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Aspose CLI for Excel
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Aspose CLI for Excel
Use aspose-cli cells to create, read, edit, calculate, convert, and render spreadsheets from a terminal or an AI agent. Files are processed locally with Aspose.Cells, without Microsoft Excel.
Aspose CLI also supports other document products; this section focuses on Excel and the Cells commands. The supported distribution is Windows x64. For the separate Node.js MCP server, see Aspose.Cells MCP.
Install
Run the official installer in PowerShell:
powershell -ExecutionPolicy ByPass -c "irm https://github.com/aspose-cli/aspose-cli/releases/latest/download/install.ps1 | iex"
The installer downloads and verifies the release, installs it for the current user, and adds it to the user PATH. Reopen your terminal, then check the installation:
aspose-cli --version
aspose-cli doctor
aspose-cli capabilities cells
These examples use the 1.0 command interface. Check the installed version’s --help, capabilities, and schema output for its exact options and limits.
Alternatively, download and extract a package from GitHub Releases and run its install.ps1. The installer can install bundled Skills for detected agent hosts; MCP registration is optional. See AI agents and preview.
Create and export a workbook
Run these commands in a writable working directory. The output filenames must not already exist.
aspose-cli cells create sales.xlsx --sheet-names Sales
aspose-cli cells edit sales.xlsx --set "Sales!A1=Product" --set "Sales!B1=Amount" --set "Sales!A2=Laptop" --set "Sales!B2=2400" --out sales.updated.xlsx --verify
aspose-cli cells read sales.updated.xlsx --sheet Sales --range A1:B2
aspose-cli cells convert sales.updated.xlsx --to pdf --out sales.pdf
The result is an Excel workbook containing one sale and a PDF export. The original sales.xlsx remains available. For formulas, formatting, and a chart, continue with the complete sales report example.
Common tasks
| Task | Command |
|---|---|
| Discover sheets and workbook structure | aspose-cli cells inspect book.xlsx |
| Read a bounded range | aspose-cli cells read book.xlsx --sheet Sales --range A1:D20 |
| Search workbook text | aspose-cli cells search book.xlsx --pattern TODO |
| Apply formulas, styles, charts, or other operations | aspose-cli cells edit book.xlsx --ops ops.json --out book.updated.xlsx --verify |
| Compare cell values and formulas | aspose-cli cells compare book.xlsx book.updated.xlsx |
| Export PDF | aspose-cli cells convert book.xlsx --to pdf |
| Export one sheet to CSV for Excel | aspose-cli cells convert book.xlsx --to csv --sheets 1 --bom |
| Render visible worksheets | aspose-cli cells render book.xlsx --sheets all --out book.png |
| Generate visual review evidence | aspose-cli review book.xlsx --out book.review --output-format json |
| Open a local browser preview | aspose-cli preview open book.xlsx |
Use --output-format json for scripts and agents. --sheet selects a name for reading and searching; --sheets selects 1-based sheet positions for conversion and rendering. Inspect the workbook first instead of assuming a position.
Rendering several sheets produces separate files such as book.Sales.png, not one combined image. Rendering is limited to 20 sheets per call; use explicit selections for larger workbooks. Check warnings and continuation information for omitted or partially rendered content. PDF pagination follows the workbook’s print settings and should be checked separately.
Editing and verification
Edits recalculate the workbook after the operation batch by default. --no-recalc skips that final calculation and cannot be combined with --verify; some operations still calculate earlier changes when they need current results. A failed operation aborts the batch without publishing an output unless --best-effort is requested. Use --out to keep the source, or --in-place --backup to replace it with a backup. --if-match checks the input fingerprint; --dry-run applies the edit in memory without saving and does not guarantee that a later save will succeed.
--verify reads the staged output back and reports supported value, formula, and sheet changes. It does not render the workbook or certify formatting, chart appearance, or business totals. Verification findings can produce exit code 8 with the edited output already written; check verification.ok, findings, warnings, and unchecked operations before delivery. Use review and range rendering for visual checks. A review covers visible sheets within its item and rendering limits; it is not a guarantee that every cell was inspected.
Discover operation fields and verification details with:
aspose-cli schema v2/cells/ops
aspose-cli docs cells/editing
aspose-cli docs cells/verification
CSV input and fonts
CSV/TSV import preserves ambiguous identifiers and values as text. Use --encoding for a non-UTF-8 source and --culture when its number or date conventions require it; inspect imported types and warnings before calculations. For example, aspose-cli cells convert --help explains the import rules. These rules differ from the Node.js MCP server’s text-only CSV/TSV import.
PDF and image output depend on available fonts. Add local fonts with --font-dir when needed, and inspect the rendered output for missing glyphs or clipped text.
License and evaluation
aspose-cli license install C:/Licenses/Aspose.Cells.lic
aspose-cli license status --output-format json
With no configured license, the commercial Aspose.Cells engine runs in evaluation mode. Outputs may contain evaluation warning sheets, watermarks, or other evaluation changes; the CLI reports these as warnings. An invalid configured license is an error rather than a silent fallback to evaluation. An MIT license for the CLI source does not license the Aspose engines.
For license discovery and supported environment variables, run aspose-cli docs licensing. Use aspose-cli update check to check for a newer release and aspose-cli update install to update it.