What causes "File not found: {file.FullName}" in iOfficeAI/OfficeCLI?

Create the target workbook first: 'officecli create " .xlsx"'.

iOfficeAI/OfficeCLI · error · CliException

file_not_found

file_not_found

Error message

File not found: {file.FullName}

What it means

The import command requires an existing target .xlsx workbook to import data into; it imports CSV/TSV content into a spreadsheet, it does not create one. This fires when the target file (the positional <file> argument) does not exist on disk.

Source

Thrown at src/officecli/CommandBuilder.Import.cs:47

        importCommand.Add(importSourceOpt);
        importCommand.Add(importStdinOpt);
        importCommand.Add(importFormatOpt);
        importCommand.Add(importHeaderOpt);
        importCommand.Add(importStartCellOpt);
        importCommand.Add(jsonOption);

        importCommand.SetAction(result => { var json = result.GetValue(jsonOption); return SafeRun(() =>
        {
            var file = result.GetValue(importFileArg)!;
            var parentPath = OfficeCli.Core.MsysPathHint.Restore(result.GetValue(importParentPathArg)!)!;
            var source = result.GetValue(importSourceOpt) ?? result.GetValue(importSourceArg);
            var useStdin = result.GetValue(importStdinOpt);
            var format = result.GetValue(importFormatOpt);
            var header = result.GetValue(importHeaderOpt);
            var startCell = result.GetValue(importStartCellOpt)!;

            if (!file.Exists)
                throw new CliException($"File not found: {file.FullName}")
                {
                    Code = "file_not_found",
                    Suggestion = $"Create the file first: officecli create \"{file.FullName}\""
                };

            var ext = Path.GetExtension(file.FullName).ToLowerInvariant();
            if (ext != ".xlsx")
                throw new CliException("Import is only supported for .xlsx files in V1")
                {
                    Code = "unsupported_type",
                    Suggestion = "Use a .xlsx file"
                };

            // Read CSV content
            string csvContent;
            if (useStdin)
            {
                // StripBom for the same reason batch does it: File.ReadAllText

View on GitHub (pinned to 1ced45e900)

Solutions

Create the target workbook first: 'officecli create "<target>.xlsx"'.
Verify the path: check spelling and working directory.
If importing into a freshly-built file, chain create then import.

Example fix

// before
officecli import report.xlsx --file data.csv   # report.xlsx missing
// after
officecli create report.xlsx
officecli import report.xlsx --file data.csv

Defensive patterns

Strategy: validation

Validate before calling

if (!File.Exists(targetXlsx))
    throw new FileNotFoundException(
        $"Target workbook missing — create it first: officecli create \"{targetXlsx}\"");

Prevention

Treat 'import' as write-into-existing, not create; precede with 'create' for new workbooks.
Stat the target file before the import call in automation scripts.
Remember import is .xlsx-only in V1.

When it happens

Trigger: Running 'officecli import <target>.xlsx --file data.csv' (or --stdin) where <target>.xlsx does not exist; a typo'd or not-yet-created target path.

Common situations: Assuming 'import' creates the workbook (it does not — use 'create' first); pointing at the wrong directory; an agent retrying against a path it cleaned up.

Related errors

AI-assisted analysis of iOfficeAI/OfficeCLI@1ced45e900 (2026-08-13). Data as JSON: /api/errors/e8fb3c4c57929fbd. Report an issue: GitHub.