# Read Google Sheets Ranges

Finding specific values in a large spreadsheet can require manual navigation. This skill retrieves a requested range through the gws command-line tool.

## Install

```bash
npx skillstore add googleworkspace/gws-sheets-read
```

## Metadata

- Status: approved
- Slug: googleworkspace-gws-sheets-read
- Version: 0.23.0
- Author version: 0.23.0
- Skillstore revision: r2
- Version status: valid
- Tree hash: 16c25b276681381a535e0ea4589b8ec65899170648cca79b004e01ded2cb92e7
- Author: googleworkspace
- GitHub username: googleworkspace
- License: MIT
- Repository: https://github.com/googleworkspace/cli/tree/main/skills/gws-sheets-read/
- Ref: 286d37c9c189ddd1aafd3548415fb031d1df79d5
- Supported tools: Claude, Codex, Claude Code
- Audit status: complete
- Agent install advisory: allowed
- Manual install advisory: allowed
- Artifact signature: available
- Audit attestation: unavailable
- Human verification: not\_verified
- Risk factors: external\_commands, filesystem
- Quality score: 80
- Quality tier: silver
- Public page: https://skillstore.pages.dev/skills/googleworkspace-gws-sheets-read
- Manifest: https://skillstore.pages.dev/api/skills/googleworkspace-gws-sheets-read/manifest

## Capabilities

- Reads values from a spreadsheet selected by its spreadsheet ID.
- Limits retrieval to a required range such as Sheet1!A1:D10.
- Accepts a sheet name as the range to read that sheet.
- Uses the gws sheets \+read command for read-only access.
- Directs advanced requests to the raw values.get API.

## Use Cases

- Check reporting values: Retrieve a defined reporting range before preparing a status update.
- Inspect analysis inputs: Read a bounded set of spreadsheet cells for review or summarization.
- Verify shared records: Read selected rows from a shared sheet without changing its contents.

## Prompt Templates

### Read a small range

```
Read {range} from spreadsheet {spreadsheet_id} with gws sheets +read. Present the returned values clearly.
```

### Read a whole sheet

```
Read the sheet named {sheet_name} from spreadsheet {spreadsheet_id}. Summarize the returned rows without changing the spreadsheet.
```

### Inspect a report section

```
Read {range} from spreadsheet {spreadsheet_id}. Identify missing values and summarize notable patterns in the returned data.
```

### Prepare an advanced data review

```
Read {range} from spreadsheet {spreadsheet_id}. Preserve row order, label columns from the first row, and explain any empty cells.
```

## Limitations

- Requires the gws command-line tool and its shared authentication setup.
- Requires both a spreadsheet ID and a range.
- Does not modify cells, formatting, formulas, or spreadsheet structure.
- Advanced values.get options are outside the documented command.

## Best Practices

- Request the smallest range that contains the needed values.
- Confirm the spreadsheet ID and sheet name before reading.
- Use quoted A1 ranges when the shell could interpret special characters.

## Anti Patterns

- Do not request write operations from this read-only skill.
- Do not omit the spreadsheet ID or range.
- Do not expose spreadsheet values to users who lack authorization.

## Security Audit

- Audited at: 2026-08-05T11:29:04.823\+00:00
- Summary: All nine static findings are false positives caused by Markdown backticks, code fences, and fixed sibling documentation links. The skill documents a read-only gws command and contains no executable Ruby, dynamic path handling, or prompt injection.

## Stats

- Views: 66
- Downloads: 8
- Favorites: 0
- Popularity score: 0