Excel Range Relay

Excel Range Relay

Use this skill when the user wants a Mac menu-bar utility for taking the current Excel selection and handing it off into prompts, docs, tickets, or chat without reformatting the table by hand.

Core Workflow

• Reads the copied Excel selection from the clipboard and preserves the table shape for markdown, CSV, JSON, or prompt-ready output.
• Uses lightweight macOS automation only for workbook, sheet, and range labels when Microsoft Excel is frontmost.
• Supports two deterministic header paths: treat the first row as column labels, or generate neutral column names when the copied slice is data-only.
• Shows one compact preview card with workbook, sheet, range, row count, and the next output presets.
• Prefers handoff formats that are already useful in the next destination: markdown table, CSV, JSON, or prompt context.
• Treats the surface as a relay step, not a spreadsheet editor or workbook manager.

Local Helper

Use scripts/excel_range_relay.py when a deterministic local handoff is useful:

python skills/excel-range-relay/scripts/excel_range_relay.py current --format json
python skills/excel-range-relay/scripts/excel_range_relay.py current --format markdown
python skills/excel-range-relay/scripts/excel_range_relay.py current --header-mode generated --format markdown
python skills/excel-range-relay/scripts/excel_range_relay.py copy --format prompt
python skills/excel-range-relay/scripts/excel_range_relay.py copy --format csv
cat selection.tsv | python skills/excel-range-relay/scripts/excel_range_relay.py current --stdin --format prompt

The helper reads the current clipboard with pbpaste, preserves tabular structure, and tries to label the payload with workbook, sheet, and range metadata when Microsoft Excel is frontmost. Use --header-mode first-row when the first row is real schema, or --header-mode generated when the copied range is all data and still needs a safe markdown or records view. It does not use any cloud APIs or network access.

Guardrails

• Do not claim live workbook sync, background watchers, or Microsoft 365 cloud state; this skill is about explicit clipboard handoff plus lightweight front-app metadata only.
• If Excel is not frontmost or automation permission is blocked, keep the handoff working from clipboard contents and explain that labels may be missing.
• If the copied slice does not include headers, generate neutral column names instead of pretending the first data row is schema.
• Keep the primary action obvious and the popover short; do not turn this into a spreadsheet browser or formula editor.

Prototype

• SwiftUI starter files live in prototype/.
• The prototype sketches a menu-bar shell with a clipboard snapshot, header-mode toggle, output preview, and one primary copy action.

When extending

• Add export depth only when it improves the handoff itself.
• If the skill grows, keep the menu-bar path short and the preview readable at a glance.