Google Sheets API Skill (Advanced)

Purpose

Provide a production-ready Google Sheets CLI for OpenClaw. This skill supports data reads/writes, batch operations, formatting, and sheet management with service account authentication.

Best fit

• You need a repeatable CLI for automation tasks.
• You want JSON-in/JSON-out for pipelines.
• You need more than basic read/write (formatting, sheet ops, batch updates).

Not a fit

• You must use end-user OAuth consent flows (this skill is service-account focused).
• You only need lightweight, one-off edits.

One-time setup

1. Create or select a Google Cloud project.
2. Enable the Google Sheets API.
3. Create a service account and download its JSON key.
4. Share target spreadsheets with the service account email.

Install

cd google-sheet-api
npm install

Run

node scripts/sheets-cli.js help
node scripts/sheets-cli.js read <spreadsheetId> "Sheet1!A1:C10"
node scripts/sheets-cli.js append <spreadsheetId> "Sheet1!A:B" '@data.json'

You can also use npm:

npm run sheets -- read <spreadsheetId> "Sheet1!A1:C10"

Credentials

Supported sources (first match wins):

• GOOGLE_SHEETS_CREDENTIALS_JSON (inline JSON string)
• GOOGLE_SERVICE_ACCOUNT_KEY (file path)
• GOOGLE_SHEETS_KEY_FILE (file path)
• GOOGLE_APPLICATION_CREDENTIALS (file path)
• ./service-account.json, ./credentials.json, ./google-service-account.json
• ~/.config/google-sheets/credentials.json

Input conventions

• JSON values can be inline or loaded from file using @path.
• Write/append expect a 2D array of values.

Example data.json:

[["Name","Score"],["Alice",95]]

Command map (high level)

Data:

• read, write, append, clear, batchGet, batchWrite

Formatting:

• format, getFormat, borders, merge, unmerge, copyFormat

Layout:

• resize, autoResize, freeze

Sheets:

• create, info, addSheet, deleteSheet, renameSheet

Advanced:

• batch (raw spreadsheets.batchUpdate requests)

Operational guidance

• Prefer read-only scope for read workflows when possible.
• Add retry with exponential backoff for 429 and transient 5xx errors.
• Keep request payloads small to avoid limit issues.

Expected output

• JSON to stdout; non-zero exit code on errors.

Security notes

• Never log or commit service account keys.
• Share spreadsheets only with the service account email required by this skill.