Write operations on the open spreadsheet. Call as {"action": "<name>", "params": {...}} — per-action params are listed in the Action Reference below. Numbers, booleans, and nulls in cell values are coerced to strings.
Special actions (not shown in the action enum):
• batch — {"action": "batch", "params": {"actions": [{"action": "<name>", "params": {...}}, ...]}}. Runs writes sequentially; errors short-circuit the batch.
• context — {"action": "context", "params": {"topic": "<name>"}} or {"action": "context", "params": {"action": "<name>"}}. Returns deeper docs for a topic or a single action's signature. Plural "topics" / "actions" arrays are also accepted and may be combined. Topics: python, javascript, formula, connection, validation, a1, quadratic.
Action Reference
Cell Data:
• set_cell_values(top_left_position, cell_values, sheet_name?) — Sets cell values as a 2D string array (first row = headers). top_left_position: single cell in A1 notation. Don't place over existing data unless requested. Values replace existing content; use empty string to clear. For merged cells, place at the anchor (top-left) cell. Prefer this over add_data_table for tabular data; only use add_data_table when the user explicitly asks for a data table or the file already uses data tables. When writing tabular data as plain cells, format the header row afterward with set_text_formats (at least bold) so it's visually distinct — plain cells don't auto-style headers like data tables do. Don't use for formulas or code.
• delete_cells(selection, sheet_name?) — Delete cell values in a selection (A1 notation). Don't delete cells referenced by code cells unless explicitly asked. To delete table columns: "TableName[Column Name]". To delete tables: "TableName".
• move_cells(source_selection_rect, target_top_left_position, sheet_name?) — Move a rectangular block of cells. Target is the top-left corner (single cell). For spilled code cells, move just the anchor cell.
• add_data_table(sheet_name, top_left_position, table_name, table_data) — Adds a data table. Data tables are discouraged by default — only use when the user specifically requests a data table or the file already uses data tables; otherwise use set_cell_values. First row of table_data is headers. Leave 2 rows below and 2 columns right as spacing. All rows must have equal length (use empty strings for missing values). To convert existing data, use convert_to_table instead. To delete a table, use set_cell_values with empty string at the anchor. A single-value formula or code cell MAY be written into a data cell of an editable (imported/value) table — it's stored as in-place single-cell code computing a 1x1 result; avoid the table's name/column-header rows and read-only code-output tables/charts, and don't put multi-cell output (dataframes/charts) inside a table.
Code:
• set_code_cell_value(code_cell_position, code_cell_language, code_cell_name, code_string, sheet_name?) — Sets and runs a Python or JavaScript code cell. Prefer set_formula_cell_value whenever a formula can do the task; only use code when the functionality is not available in formulas (e.g. charts, ML, correlations, complex data transforms, or web/API requests). For static data use set_cell_values. For SQL use set_sql_code_cell_value. IMPORTANT: Always reference sheet data with q.cells() — never hardcode data values. For charts, use Plotly ONLY (import plotly.express or plotly.graph_objects). Do NOT use Matplotlib/Seaborn. Name the output (no spaces/special chars, _ allowed). Placement: Estimate output size before placing. Charts default to 7 wide x 23 tall cells. Cell must be empty (avoids spill error). Leave one extra column/row gap between the code cell and nearest content. Empty sheet → A1.
• set_formula_cell_value(formulas) — formulas: [{code_cell_position, formula_string, sheet_name?}]. Prefer this whenever a formula can do the task; only use set_code_cell_value when formulas can't. For basic historical stock prices use the STOCKHISTORY formula; for financial data with no formula equivalent (adjusted prices, statements, dividends, real-time/intraday, technicals, economic data) use set_code_cell_value with Python + q.financial. Don't prefix formulas with =. code_cell_position can be a single cell ("A1"), range ("A1:A10"), or collection ("A1,A2:B2"). Cell references adjust relatively (like copy-paste). Use $ for absolute references ($A$1). Place near referenced data, no extra spacing needed. Aggregations go directly below or beside data.
• rerun_code(sheet_name?, selection?) — Re-run code cells. Do NOT call after set_code_cell_value, set_formula_cell_value, or set_sql_code_cell_value — those already run automatically. Only use to refresh unchanged code (e.g., external data).
• set_sql_code_cell_value(code_cell_position, code_cell_name, connection_kind, sql_code_string, connection_id, sheet_name?) — Sets and runs a SQL connection code cell. connection_kind: POSTGRES, MYSQL, MSSQL, SNOWFLAKE, BIGQUERY, COCKROACHDB, MARIADB, SUPABASE, NEON, MIXPANEL, GOOGLE_ANALYTICS, PLAID, QUICKBOOKS. Always call get_database_schemas before writing SQL. Cell must be empty. Empty sheet → A1.
Import:
• import_file(file_name, file_data, sheet_name?, insert_at?) — Import CSV/Excel/Parquet. file_data: base64-encoded. Extension determines format (.csv, .xlsx/.xls, .parquet/.parq/.pqt). To create a new file from an import, call files create_file first, then import_file.
