GRID | Agent Tools

The tools

Everything an analyst does, as tool calls

Understand

Orientation tools that give an agent the mental model a human builds by scrolling around. Describe workbook structure, view ranges as text or images, inspect cells, and search for what matters.

Audit

Trace how values flow and where problems live. Follow precedents and dependents through the dependency graph, list formula errors, and read the comments left in the file.

Edit

Write values and formulas, fill patterns, apply styles, and manage sheets, rows, and columns. Every write returns a delta of what changed, plus warnings for anything that looks wrong.

Model

The engine does the math, so the agent doesn't have to guess. Read calculated values, run formulas without touching cells, test what-if scenarios, and goal seek to a target.

import {
  createGridTools,
  serveStdio,
} from '@grid-is/agent-tools';

// The full toolset, ready for any agent SDK
const tools = createGridTools();

const load = tools.find((t) => t.name === 'loadWorkbook');
await load.run({ path: 'budget.xlsx' });

// or serve everything over MCP
await serveStdio({ name: 'grid', tools });

Getting started

An MCP server and an SDK in one package

Run npx @grid-is/agent-tools and you have an MCP server speaking over stdio, ready for any MCP-capable runtime: Claude, the OpenAI Agents SDK, LangChain, or your own product.

Building something more custom? Every tool is a plain object with a name, a description, and a validated input schema, so createGridTools()maps cleanly onto any framework's tool interface.

View docs

The engine does the math, not the model

Agent Tools runs on the GRID spreadsheet engine, deeply compatible with Excel and Google Sheets. Every value an agent reads is recalculated deterministically through the workbook's dependency graph, so the numbers it reports are the numbers the spreadsheet produces.

If you are building spreadsheet features for people as well as agents, the same engine powers our viewer and editor UI surfaces.

Learn more about the engine

Frequently asked questions

Which agents and frameworks does Agent Tools work with?

Any MCP-capable runtime, including Claude, the OpenAI Agents SDK, and LangChain. Run npx -y @grid-is/agent-tools to start the MCP server, or import createGridTools() to wire the tools into your own agent SDK. For coding agents like Claude Code, Codex, and Cursor, we also publish an official GRID skill: npx skills add GRID-is/skills.

Does it need Excel or a cloud service?

No. The tools run headless and in-process on the GRID engine. There is no Excel install, no COM automation, and no cloud round-trips, so spreadsheet data never leaves your infrastructure.

What can an agent actually do with a workbook?

The package ships 27 tools covering the full analyst workflow: load and save .xlsx files, explore structure and search cells, trace precedents and dependents, list formula errors, edit values, formulas, and styles, run formulas, test what-if scenarios, and goal seek. Every edit is validated and recalculated by the engine.

How does this relate to the spreadsheet engine?

Agent Tools packages the engine's capabilities as ready-made, described, and validated tools, so you don't have to wire the raw engine into an agent by hand. The engine installs automatically as a dependency, and the same tools run on a licensed production engine when you ship.

How do I get started?

Install directly from npm with a free evaluation license. No sign-up or approval required. npm install @grid-is/agent-tools. When you're ready to ship commercially, visit grid.is/license.

Get started now

Install the tools from npm with a free evaluation license and start building today. When you are ready to ship, talk to us. Most teams are surprised how quickly they go from first install to production, with direct support from the GRID team throughout.

Get started

Commercial licensing

import { createGridTools, serveStdio, } from '@grid-is/agent-tools'; // The full toolset, ready for any agent SDK const tools = createGridTools(); const load = tools.find((t) => t.name === 'loadWorkbook'); await load.run({ path: 'budget.xlsx' }); // or serve everything over MCP await serveStdio({ name: 'grid', tools });