minimax-xlsx

MiniMax XLSX Skill

Handle the request directly. Do NOT spawn sub-agents. Always write the output file the user requests.

Task Routing

Task	Method	Guide
READ — analyze existing data	xlsx_reader.py + pandas	references/read-analyze.md
CREATE — new xlsx from scratch	XML template	references/create.md + references/format.md
EDIT — modify existing xlsx	XML unpack→edit→pack	references/edit.md (+ format.md if styling needed)
FIX — repair broken formulas in existing xlsx	XML unpack→fix <f> nodes→pack	references/fix.md
VALIDATE — check formulas	formula_check.py	references/validate.md

READ — Analyze data (read references/read-analyze.md first)

Start with xlsx_reader.py for structure discovery, then pandas for custom analysis. Never modify the source file.

Formatting rule: When the user specifies decimal places (e.g. "2 decimal places"), apply that format to ALL numeric values — use f'{v:.2f}' on every number. Never output 12875 when 12875.00 is required.

Aggregation rule: Always compute sums/means/counts directly from the DataFrame column — e.g. df['Revenue'].sum(). Never re-derive column values before aggregation.

CREATE — XML template (read references/create.md + references/format.md)

Copy templates/minimal_xlsx/ → edit XML directly → pack with xlsx_pack.py. Every derived value MUST be an Excel formula (<f>SUM(B2:B9)</f>), never a hardcoded number. Apply font colors per format.md.

EDIT — XML direct-edit (read references/edit.md first)

CRITICAL — EDIT INTEGRITY RULES:

1. NEVER create a new Workbook() for edit tasks. Always load the original file.
2. The output MUST contain the same sheets as the input (same names, same data).
3. Only modify the specific cells the task asks for — everything else must be untouched.
4. After saving output.xlsx, verify it: open with xlsx_reader.py or pandas and confirm the original sheet names and a sample of original data are present. If verification fails, you wrote the wrong file — fix it before delivering.

Never use openpyxl round-trip on existing files (corrupts VBA, pivots, sparklines). Instead: unpack → use helper scripts → repack.

"Fill cells" / "Add formulas to existing cells" = EDIT task. If the input file already exists and you are told to fill, update, or add formulas to specific cells, you MUST use the XML edit path. Never create a new Workbook(). Example — fill B3 with a cross-sheet SUM formula:

python3 SKILL_DIR/scripts/xlsx_unpack.py input.xlsx /tmp/xlsx_work/
# Find the target sheet's XML via xl/workbook.xml → xl/_rels/workbook.xml.rels
# Then use the Edit tool to add <f> inside the target <c> element:
#   <c r="B3"><f>SUM('Sales Data'!D2:D13)</f><v></v></c>
python3 SKILL_DIR/scripts/xlsx_pack.py /tmp/xlsx_work/ output.xlsx

Add a column (formulas, numfmt, styles auto-copied from adjacent column):

python3 SKILL_DIR/scripts/xlsx_unpack.py input.xlsx /tmp/xlsx_work/
python3 SKILL_DIR/scripts/xlsx_add_column.py /tmp/xlsx_work/ --col G \
    --sheet "Sheet1" --header "% of Total" \
    --formula '=F{row}/$F$10' --formula-rows 2:9 \
    --total-row 10 --total-formula '=SUM(G2:G9)' --numfmt '0.0%' \
    --border-row 10 --border-style medium
python3 SKILL_DIR/scripts/xlsx_pack.py /tmp/xlsx_work/ output.xlsx

The --border-row flag applies a top border to ALL cells in that row (not just the new column). Use it when the task requires accounting-style borders on total rows.

Insert a row (shifts existing rows, updates SUM formulas, fixes circular refs):

python3 SKILL_DIR/scripts/xlsx_unpack.py input.xlsx /tmp/xlsx_work/
# IMPORTANT: Find the correct --at row by searching for the label text
# in the worksheet XML, NOT by using the row number from the prompt.
# The prompt may say "row 5 (Office Rent)" but Office Rent might actually
# be at row 4. Always locate the row by its text label first.
python3 SKILL_DIR/scripts/xlsx_insert_row.py /tmp/xlsx_work/ --at 5 \
    --sheet "Budget FY2025" --text A=Utilities \
    --values B=3000 C=3000 D=3500 E=3500 \
    --formula 'F=SUM(B{row}:E{row})' --copy-style-from 4
python3 SKILL_DIR/scripts/xlsx_pack.py /tmp/xlsx_work/ output.xlsx

Row lookup rule: When the task says "after row N (Label)", always find the row by searching for "Label" in the worksheet XML (grep -n "Label" /tmp/xlsx_work/xl/worksheets/sheet*.xml or check sharedStrings.xml). Use the actual row number + 1 for --at. Do NOT call xlsx_shift_rows.py separately — xlsx_insert_row.py calls it internally.

Apply row-wide borders (e.g. accounting line on a TOTAL row): After running helper scripts, apply borders to ALL cells in the target row, not just newly added cells. In xl/styles.xml, append a new <border> with the desired style, then append a new <xf> in <cellXfs> that clones each cell's existing <xf> but sets the new borderId. Apply the new style index to every <c> in the row via the s attribute:

<!-- In xl/styles.xml, append to <borders>: -->
<border>
  <left/><right/><top style="medium"/><bottom/><diagonal/>
</border>
<!-- Then append to <cellXfs> an xf clone with the new borderId for each existing style -->

Key rule: When a task says "add a border to row N", iterate over ALL cells A through the last column, not just newly added cells.

Manual XML edit (for anything the helper scripts don't cover):

python3 SKILL_DIR/scripts/xlsx_unpack.py input.xlsx /tmp/xlsx_work/
# ... edit XML with the Edit tool ...
python3 SKILL_DIR/scripts/xlsx_pack.py /tmp/xlsx_work/ output.xlsx

FIX — Repair broken formulas (read references/fix.md first)

This is an EDIT task. Unpack → fix broken <f> nodes → pack. Preserve all original sheets and data.

VALIDATE — Check formulas (read references/validate.md first)

Run formula_check.py for static validation. Use libreoffice_recalc.py for dynamic recalculation when available.

Financial Color Standard

Cell Role	Font Color	Hex Code
Hard-coded input / assumption	Blue	0000FF
Formula / computed result	Black	000000
Cross-sheet reference formula	Green	00B050

Key Rules

1. Formula-First: Every calculated cell MUST use an Excel formula, not a hardcoded number
2. CREATE → XML template: Copy minimal template, edit XML directly, pack with xlsx_pack.py
3. EDIT → XML: Never openpyxl round-trip. Use unpack/edit/pack scripts
4. Always produce the output file — this is the #1 priority
5. Validate before delivery: formula_check.py exit code 0 = safe

Utility Scripts

python3 SKILL_DIR/scripts/xlsx_reader.py input.xlsx                 # structure discovery
python3 SKILL_DIR/scripts/formula_check.py file.xlsx --json         # formula validation
python3 SKILL_DIR/scripts/formula_check.py file.xlsx --report      # standardized report
python3 SKILL_DIR/scripts/xlsx_unpack.py in.xlsx /tmp/work/         # unpack for XML editing
python3 SKILL_DIR/scripts/xlsx_pack.py /tmp/work/ out.xlsx          # repack after editing
python3 SKILL_DIR/scripts/xlsx_shift_rows.py /tmp/work/ insert 5 1  # shift rows for insertion
python3 SKILL_DIR/scripts/xlsx_add_column.py /tmp/work/ --col G ... # add column with formulas
python3 SKILL_DIR/scripts/xlsx_insert_row.py /tmp/work/ --at 6 ...  # insert row with data