> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.plaisolutions.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Office Documents Tool

> Generate and edit office documents from agents

Under the hood, the agent sends the document type, an optional template, and the content to an AI-powered document processor, which assembles the file and returns it to the agent. This means documents can be populated with data the agent just generated, instead of relying on a static template alone.

***

## What is an Office Documents Tool?

An Office Documents Tool lets you:

* ✅ Generate Word documents (.docx)
* ✅ Create Excel spreadsheets (.xlsx)
* ✅ Build PowerPoint presentations (.pptx)
* ✅ Generate PDF documents
* ✅ Edit existing documents
* ✅ Populate templates with dynamic data
* ✅ Use AI-powered document generation

Agent Process:

1. **Agent prepares data**
2. **Calls Office Doc Tool**
   * Document type
   * Template
   * Content
3. **Office Processor** (Claude + Skills)
4. **Document generated** (docx/xlsx/pptx/pdf)
5. **Returns to agent**

***

## Supported Document Types

### Word Documents (.docx)

Create professional reports, contracts, and written content:

* ✅ Formatted text with styles
* ✅ Tables and lists
* ✅ Headers and footers
* ✅ Page breaks
* ✅ Images and diagrams
* ✅ Metadata (title, author, etc.)

**Use Cases:**

* Report generation
* Contract generation
* Meeting minutes
* Technical documentation

### Excel Spreadsheets (.xlsx)

Generate data-rich spreadsheets with formulas:

* ✅ Multiple sheets
* ✅ Formulas and calculations
* ✅ Cell formatting
* ✅ Charts and graphs
* ✅ Pivot tables
* ✅ Data validation

**Use Cases:**

* Financial reports
* Data analysis
* Inventory tracking
* Performance dashboards

### PowerPoint Presentations (.pptx)

Create dynamic presentations with slides:

* ✅ Multiple slide layouts
* ✅ Text formatting
* ✅ Images and shapes
* ✅ Charts and tables
* ✅ Animations
* ✅ Speaker notes

**Use Cases:**

* Sales presentations
* Training materials
* Executive reports
* Project updates

### PDF Documents

Generate portable PDF files:

* ✅ Convert from other formats
* ✅ Create from templates
* ✅ Add watermarks and signatures
* ✅ Merge documents
* ✅ Extract content

**Use Cases:**

* Reports and forms
* Contracts and agreements
* Certificates
* Published documents

***

## Use Cases

### Financial Report Generation

Agent receives quarterly data and generates a report:

```
Agent Process:
1. Receives financial data
2. Calls Office Documents Tool
3. Generates Word document with:
   - Executive summary
   - Formatted tables
   - Charts
   - Analysis and conclusions
4. Returns report to user
```

### Invoice Generation

Sales agent creates invoices programmatically:

```
Agent Process:
1. Receives order information
2. Extracts line items and totals
3. Calls Office Documents Tool
4. Generates professional invoice
5. Includes company branding
6. Returns PDF to send to customer
```

### Data Analysis Report

Analysis agent processes dataset:

```
Agent Process:
1. Analyzes data
2. Creates summary statistics
3. Generates Excel spreadsheet with:
   - Raw data in sheets
   - Pivot tables
   - Charts and graphs
   - Summary analysis
4. Returns to stakeholders
```

### Meeting Summary Document

Support agent documents meeting outcomes:

```
Agent Process:
1. Receives meeting notes
2. Organizes information
3. Calls Office Documents Tool
4. Generates Word document with:
   - Attendees
   - Agenda items
   - Decisions made
   - Action items
   - Follow-up dates
5. Distributes to team
```

***

## Configuration

### Adding Office Documents Tool to an Agent

<Steps>
  <Step title="Go to Agent Settings">
    Open the agent where you want to use the Office Documents Tool
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open Tools Tab">
    Navigate to the Tools configuration section
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add New Tool">
    Click "Add Tool" and select "Office Documents"
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select Document Types">
    Choose which document types to enable:

    * Word (DOCX)
    * Excel (XLSX)
    * PowerPoint (PPTX)
    * PDF
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose Model">
    Select the AI model for document generation:

    * Claude Sonnet 4.6 (recommended)
    * Claude Opus 4.6 (more capable)
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save">
    Office Documents Tool is now available
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Tool Configuration

```yaml theme={null}
Name: "Document Generator"
Description: "Generate professional reports and documents"

Document Types:
  - DOCX (Word documents)
  - XLSX (Excel spreadsheets)
  - PPTX (PowerPoint presentations)
  - PDF (Portable documents)

Model: Claude Sonnet 4.6
(Handles document generation with AI capabilities)
```

### Skill Selection

The tool can use different skills depending on document type:

| Document Type      | Skill | Use                       |
| ------------------ | ----- | ------------------------- |
| Word (.docx)       | docx  | Create and edit documents |
| Excel (.xlsx)      | xlsx  | Generate spreadsheets     |
| PowerPoint (.pptx) | pptx  | Create presentations      |
| PDF                | pdf   | Generate PDF documents    |

***

## How to Use

### Basic Document Generation

Agent provides document specifications:

```json theme={null}
{
  "document_type": "docx",
  "title": "Monthly Sales Report",
  "content": {
    "sections": [
      {
        "heading": "Executive Summary",
        "text": "..."
      },
      {
        "heading": "Sales by Region",
        "table": {
          "headers": ["Region", "Sales", "Growth"],
          "rows": [...]
        }
      }
    ]
  }
}
```

