---
name: google-sheets
description: Read, write, append, and manage Google Sheets via the Google Sheets API (Node.js SDK). Use when you need to interact with spreadsheets — reading data, writing/updating cells, appending rows, clearing ranges, formatting cells, managing sheets. Requires a Google Cloud service account with Sheets API enabled.
---
# Google Sheets Skill
Interact with Google Sheets using a service account.
## Setup (One-time)
1. **Google Cloud Console:**
- Create/select a project
- Enable "Google Sheets API"
- Create a Service Account (IAM → Service Accounts → Create)
- Download JSON key
2. **Configure credentials** (one of these):
- Set env: `GOOGLE_SERVICE_ACCOUNT_KEY=/path/to/key.json`
- Place `service-account.json` or `credentials.json` in the skill directory
- Place in `~/.config/google-sheets/credentials.json`
3. **Share sheets** with the service account email (found in JSON key as `client_email`)
4. **Install dependencies:**
```bash
cd skills/google-sheets && npm install
```
## Usage
```bash
node scripts/sheets.js <command> [args]
```
## Commands
### Data Operations
| Command | Args | Description |
|---------|------|-------------|
| `read` | `<id> <range>` | Read cells |
| `write` | `<id> <range> <json>` | Write data |
| `append` | `<id> <range> <json>` | Append rows |
| `clear` | `<id> <range>` | Clear range |
### Formatting
| Command | Args | Description |
|---------|------|-------------|
| `format` | `<id> <range> <formatJson>` | Format cells |
| `getFormat` | `<id> <range>` | Get cell formats |
| `borders` | `<id> <range> [styleJson]` | Add borders |
| `copyFormat` | `<id> <source> <dest>` | Copy format between ranges |
| `merge` | `<id> <range>` | Merge cells |
| `unmerge` | `<id> <range>` | Unmerge cells |
### Layout
| Command | Args | Description |
|---------|------|-------------|
| `resize` | `<id> <sheet> <cols\|rows> <start> <end> <px>` | Resize columns/rows |
| `autoResize` | `<id> <sheet> <startCol> <endCol>` | Auto-fit columns |
| `freeze` | `<id> <sheet> [rows] [cols]` | Freeze rows/columns |
### Sheet Management
| Command | Args | Description |
|---------|------|-------------|
| `create` | `<title>` | Create spreadsheet |
| `info` | `<id>` | Get metadata |
| `addSheet` | `<id> <title>` | Add sheet tab |
| `deleteSheet` | `<id> <sheetName>` | Delete sheet tab |
| `renameSheet` | `<id> <oldName> <newName>` | Rename sheet tab |
## Examples
```bash
# Read data
node scripts/sheets.js read "SPREADSHEET_ID" "Sheet1!A1:C10"
# Write data
node scripts/sheets.js write "SPREADSHEET_ID" "Sheet1!A1:B2" '[["Name","Score"],["Alice",95]]'
# Format cells (yellow bg, bold)
node scripts/sheets.js format "SPREADSHEET_ID" "Sheet1!A1:B2" '{"backgroundColor":{"red":255,"green":255,"blue":0},"textFormat":{"bold":true}}'
# Copy format from one range to another
node scripts/sheets.js copyFormat "SPREADSHEET_ID" "Sheet1!A1:C3" "Sheet1!D1:F3"
# Add borders
node scripts/sheets.js borders "SPREADSHEET_ID" "Sheet1!A1:C3"
# Resize columns to 150px
node scripts/sheets.js resize "SPREADSHEET_ID" "Sheet1" cols A C 150
# Auto-fit column widths
node scripts/sheets.js autoResize "SPREADSHEET_ID" "Sheet1" A Z
# Freeze first row and column
node scripts/sheets.js freeze "SPREADSHEET_ID" "Sheet1" 1 1
# Add new sheet tab
node scripts/sheets.js addSheet "SPREADSHEET_ID" "NewSheet"
```
## Format Options
```json
{
"backgroundColor": {"red": 255, "green": 255, "blue": 0},
"textFormat": {
"bold": true,
"italic": false,
"fontSize": 12,
"foregroundColor": {"red": 0, "green": 0, "blue": 0}
},
"horizontalAlignment": "CENTER",
"verticalAlignment": "MIDDLE",
"wrapStrategy": "WRAP"
}
```
## Border Style
```json
{
"style": "SOLID",
"color": {"red": 0, "green": 0, "blue": 0}
}
```
Border styles: DOTTED, DASHED, SOLID, SOLID_MEDIUM, SOLID_THICK, DOUBLE
## Finding Spreadsheet ID
From URL: `https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/SPREADSHEET_ID/edit`
## Troubleshooting
- **403 Forbidden**: Sheet not shared with service account email
- **404 Not Found**: Wrong spreadsheet ID or sheet nameHelp answer questions about Catholicism accurately
Analyze budget vs actual
Push decisions to Arbiter Zebu for async human review.
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