recipe-backup-sheet-as-csv - SKILL.md Agent Skill

name: recipe-backup-sheet-as-csv description: "Export a Google Sheets spreadsheet as a CSV file for local backup or processing."

Export a Google Sheet as CSV

Export a Google Sheets spreadsheet as a CSV file for local backup or processing.

When to Use

Use this workflow when the user wants to back up spreadsheet data locally, export data for use in other tools, or create a CSV snapshot of a sheet.

Workflow

1. Identify the spreadsheet

Ask the user for the spreadsheet name or ID. If they provide a name, search for it:

gws drive files list \
  --params '{"q": "name contains 'SHEET_NAME' and mimeType = 'application/vnd.google-apps.spreadsheet'"}' \
  --fields "files(id,name)" --format table

2. Check the sheet structure

Review what tabs and data ranges exist:

gws sheets spreadsheets get --params '{"spreadsheetId": "SHEET_ID"}' \
  --fields "sheets.properties(sheetId,title)"

3. Export as CSV

Option A — Export via Drive API (downloads the first sheet as CSV):

gws drive files export --params '{"fileId": "SHEET_ID", "mimeType": "text/csv"}'

Option B — Read values directly (more control over range and format):

gws sheets +read --spreadsheet SHEET_ID --range 'Sheet1' --format csv

4. Confirm with the user

Show the user the output path and a preview of the data.

Tips

Use Option B (+read) when you need a specific tab or range
Use --format csv for machine-readable output, --format table for a quick visual check
For large sheets, limit the range to avoid overwhelming output