Run repeated commands in a live session

Use a managed session when you will edit and run more than once. It keeps one known Excel workbook open, which makes iteration faster and avoids wondering whether a command touched a different Excel instance.

Use a normal push/run for a one-off change. Use a session when you want a repeatable loop. The only extra rule is important: --no-save makes the live workbook newer than the file, so finish by saving or intentionally discard it.

xlflow session start --json
xlflow pull --session --json
xlflow push --fast --session --no-save --json
xlflow run Main.Run --diagnostic --session --json
xlflow inspect workbook --session --json
xlflow save --session --json
xlflow session stop --json

--no-save leaves the live workbook newer than disk. A dirty session requires save --session or an intentional discard. session attach adopts a workbook already opened by a user; stopping an external session detaches metadata and does not close Excel. See recovery when termination is uncertain.

What success looks like: session start reports a running session, commands with --session report the same workbook, and save --session clears the dirty/save-required state. If you accidentally stop before saving, do not guess—run xlflow status --json and use recovery when it asks you to.