searching-documents-with-coda

What this skill does

# Overview

Query and export content from Coda documents using the `coda` CLI. Supports searching documents, listing pages and tables, exporting page content as Markdown/HTML, and exporting table data as JSON/CSV.

**Reference Documentation:**
- [coda-reference.md](coda-reference.md) — Full command reference with all options
- [digital-science-reference.md](digital-science-reference.md) — Digital Science documentation links

**Authentication:** Requires `CODA_API_KEY` environment variable. Get your key at https://coda.io/account

# Quick Start

```bash
# Verify authentication
coda auth status

# Search for documents
coda docs search "PRD"

# List pages in a document
coda pages list DOC_ID

# Export page as Markdown
coda pages export DOC_ID PAGE_ID --format markdown

# Export table data as JSON
coda export DOC_ID TABLE_ID --format json
```

# Command Reference

## Document Commands

| Command | Description |
|---------|-------------|
| `coda docs list` | List all accessible documents |
| `coda docs list --query "PRD"` | Search documents by name |
| `coda docs list --mine` | Show only your documents |
| `coda docs list --limit 10` | Limit results |
| `coda docs search "roadmap"` | Search documents by query |
| `coda docs show DOC_ID` | Show document details |

## Page Commands

| Command | Description |
|---------|-------------|
| `coda pages list DOC_ID` | List all pages in document |
| `coda pages show DOC_ID PAGE_ID` | Show page details |
| `coda pages export DOC_ID PAGE_ID` | Export page as HTML (default) |
| `coda pages export DOC_ID PAGE_ID --format markdown` | Export page as Markdown |
| `coda pages export DOC_ID PAGE_ID -o page.md` | Save to file |

## Table Commands

| Command | Description |
|---------|-------------|
| `coda tables list DOC_ID` | List all tables in document |
| `coda columns list DOC_ID TABLE_ID` | Show table schema/columns |
| `coda rows list DOC_ID TABLE_ID` | List all rows in table |
| `coda rows list DOC_ID TABLE_ID --limit 10` | Limit rows returned |
| `coda rows list DOC_ID TABLE_ID --query "filter"` | Filter rows |
| `coda rows show DOC_ID TABLE_ID ROW_ID` | Show specific row details |

## Export Commands

| Command | Description |
|---------|-------------|
| `coda export DOC_ID TABLE_ID` | Export table as JSON (console) |
| `coda export DOC_ID TABLE_ID --format csv` | Export as CSV |
| `coda export DOC_ID TABLE_ID -o data.json` | Save to file |

## Authentication Commands

| Command | Description |
|---------|-------------|
| `coda auth status` | Show current configuration |
| `coda auth test` | Test API connection |

# Common Workflows

## Find and Read a Document

```bash
# 1. Search for the document
coda docs search "product roadmap"

# 2. List pages in the document
coda pages list DOC_ID

# 3. Export page content as Markdown
coda pages export DOC_ID PAGE_ID --format markdown
```

## Extract Table Data

```bash
# 1. List tables in document
coda tables list DOC_ID

# 2. View table schema
coda columns list DOC_ID TABLE_ID

# 3. Export table data
coda export DOC_ID TABLE_ID --format json -o data.json
```

## Browse Table Rows

```bash
# List first 20 rows
coda rows list DOC_ID TABLE_ID --limit 20

# Filter rows
coda rows list DOC_ID TABLE_ID --query "status:active"

# Show specific row details
coda rows show DOC_ID TABLE_ID ROW_ID
```

# Common Searches

| Task | Command |
|------|---------|
| Find PRDs | `coda docs search "PRD"` |
| Find roadmaps | `coda docs search "roadmap"` |
| Find competitive analysis | `coda docs search "competitive"` |
| Find research docs | `coda docs search "research"` |
| Find Overleaf/Nova docs | `coda docs search "overleaf"` or `"nova"` |
| Find Reflect docs | `coda docs search "reflect"` |

# Global Options

| Option | Description |
|--------|-------------|
| `--format conversational` | Human-readable output (default) |
| `--format json` | Machine-readable JSON output |
| `--format csv` | CSV output |
| `--format table` | Tabular output |
| `--ai-snippets` | Show AI agent code snippets |

# Tips

- **Document IDs** are in the URL: `coda.io/d/Doc-Name_d<DOC_ID>`
- **Page IDs** start with `canvas-` (found via `pages list`)
- **Table IDs** start with `grid-` or `table-` (found via `tables list`)
- **Row IDs** are shown in `rows list` output
- Use `--format json` for machine-readable output
- Export pages as Markdown for easy reading

# Installation

If `coda` command is not found, install from source:

```bash
cd ~/aves/coda-cli && uv tool install .
```

Or run directly without global install:

```bash
cd ~/aves/coda-cli && uv run coda <command>
```

# Error Handling

| Error | Solution |
|-------|----------|
| `command not found: coda` | Install: `cd ~/aves/coda-cli && uv tool install .` |
| `CODA_API_KEY not set` | Run `export CODA_API_KEY="your-key"` |
| `Invalid API key` | Get new key at https://coda.io/account |
| `Document not found` | Verify DOC_ID from URL or search results |
| `Table not found` | Run `coda tables list DOC_ID` for valid IDs |
| `Page not found` | Run `coda pages list DOC_ID` for valid IDs |