excel-creation-fallback

# Excel File Creation Fallback When `execute_code_sandbox` fails for openpyxl or Excel operations, delegate to `shell_agent` which can autonomously handle dependency and environment issues. ## When to Use - `execute_code_sandbox` fails with import errors for openpyxl or related libraries - The sandbox environment lacks required dependencies - You need to create or modify Excel files with complex requirements - Repeated sandbox execution failures for file I/O operations ## Steps ### Step 1: Attempt with execute_code_sandbox first Try creating the Excel file using Python's openpyxl library in the code sandbox: ```python from openpyxl import Workbook wb = Workbook() ws = wb.active ws.append(['Column1', 'Column2', 'Column3']) wb.save('output.xlsx') ``` ### Step 2: If it fails, switch to shell_agent Delegate the task to shell_agent with a clear, comprehensive task description: ``` Create an Excel file named 'output.xlsx' with the following structure: - Sheet 1: Data with columns [Date, Metric, Value] - Include sample data rows with realistic values - Apply basic formatting (bold headers, cell borders) - Add a summary section with totals or averages - Save the file in the current directory ``` ### Step 3: Let shell_agent handle the environment The shell_agent will: - Decide whether to use Python or Bash - Install dependencies if needed (e.g., `pip install openpyxl`) - Write and execute the code - Automatically retry and fix errors (up to several rounds) - Confirm the file was created successfully ## Example Task Descriptions ### Basic Excel file: ``` Create an Excel file named 'sales_report.xlsx' with headers: Date, Product, Quantity, Price, Total. Add 10 sample rows of data and a formula column for Total (Quantity * Price). ``` ### Complex Excel with formatting: ``` Create an Excel file with multiple sheets: - Sheet 'Summary': Key metrics and totals - Sheet 'Details': Full transaction data with columns [ID, Date, Customer, Amount, Status] - Apply conditional formatting to highlight amounts over 1000 - Add borders to all cells and bold headers ``` ### Tiered pricing structure: ``` Create an Excel file with a tiered pricing table: - Column A: Quantity thresholds (0, 100, 500, 1000) - Column B: Unit price at each tier - Column C: Discount percentage (e.g., 15% discount over 1000 units) - Include a financial summary section with projections ``` ## Why This Pattern Works `shell_agent` has several advantages over `execute_code_sandbox` for file creation tasks: | Feature | execute_code_sandbox | shell_agent | |---------|---------------------|-------------| | Dependency installation | Manual/preset only | Autonomous | | Error recovery | Returns error | Auto-retries and fixes | | Tool selection | Python only | Python, Bash, or other | | Filesystem access | Sandbox-limited | Full workspace access | | Verification | None | Can verify file creation | ## Troubleshooting If shell_agent also struggles: 1. **Be more specific** - Include exact column names, data types, and formatting requirements 2. **Provide sample data** - Include example rows to clarify expected output 3. **Break it down** - For complex files, request creation in stages 4. **Check permissions** - Ensure the target directory is writable ## Alternative Approaches If shell_agent is unavailable or unsuitable: - Use `run_shell` with explicit commands (if you know the exact syntax) - Check for alternative libraries (xlsxwriter, pandas with openpyxl engine) - Use CSV as intermediate format, then convert to Excel