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Formula-Based Tasks with the Excel Agent (Beta)
In formula-based tasks, the Excel Agent uses an existing or generated Excel file to calculate results from stored field values of upstream tasks. The agent stores the results in the task's output fields when Agentforce Operations runs a workflow based on the blueprint.
Required Editions
| License Required |
|---|
This feature is a workspace that’s external to your Salesforce org and requires an Agentforce Operations license. To purchase an Agentforce Operations license, contact your Salesforce account executive. |
Formula-based tasks support two options: uploading an existing Excel spreadsheet as the calculation engine or having the Excel Agent generate the calculation logic. Both options require at least one upstream task to provide input values and work best for straightforward to moderate calculations.
Uploading an Excel File
For formula-based tasks, the Excel Agent can use an uploaded Excel spreadsheet as the calculation engine.
Before uploading, create an Excel file that meets these requirements:
- .xlsx file format
- An input cell for each input referenced in the task Description
- An output cell for each output referenced in the task Description
- A formula in each output cell
The Excel Agent ignores column headers and pre-filled input values.
The upload approach supports single-value output fields only. For tasks that process tabular data, use the tabular-data approach instead. See Tabular Data Tasks with the Excel Agent (Beta).
| Field | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Documents | Contains the Excel spreadsheet that the agent uses as the calculation engine. |
| Description | Contains instructions that tell the agent where to write input values in the spreadsheet and where to extract output values. |
| Share information | Includes the input fields from upstream tasks that the instructions reference. |
| Request information | Includes the output fields that the instructions reference. |
Generating an Excel File
The Excel Agent can also generate an Excel file to handle formula-based tasks based on the task’s Description.
| Field | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Documents | Leave empty. |
| Description | Contains instructions that the Excel Agent uses to generate [task name] automation.xlsx. The instructions identify the Share information fields used as inputs and the Request information fields used as outputs. They also define the calculations that the agent uses to produce the output values. |
| Share information | Includes the input fields from upstream tasks that the instructions reference. |
| Request information | Includes the output fields that the instructions reference. |
Creating a Plan
A formula-based task assigned to the Excel Agent requires a plan. A plan is the agent's interpretation of how to complete the task. The Test tab is the recommended way to generate a plan because it tests the task in isolation, without running the entire blueprint. If the task doesn't have an uploaded Excel file, running the test also creates [task name] automation.xlsx and adds it to the task's Documents field. See Get AI Agent Tasks Ready for Run Time in Agentforce Operations.
Viewing a Generated Excel File
After the Excel Agent generates the calculation logic for a formula-based task, you can download a copy of [task name] automation.xlsx from the task's Documents field. Any changes you make to the downloaded copy don't affect the file associated with the task.
| Section | Contents |
|---|---|
| INPUTS | The names of the task's Share information fields. |
| INTERMEDIATE | The names and values of constant values and intermediate calculations that the agent uses in the output formulas. If the task has no intermediate values, the worksheet doesn’t include this section. |
| OUTPUTS | The names of the task's Request information fields. The Result cell for each output contains the formula the Excel Agent generated. |
| Calculation Steps | The agent's plain-language description of the calculation logic it applied to produce the formulas in the OUTPUTS section. |
Reviewing Agent Output
The Excel Agent produces a calculation audit workbook each time the task runs. The calculation audit workbook is a copy of the Excel file in the task's Documents field with the run-time input values written in. The file is named [Documents file name]_executed.xlsx.
If you run the task from the Test tab, the [Documents file name]_executed.xlsx file appears in the AI AGENT ACTIVITY panel. Click the [Documents file name]_executed.xlsx file to download it.
If you run the task from a workflow, two files appear in the workflow's Documents tab for the task. The calculation audit workbook is added by the Excel Agent. Click the [Documents file name]_executed.xlsx to download a copy. The other file is the original calculation engine file, which is unchanged.
Downloaded files open in Protected View, which prevents calculated values from appearing in the Excel file. To see the calculated results, enable editing when you open the file.
Updating an Excel Agent Task
For both uploaded and generated Excel files, you can change intermediate values and formulas in the Excel file downloaded from the Documents field. Adding or removing inputs or outputs requires more steps that differ depending on whether the task uses an uploaded or generated file.
To add or remove inputs or outputs in a generated file, download it from the Documents field and update the INPUTS or OUTPUTS sections. In the draft blueprint task, add or remove the corresponding Share information and Request information fields to match.
To add or remove inputs or outputs in an uploaded file, download it from the Documents field. Update the Excel file to add or remove input and output cells, and update the task Description to reference them. Add or remove the corresponding Share information and Request information fields in the task to match.
For all updates, remove the existing file from the Documents field in the draft blueprint task and upload the updated file. Then use the task's Test tab to generate a new version of the plan.
