Bob with Microsoft Excel: turn workbook data into a decision

Matthew, founder of Bob · Published July 30, 2026

Short answer

Bob connects to Microsoft Excel through the catalog and can invoke the workbook actions exposed by the live connection for the authenticated Microsoft identity. Microsoft Graph can work with workbook objects such as tables, ranges, and charts in files stored in OneDrive or SharePoint, as described in Microsoft's Excel API overview.

The Microsoft API is broader than any one connection. Bob does not claim every Graph workbook operation. He discovers the actions available at run time and is bounded by the account, file permission, OAuth scope, and tenant policy.

Five useful Bob and Excel workflows

1. Explain a workbook slice

"Use the Q3 forecast workbook and tell me which assumptions account for most of the change from last month."

Provide the file and relevant worksheet or table when possible. A known source reduces ambiguity.

2. Reconcile Excel with Salesforce

"Compare the renewal workbook with Salesforce opportunities. List mismatched amounts, stages, and close dates. Do not update anything."

Read-only reconciliation is the safest first workflow. Decide which system owns each field before applying a correction.

3. Produce a weekly operating brief

"Every Monday, summarize the staffing workbook and call out projects with demand above confirmed capacity."

Bob can schedule the job in Slack if the live Excel connection exposes the workbook reads it needs.

4. Prepare a workbook update

"Add the approved budget changes to the planning workbook and show me the exact cells before writing."

Confirm that the connected action set supports the requested change. Bob asks before the write by default.

5. Join mail, files, and numbers

"Read the latest Outlook thread about the vendor renewal, compare the numbers with Excel, and summarize the decision for procurement."

The value comes from completing the cross-app job, not simply echoing cells into Slack.

Connection scope and setup

1. Ask Bob in Slack to connect Microsoft Excel.
2. Open the hosted connection flow and authenticate with Microsoft.
3. Review the scopes and tenant consent prompt.
4. Return to Slack and give Bob the workbook link or identifier when available.

The Excel catalog connection is workspace-scoped today. Select a least-privileged Microsoft identity that has the files the team needs, and avoid connecting an administrator only to make setup easier.

Limits worth knowing

• Actions are discovered at run time. Do not assume every Excel API feature is exposed.
• Storage permissions matter. Excel workbooks often inherit access from OneDrive or SharePoint.
• Complex models need verification. Formulas, pivots, macros, external links, and large ranges can introduce side effects.
• Writes ask by default. Keep changes narrow and review the affected range before approval.

FAQ

How does Bob connect to Microsoft Excel?

Through a hosted OAuth catalog connection. It is workspace-scoped today.

What can Bob do with Excel?

Bob uses the authenticated Excel actions exposed by the live connection and allowed for the workbook.

Does Bob ask before changing a workbook?

Yes. Workbook changes are external writes and ask by default.

Can Bob open every Excel file in Microsoft 365?

No. Identity, tenant policy, file permissions, scopes, and available actions all limit access.

Start with a read-only workbook question

Use a known workbook and a precise question. Verify the answer against the sheet before scheduling the workflow or adding writes. Connect OneDrive, Outlook, or Salesforce when the result needs more context.