Excel Operations with Aspose CLI

Excel Operations with Aspose CLI

This example creates a workbook, applies a batch of changes, checks calculated totals, and exports a PDF. Install Aspose CLI first. Run the commands in a writable directory with unused output filenames.

Create the workbook

aspose-cli cells create report.xlsx --sheet-names Sales

Add data, formulas, and a chart

Save the following JSON as ops.json in the same directory:

{
  "ops": [
    {
      "op": "set_values",
      "sheet": "Sales",
      "range": "A1",
      "values": [
        [
          "Product",
          "Quantity",
          "Unit Price",
          "Total"
        ],
        [
          "Laptop",
          2,
          1200,
          null
        ],
        [
          "Mouse",
          5,
          25,
          null
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "op": "set_formula",
      "sheet": "Sales",
      "range": "D2:D3",
      "formula": "=B2*C2"
    },
    {
      "op": "format_range",
      "sheet": "Sales",
      "range": "A1:D1",
      "style": {
        "bold": true
      }
    },
    {
      "op": "format_range",
      "sheet": "Sales",
      "range": "C2:D3",
      "style": {
        "numberFormat": "#,##0.00"
      }
    },
    {
      "op": "insert_chart",
      "sheet": "Sales",
      "kind": "column",
      "dataRange": "A1:B3",
      "at": "F2:M16",
      "title": "Quantity by Product"
    },
    {
      "op": "resize_columns",
      "sheet": "Sales",
      "first": "A",
      "last": "D",
      "widthChars": 18
    },
    {
      "op": "freeze_panes",
      "sheet": "Sales",
      "cell": "A2"
    }
  ]
}

Apply it to a new output file:

aspose-cli cells edit report.xlsx --ops ops.json --out report.ready.xlsx --verify --output-format json

set_values accepts a matrix starting at A1. JSON strings remain text; write numbers as numbers and formulas with set_formula. Here set_formula fills D2:D3, adjusting relative references in the second row, and the workbook recalculates after the batch. The chart plots product quantities.

Use a JSON file for multi-operation edits, especially in PowerShell. This is the CLI ops format; it is not the Node.js MCP operations format.

Verify and export

aspose-cli cells read report.ready.xlsx --sheet Sales --range D2:D3 --content formulas --output-format json
aspose-cli cells inspect report.ready.xlsx --detail errors --output-format json
aspose-cli cells render report.ready.xlsx --range Sales!A1:M16 --out report.png
aspose-cli cells convert report.ready.xlsx --to pdf --out report.pdf

The expected totals are 2,400 and 125. Inspect report.png for clipped text, number formats, and the chart. Check PDF pagination separately; use set_page_setup and set_print_area if the report must fit a particular printed page. aspose-cli schema v2/cells/ops --operation set_page_setup describes its fields.

For a review directory covering visible sheets within the review limits, run:

aspose-cli review report.ready.xlsx --out report.review --output-format json

Use a new review directory and inspect the generated images, findings, and coverage warnings. Hidden sheets are not reviewed. Large sheets or multiple print areas can be only partially rendered; follow the range-render commands in the warnings to inspect omitted areas. Evaluation outputs also include the engine’s evaluation markings.

Edit an existing workbook

Inspect and read the affected area before editing. For a single-cell update:

aspose-cli cells edit report.ready.xlsx --set "Sales!B2=3" --out report.revised.xlsx --verify
aspose-cli cells read report.revised.xlsx --sheet Sales --range D2:D3 --output-format json
aspose-cli cells compare report.ready.xlsx report.revised.xlsx --output-format json

The first total should now be 3,600. compare compares stored values and formula text; it does not certify unchanged formatting or chart appearance.

To replace an input deliberately, use --in-place --backup. Use --if-match with the inspected input’s SHA-256 fingerprint to refuse a changed input. --dry-run applies a batch in memory without writing files; it does not guarantee a later save will succeed.

--verify reports semantic findings. If verification reports issues, the command can exit 8 with the output already written, including an in-place replacement. Using --out as above keeps the source intact so you can review the result before delivery. Without --best-effort, a failed edit operation aborts the batch without writing its output.

Other spreadsheet tasks

Task	Operations or commands
Cells and ranges	set_values, set_formula, clear_range, copy_range
Formatting	format_range, set_borders, resize_rows, resize_columns
Sheets and workbook structure	insert_sheet, rename_sheet, move_sheet, delete_sheet
Charts and pivots	insert_chart, set_chart, insert_pivot, refresh_pivot
Tables and validation	define_table, sort_range, set_validation, add_conditional_format
Combine workbook content	import_range, import_sheet
Convert CSV to Excel	aspose-cli cells convert data.csv --to xlsx
Export a sheet to CSV	aspose-cli cells convert book.xlsx --to csv --sheets 1 --bom

Discover the installed version’s exact fields before constructing a batch:

aspose-cli capabilities cells edit
aspose-cli schema v2/cells/ops --operation insert_chart
aspose-cli docs cells/editing
aspose-cli docs cells/verification

CSV exports contain a single sheet’s data, without Excel’s workbook structure, charts, or formulas. Review conversion warnings for omitted content. --bom helps Excel recognize non-English UTF-8 CSV text.

Next: connect an AI agent and open a live preview.