Site Explorer
Navigate your SharePoint environment interactively. Search for sites, browse their lists and document libraries, inspect list schemas and items, preview files, and drill into folder structures — all from the command line.
When to Use
- "What SharePoint sites do I have access to?"
- "Show me the lists on the Marketing site"
- "What's in the Shared Documents library on the HR site?"
- "Browse the Project Alpha site"
- "What columns does the Vendor Tracker list have?"
- Discovering content across SharePoint before working with it
Instructions
Step 1: Identify the User
Step 2: Find Sites
Search by name:
Browse top sites (no specific name):
Present discovered sites:
Step 3: Explore a Site — Lists and Libraries
Retrieve all lists and document libraries on the selected site:
Display:
Step 4: Explore a List — Schema
View column definitions for a list:
Display:
Step 5: Explore a List — Items
Retrieve list items:
Display items in a table format, using column names as headers. Show the first 20 items; note if more exist.
Step 6: Explore a Document Library
Browse a library's contents:
Display:
Step 7: Browse Into Folders
Step 8: Preview a File
For text file contents:
For metadata only:
Step 9: Search for Files
Step 10: List Subsites
Parameters
| Parameter | Required | Default | Description |
|---|
| Site | No | Browse all | Site name or URL to explore |
| View | No | Overview | "lists", "libraries", "all" |
| List/Library | No | — | Specific list or library to drill into |
| MCP Server | Tool | Purpose |
|---|
| workiq (Local WorkIQ CLI) | ask | Site discovery, list/library browsing, schema inspection, item retrieval, file preview, and file search |
Tips
- Start broad: "show me my SharePoint sites" to discover what's available.
- Drill down naturally: "open Marketing site" → "show lists" → "show Job Openings items."
- Say "search for 'budget'" to find files across SharePoint without knowing where they are.
- After exploring, you can create new lists or search for specific files using other M365 productivity skills.
Examples
Example 1: Discover All Accessible Sites
"What SharePoint sites do I have access to?"
Claude queries your accessible sites via ask, then presents them in a numbered table. You can select any site by number or name to continue exploring.
Example 2: Inspect a List Schema and Items
"Show me the columns and items in the Vendor Tracker list on the Procurement site."
- Claude searches for the Procurement site via
ask.
- Retrieves all lists and locates Vendor Tracker.
- Fetches the list schema to display column names, types, and required flags.
- Retrieves items to show the first 20 rows in a table, with a prompt to filter or export.
Example 3: Browse a Document Library and Preview a File
"Open the Shared Documents library on the Project Alpha site and show me what's in the Contracts folder."
- Claude resolves the site via
ask.
- Lists document libraries on the site.
- Shows top-level contents of Shared Documents.
- Drills into the Contracts folder.
- If you say "read README.md", Claude previews its contents inline via
ask.
Error Handling
Site Not Found
Symptom: ask returns no results for a site name search.
Resolution:
- Verify the site name or URL is correct (check spelling, use a partial name for broader search).
- Try asking for all accessible sites to browse and identify the correct name.
- Confirm you have at least read access to the site in SharePoint.
Permission Denied
Symptom: ask indicates a permission or access error when querying a site, list, library, or file.
Resolution:
- You do not have access to that resource. Contact the site owner to request permission.
- If you own the site, verify that the connected account has the correct SharePoint role assigned.
List or Library Not Found
Symptom: ask returns lists but the expected list is missing, or no libraries are reported.
Resolution:
- The list may be hidden (set to not appear in navigation). Ask the site admin to confirm it exists.
- Confirm you are on the correct site — run the site search again to verify.
File Too Large to Preview
Symptom: ask cannot return the contents of a large file.
Resolution:
- Ask for file metadata only (size, type, modified date) instead of full content.
- Download the file directly from SharePoint for full access.
Inconsistent Search Results
Symptom: ask returns fewer site results than expected.
Resolution:
- SharePoint search indexes may lag by a few minutes after site creation or rename.
- Wait briefly and retry, or ask with the exact site URL if known.