TMS Software Agent Skills

---
name: flexcel-net
description: Use when writing C# / VB.NET / F# code that reads, writes, manipulates, or exports Excel (.xlsx / .xls) files, generates PDF or HTML from Excel, or produces data-driven reports with FlexCel Studio for .NET (TMS Software). Triggers include Excel/xlsx from C#, XlsFile, FlexCelReport, FlexCelPdfExport, FlexCelHtmlExport, FlexCelImgExport, ExcelFile, PdfWriter, .NET Excel export, ASP.NET Excel generation, .NET MAUI Excel, Native AOT + Excel, and Excel reporting from .NET.
---

# FlexCel Studio for .NET

This skill helps write **C# / VB.NET / F#** code that uses **FlexCel** — the TMS Software library for working with Excel `.xlsx` / `.xls` files, exporting to PDF / HTML / SVG / images, and generating data-driven reports from templates. Works with .NET Framework 4.6+, .NET Core / .NET 5+, .NET Standard 2.0+, .NET MAUI, Xamarin, and .NET 9 Native AOT (with caveats — see below).

## When to use this skill

Activate whenever the user wants to, from .NET code:

- **Read** an Excel file (`.xlsx` or `.xls`) — cell values, formulas, formatting.
- **Create or modify** an Excel file programmatically.
- **Generate reports** by merging data into Excel templates.
- **Export** an Excel file to **PDF**, **HTML**, **SVG**, or images.
- **Autofit** rows/columns, render sheets, or measure cells.
- Target **.NET Framework, .NET Core / .NET 5+, .NET MAUI, Xamarin, Blazor server, ASP.NET Core**, or **Native AOT**.

FlexCel does **not** require Excel or any Office installation on the target machine. No OLE/COM, no interop. Fully managed — works on Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, and Android.

## Two ways to create Excel files — pick one

Before writing code, decide which API fits the task:

| If the user wants to… | Use | Why |
|-----------------------|-----|-----|
| Read existing files, or build files cell-by-cell in code | **`XlsFile` API** (`FlexCel.XlsAdapter`) | Full programmatic control; no designer required; Native-AOT-safe. |
| Produce the same report repeatedly from changing data, with a styled layout | **`FlexCelReport` + Excel template** (`FlexCel.Report`) | Non-programmers can edit the template in Excel; code only provides data. |

When the user says "generate a report with company logo / nice formatting / many rows from a database", prefer **Reports**. When they say "read this file and extract values" or "create an Excel file with these calculations", prefer the **API**.

You can combine both: run a report to produce an in-memory `XlsFile`, then manipulate it with the API, then export to PDF.

## Package and namespace reference

**NuGet package:** `TMS.FlexCel` (includes almost all functionality). Install via `dotnet add package TMS.FlexCel` **after configuring the TMS NuGet source** — FlexCel is hosted at TMS's own NuGet feed, not on nuget.org. See `guides/installation-guide.md` in the doc source for feed setup.

Optional companion packages:
- `TMS.FlexCel.WinForms` — WinForms preview / grid components.
- `TMS.FlexCel.WebForms` — legacy WebForms viewer (rarely needed).

**Namespaces — add per task:**