, saved as an .xlsx file in the out folder.

Frequently Asked Questions about excel-author

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I create an Excel financial model with openpyxl in Python?▼

Use openpyxl to write formula strings like "=D19*(1+$B$8)" into cells rather than Python-computed values, so the model flexes when assumptions change. Color hardcoded inputs blue, formulas black, and cross-sheet links green for auditability.

How to recalculate openpyxl formulas without opening Excel?▼

openpyxl writes formula strings but never computes them, so data_only reads return None. Run LibreOffice headless with --convert-to xlsx to recalculate and resave the workbook, or use the included recalc.py script.

Does openpyxl compute formula values when saving a workbook?▼

No, openpyxl only stores formula strings and does not evaluate them. Excel recalculates on open, but headless pipelines need LibreOffice or a similar engine to produce computed values for downstream consumers.

How do I build a sensitivity table in an Excel model?▼

Build it with loops using an odd number of rows and columns so the center cell equals the base case, and highlight that center cell. Populate every cell with a full recalculation formula rather than approximations.

When should I not use openpyxl for spreadsheet tasks?▼

Avoid it when a user has a live Excel session with an Office MCP available, when exporting pure tabular data without formulas (use csv or pandas.to_excel), or when building interactive dashboards better suited to BI tools.