### Template-Based Generation

Agent uses predefined templates:

```json theme={null}
{
  "document_type": "docx",
  "template": "report",
  "data": {
    "company_name": "Acme Corp",
    "report_date": "2024-09-08",
    "total_sales": 150000,
    "growth_rate": 15.5
  }
}
```

### Excel with Formulas

Generate spreadsheet with calculations:

```json theme={null}
{
  "document_type": "xlsx",
  "sheets": [
    {
      "name": "Sales",
      "columns": ["Product", "Q1", "Q2", "Q3", "Q4", "Total"],
      "rows": [
        ["Product A", 100, 120, 150, 180],
        ["Product B", 80, 90, 100, 110]
      ],
      "formulas": {
        "Total": "=SUM(B2:E2)"
      }
    }
  ]
}
```

### PowerPoint Presentation

Create slides dynamically:

```json theme={null}
{
  "document_type": "pptx",
  "slides": [
    {
      "layout": "title",
      "title": "Quarterly Review",
      "subtitle": "Q3 2024"
    },
    {
      "layout": "content",
      "title": "Key Metrics",
      "content": "..."
    }
  ]
}
```

***

## Response Format

After generating a document, the tool returns:

```json theme={null}
{
  "status": "success",
  "document_id": "doc_12345",
  "document_type": "docx",
  "file_name": "sales_report_2024.docx",
  "file_path": "s3://bucket/documents/...",
  "file_size": 245000,
  "download_url": "https://...",
  "expires_in": 86400
}
```

***

## Best Practices

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Clear Structure" icon="layout-grid">
    Organize documents logically with sections and headings
  </Card>

  <Card title="Professional Formatting" icon="palette">
    Use consistent styles and branding
  </Card>

  <Card title="Dynamic Data" icon="database">
    Populate templates with accurate data
  </Card>

  <Card title="Error Handling" icon="alert">
    Handle generation failures gracefully
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

### Document Generation Example

```
Agent Prompt Example:

"When generating reports:
1. Start with an executive summary
2. Include relevant data in tables
3. Add charts for visual impact
4. Include recommendations
5. End with next steps

Use professional formatting and branding."
```

### Template Strategy

```
Benefits:
- Consistent formatting
- Faster generation
- Brand compliance
- Reusable across agents

Use templates for:
- Regular reports
- Standard forms
- Branded documents
- Complex layouts
```

***

## Troubleshooting

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Document generation fails">
    **Symptoms**: Error when calling Office Documents Tool

    **Solutions:**

    * Check document data is properly formatted
    * Verify document type is supported
    * Review data completeness
    * Simplify content if too complex
    * Check model token limits
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Generated document looks wrong">
    **Symptoms**: Document structure or formatting is incorrect

    **Solutions:**

    * Review template structure
    * Check data formatting
    * Adjust styling in template
    * Test with simpler content first
    * Use consistent formatting patterns
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Document too large or slow">
    **Symptoms**: Large file or slow generation

    **Solutions:**

    * Split large documents into multiple files
    * Reduce data complexity
    * Use simpler formatting
    * Generate in batches
    * Optimize template structure
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Formula errors in Excel">
    **Symptoms**: Excel formulas not working correctly

    **Solutions:**

    * Verify formula syntax
    * Check cell references
    * Use absolute references if needed
    * Test formulas in Excel first
    * Simplify complex calculations
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="File not accessible after generation">
    **Symptoms**: Can't download or access generated document

    **Solutions:**

    * Check download URL is valid
    * Verify file hasn't expired
    * Check storage permissions
    * Regenerate if expired
    * Verify storage is configured
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

***

## Advanced Usage

### Dynamic Report Generation

```
Agent Process:
1. Query database for data
2. Generate Excel with raw data
3. Add pivot tables
4. Create Word summary
5. Export as PDF
6. Send to stakeholders
```

### Batch Document Generation

```
For multiple documents:
1. Iterate through data
2. Generate doc for each record
3. Store in document repository
4. Return batch results
5. Send confirmation
```

### Template Personalization

```
Agent receives template and data:
1. Load predefined template
2. Replace placeholders
3. Add dynamic sections
4. Format based on data
5. Generate final document
```

### Document Workflow Integration

```
Workflow Process:
1. Step 1: Collect data
2. Step 2: Call Agent with Office Tool
3. Step 3: Agent generates document
4. Step 4: Email document to recipient
5. Step 5: Archive for records
```

***

## Model Selection

### Claude Sonnet 4.6

* **Default choice** for most use cases
* Good balance of speed and capability
* Handles complex document structures
* Recommended for production use

### Claude Opus 4.6

* **Most capable** model
* Better for complex content generation
* Higher token usage
* Use for premium/complex documents

***

## Next Steps

* **[Agent Configuration](../agents/configuration.mdx)** - Add tools to agents
* **[Tool Examples](./api-requests.mdx)** - See how other tools work
* **[Create Your First Agent](../../guides/first-agent.mdx)** - Get started with agents
* **[Workflows](../concepts/workflows-jobs-and-triggers.mdx)** - Use Office Tool in workflows