excel-mcp-server

excel-mcp-server avatar

by

Community Servers

A Model Context Protocol server for Excel file manipulation

What is excel-mcp-server

Excel MCP Server

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that lets you manipulate Excel files without needing Microsoft Excel installed. Create, read, and modify Excel workbooks with your AI agent.

Features

  • 📊 Create and modify Excel workbooks
  • 📝 Read and write data
  • 🎨 Apply formatting and styles
  • 📈 Create charts and visualizations
  • 📊 Generate pivot tables
  • 🔄 Manage worksheets and ranges

Quick Start

Prerequisites

  • Python 3.10 or higher

Installation

  1. Clone the repository:
git clone https://github.com/haris-musa/excel-mcp-server.git
cd excel-mcp-server
  1. Install using uv:
uv pip install -e .

Running the Server

Start the server (default port 8000):

uv run excel-mcp-server

Custom port (e.g., 8080):

# Bash/Linux/macOS
export FASTMCP_PORT=8080 && uv run excel-mcp-server

# Windows PowerShell
$env:FASTMCP_PORT = "8080"; uv run excel-mcp-server

Using with AI Tools

Cursor IDE

  1. Add this configuration to Cursor:
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "excel": {
      "url": "http://localhost:8000/sse",
      "env": {
        "EXCEL_FILES_PATH": "/path/to/excel/files"
      }
    }
  }
}
  1. The Excel tools will be available through your AI assistant.

Remote Hosting & Transport Protocols

This server uses Server-Sent Events (SSE) transport protocol. For different use cases:

  1. Using with Claude Desktop (requires stdio):

  2. Hosting Your MCP Server:

Environment Variables

  • FASTMCP_PORT: Server port (default: 8000)
  • EXCEL_FILES_PATH: Directory for Excel files (default: ./excel_files)

Available Tools

The server provides a comprehensive set of Excel manipulation tools. See TOOLS.md for complete documentation of all available tools.

License

MIT License - see LICENSE for details.

Leave a Comment

Comments section will be available soon. Stay tuned!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is MCP?

MCP (Model Context Protocol) is an open protocol that standardizes how applications provide context to LLMs. Think of MCP like a USB-C port for AI applications, providing a standardized way to connect AI models to different data sources and tools.

What are MCP Servers?

MCP Servers are lightweight programs that expose specific capabilities through the standardized Model Context Protocol. They act as bridges between LLMs like Claude and various data sources or services, allowing secure access to files, databases, APIs, and other resources.

How do MCP Servers work?

MCP Servers follow a client-server architecture where a host application (like Claude Desktop) connects to multiple servers. Each server provides specific functionality through standardized endpoints and protocols, enabling Claude to access data and perform actions through the standardized protocol.

Are MCP Servers secure?

Yes, MCP Servers are designed with security in mind. They run locally with explicit configuration and permissions, require user approval for actions, and include built-in security features to prevent unauthorized access and ensure data privacy.