What is Excel Mcp

Excel MCP is a server implementation of the Model Context Protocol (MCP) that allows for the manipulation of Excel files without the need for Microsoft Excel installation.

Use cases

Use cases include automated report generation, data processing and transformation, creating visualizations and charts, and managing large datasets in Excel format.

How to use

To use Excel MCP, configure the environment variable ‘EXCEL_FILES_PATH’ to specify the directory for Excel files, then run the server using the command ‘uv run excel-mcp-server’.

Key features

Key features include full Excel support, data manipulation capabilities, advanced features like charts and pivot tables, and comprehensive error handling.

Where to use

Excel MCP can be used in various fields such as data analysis, reporting, automation of Excel tasks, and any application requiring Excel file manipulation without Microsoft Excel.

Excel MCP Server

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server implementation that provides Excel file manipulation capabilities without requiring Microsoft Excel installation. This server enables workbook creation, data manipulation, formatting, and advanced Excel features.

Requirements

• Python 3.10+
• MCP SDK 1.2.0+
• OpenPyXL 3.1.2+

Components

Resources

The server provides Excel workbook manipulation through OpenPyXL:

• Creates and modifies Excel workbooks
• Manages worksheets and ranges
• Handles formatting and styles
• Supports charts and pivot tables

Tools

This server provides a comprehensive set of Excel manipulation tools. For detailed documentation of all available tools, their parameters, and usage examples, please refer to TOOLS.md.

The tools include capabilities for:

• Workbook and worksheet management
• Data reading and writing
• Formatting and styling
• Charts and visualizations
• Pivot tables and data analysis

See TOOLS.md for complete documentation.

Features

• Full Excel Support: Comprehensive Excel functionality
• Data Manipulation: Read, write, and transform data
• Advanced Features: Charts, pivot tables, and formatting
• Error Handling: Comprehensive error handling with clear messages

Usage

Environment Configuration

The server can be configured using the following environment variables:

• EXCEL_FILES_PATH: Directory where Excel files will be stored (default: ./excel_files)

You can set this in different ways:

Windows CMD:

set EXCEL_FILES_PATH=C:\path\to\excel\files
uv run excel-mcp-server

Windows PowerShell:

$env:EXCEL_FILES_PATH="C:\path\to\excel\files"
uv run excel-mcp-server

Linux/MacOS:

export EXCEL_FILES_PATH=/path/to/excel/files
uv run excel-mcp-server

Or in Claude Desktop config:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "excel": {
      "command": "uv run excel-mcp-server",
      "transport": "sse",
      "env": {
        "EXCEL_FILES_PATH": "/path/to/excel/files"
      }
    }
  }
}

Starting the Server

Start the server:

uv run excel-mcp-server

The server will start in SSE mode and wait for connections from MCP clients.

Connecting in Cursor IDE

After starting the server, connect to the SSE endpoint in Cursor IDE:

http://localhost:8000/sse

The Excel MCP tools will be available through the agent.

For available tools and their usage, please refer to TOOLS.md.

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.