Formatting:
• set_text_formats(formats) — formats array: [{selection, bold?, italic?, underline?, strike_through?, text_color?, fill_color?, align?, vertical_align?, wrap?, font_size?, number_type?, currency_symbol?, numeric_decimals?, numeric_commas?, date_time?, sheet_name?}]. For table columns use table references ("Table_Name[Column Name]") instead of A1 ranges. Colors: hex ("#FF0000"), empty string to remove. align: "left"/"center"/"right". vertical_align: "top"/"middle"/"bottom". wrap: "wrap"/"clip"/"overflow". number_type: "number"/"currency"/"percentage"/"exponential" (currency requires currency_symbol, e.g. "$"). numeric_decimals: integer >= 0, number of decimal places to display (e.g. "format percents as 2 decimals" → 2). Percentages: .01 → 1%, 1 → 100%. date_time: chrono format e.g. "%Y-%m-%d". font_size: points (default 10). Set to null to clear any format.
• set_borders(borders) — borders: [{selection, border_selection, color, line, sheet_name?}]. border_selection: all/inner/outer/horizontal/vertical/left/top/right/bottom/clear. line: line1 (thin)/line2 (medium)/line3 (thick)/dotted/dashed/double/clear. color: CSS color string.
• merge_cells(selection, sheet_name?) — Merge a range of cells (e.g. A1:D1). All values except top-left are cleared.
• unmerge_cells(selection, sheet_name?) — Unmerge merged cells overlapping the selection.
Sheets:
• add_sheet(sheet_name, insert_before_sheet_name?) — Sheet names: unique, max 31 chars, no / \ ? * : [ ]
• duplicate_sheet(sheet_name_to_duplicate, name_of_new_sheet)
• rename_sheet(sheet_name, new_name)
• delete_sheet(sheet_name)
• move_sheet(sheet_name, insert_before_sheet_name?)
• color_sheets(sheet_names_to_color) — [{sheet_name, color}]. color: CSS color string.
• set_frozen_panes(sheet_name?, frozen_row_count, frozen_column_count) — freeze/pin rows from row 1 and columns from column 1. Use 0 to unfreeze an axis.
Tables:
• convert_to_table(selection, table_name, first_row_is_column_names, sheet_name?) — Convert existing cell data to a data table. Only use when the user explicitly asks for a data table or the file already uses data tables; otherwise keep data as plain cells. Selection must NOT contain code cells or existing tables. Table name row is added above, pushing data down by one row.
• table_meta(table_location, new_table_name?, show_name?, show_columns?, alternating_row_colors?, first_row_is_column_names?, sheet_name?) — Set table metadata. table_location: anchor cell (top-left, e.g. A5).
• table_column_settings(table_location, column_names, sheet_name?) — column_names: [{old_name, new_name, show}]. Only include columns to change. To delete columns use delete_cells with "TableName[Column Name]".
Layout:
• resize_columns(selection, size, sheet_name?) — size: "auto" (fit content), "default", or pixels (20-2000).
• resize_rows(selection, size, sheet_name?) — size: "auto", "default", or pixels (10-2000).
• set_default_column_width(size, sheet_name?) — size in pixels (20-2000, default 100).
• set_default_row_height(size, sheet_name?) — size in pixels (10-2000, default 21).
• insert_columns(column, right, count, sheet_name?) — column: letter (e.g. "C"). right: true=insert right, false=insert left.
• insert_rows(row, below, count, sheet_name?) — row: number. below: true=insert below, false=insert above.
• delete_columns(columns, sheet_name?) — columns: array of letters (e.g. ["A", "C"]).
• delete_rows(rows, sheet_name?) — rows: array of numbers (e.g. [1, 5, 10]).
Validation:
• add_logical_validation(selection, show_checkbox?, ignore_blank?, sheet_name?) — True/false validation with optional checkbox.
• add_list_validation(selection, list_source_list?, list_source_selection?, drop_down?, ignore_blank?, sheet_name?) — list_source_list: comma-separated values ("Item 1, Item 2"). list_source_selection: A1 cell reference. Use one, not both.
• remove_validation(selection, sheet_name?) — Remove all validations from the selection.
Conditional Formatting:
• update_conditional_formats(sheet_name, rules) — rules: [{action, id?, selection?, type?, rule?, bold?, italic?, underline?, strike_through?, text_color?, fill_color?, apply_to_empty?, color_scale_thresholds?, auto_contrast_text?}]. action: "create"/"update"/"delete". type: "formula" (apply styles when formula is true) or "color_scale" (gradient colors). For formula type: rule examples: "A1>100", "ISBLANK(A1)", "AND(A1>=5,A1<=10)". For color_scale: thresholds: [{value_type: "min"/"max"/"number"/"percent"/"percentile", value, color}]. For table columns use table references instead of A1 ranges. For delete: only id required.
History:
• undo(count?) — Default 1.
• redo(count?) — Default 1.
Batch:
• batch(actions) — actions: [{action, params}]. Runs writes sequentially through this same tool; errors short-circuit the batch. `action` may be any name from this reference. Nested `context` items are allowed and returned alongside the writes.