# Excel Mcp

> MCP server allowing LLMs to be able to work with spreadsheets and carry out advanced tasks

- **Type:** MCP server
- **Install:** `agentstack add mcp-mbeps-excel-mcp`
- **Verified:** Yes — security-reviewed for prompt injection and unsafe behavior
- **Seller:** [mbeps](https://agentstack.voostack.com/s/mbeps)
- **Installs:** 0
- **Category:** [AI & ML](https://agentstack.voostack.com/c/ai-and-ml)
- **Latest version:** 0.1.0
- **License:** MIT
- **Upstream author:** [mbeps](https://github.com/mbeps)
- **Source:** https://github.com/mbeps/excel-mcp

## Install

```sh
agentstack add mcp-mbeps-excel-mcp
```

Requires the [AgentStack CLI](https://agentstack.voostack.com/docs/cli). Works with Claude Code, Cursor, and any MCP-compatible agent.

## About

# Excel MCP Server

A Python-based Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for Excel and CSV automation. It enables LLMs to work with `.xlsx`, `.xlsm`, `.xls`, and `.csv` files through 69 structured tools, 2 JSON resources, and 20 prompts spanning workbook operations, formatting, charts, ETL, analysis, financial/statistical workflows, and HTTP file transfer.

# Features

> **NOTE:** Custom actions are not supported as first-class tools. Use `execute_custom_code` as the sanctioned, sandboxed path for custom data transformations. This uses AST validation and blocks dangerous operations.

## Workbook & Sheet Management
- Create workbooks; inspect workbook metadata and per-sheet summaries.
- Rename, delete, copy, move, hide/unhide, and recolour sheet tabs.
- Write data to multiple sheets in a single call.

## Cell & Range Operations
- Read and write individual cells, contiguous ranges, and large sheets in chunks.
- Include formulas and cell metadata when reading ranges.
- Copy ranges, clear range values, transpose data, and search/replace with optional regex support.

## Row & Column Operations
- Insert and delete rows and columns by index.

## Formatting & Styling
- Apply fonts, colours, alignment, borders, and number formats to cells.
- Use built-in number format presets and named Excel styles.
- Merge and unmerge cells, auto-fit columns, clear formatting, and copy cell formatting.

## Conditional Formatting
- Apply colour scales, data bars, icon sets, and targeted highlight rules.
- Add formula, top/bottom, and above/below-average rules; list and remove rules.

## Formulas
- Set single or batch formulas and drag-fill them across ranges with relative-reference translation.
- Insert AutoSum formulas and audit formula values, errors, precedents, dependents, and sheet formulas.

## Tables
- Create, list, resize, and read native Excel tables.
- Toggle totals rows and convert tables back to plain ranges.

## Data Validation
- Add dropdown, numeric, date, and formula-based validation rules.
- Remove validation rules.

## Protection
- Protect and unprotect sheets and workbooks.
- Lock individual cells.

## Charts
- Create, list, delete, and update charts across 10 chart types: column, bar, line, pie, scatter, area, radar, doughnut, bubble, and stock.
- Add series and configure axes, trendlines, combo charts, data labels, legends, and category ranges.

## Data Analysis
- Filter and sort data by multiple conditions or columns.
- Compute column statistics, grouped aggregates, value counts, and correlation matrices.
- Find duplicates, profile datasets, insert subtotals, and perform VLOOKUP-style enrichment.
- Run OLS regression and exponential smoothing with forecasting support.

## CSV Operations
- Preview CSV content.
- Convert between CSV and XLSX formats.

## Pivot & ETL
- Create pivot tables and refresh them from stored definitions.
- Unpivot wide data, merge datasets with SQL-style joins, and deduplicate rows.
- Add computed columns with safe expressions, cumulative sums, or rolling calculations.

## Financial Calculations
- Run IRR, FV, PV, NPER, RATE, and depreciation time-value calculations.
- Build DCF models, loan amortisation schedules, budget variance reports, financial ratio analysis, and break-even analysis.
- Perform goal seek, constrained solver optimisation, sensitivity tables, and scenario analysis.

## Data Cleaning
- Run a configurable cleaning pipeline to trim whitespace, remove empty rows/columns, normalise text, fix number formats, deduplicate, and fill missing values.
- Use preview mode before saving changes.
- Split columns and parse/normalise date columns.

## Comments
- Add, read, delete, and list comments.

## Hyperlinks
- Add internal or external hyperlinks.
- Read, delete, and list hyperlinks.

## Images
- Insert images into worksheets.

## Named Ranges
- Create, list, update, and delete named ranges.

## Worksheet Operations
- Freeze and unfreeze panes.
- Set/remove auto-filters, and toggle gridlines.
- Group/ungroup rows and columns; set row heights and column widths.
- Configure print area, page setup, print titles, and manual page breaks.
- Copy ranges across sheets, copy sheets across workbooks, merge workbooks, and stack sheets into a consolidated sheet.

## Document Properties
- Read workbook metadata and set calculation mode.

## Cross-file Operations
- Aggregate, filter, validate, and compare data across multiple files.

## File Transfer
- Upload files (base64, HTTP URL, or local path) for server-side processing.
- Download processed files as base64.
- Release session files to free server disk space.
- Supports single and multi-file upload workflows.

**69 Tools | 2 Resources | 20 Prompts**

# Prerequisites
Below are the requirements for running this MCP:
- Python 3.12+
- [uv](https://github.com/astral-sh/uv) for dependency management and execution
- Optional: Node.js (for running the MCP Inspector via `npx`)

# Setup & Run
Installing all project dependencies:
```sh
uv sync
```

## Running in STDIO Mode (default)

```sh
uv run src/mcp_server/main.py   # or: uv run excel-mcp
```

The default transport is STDIO, preserving compatibility with local CLI-based clients.

### GitHub Copilot (VS Code) — STDIO

In `.vscode/mcp.json`:
```json
{
  "servers": {
    "excel-mcp": {
      "command": "uv",
      "args": [
        "run",
        "--with",
        "mcp[cli]",
        "excel-mcp"
      ],
      "env": {
        "PYTHONPATH": "src"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

## Running in HTTP Mode

```sh
uv run excel-mcp --transport http --host 127.0.0.1 --port 8765
```

With defaults (host `127.0.0.1`, port `8000`):

```sh
uv run excel-mcp --transport http
```

### GitHub Copilot (VS Code) — HTTP

In `.vscode/mcp.json`:
```json
{
  "servers": {
    "excel-mcp-http": {
      "url": "http://127.0.0.1:8765/mcp"
    }
  }
}
```

### Other MCP Clients
In the `.vscode/mcp.json` add:
```json
"excel-mcp": {
  "command": "uv",
  "args": [
    "run",
    "--with",
    "mcp[cli]",
    "excel-mcp"
  ],
  "env": {
    "PYTHONPATH": "src"
  }
}
```

- ### Anthropic Claude
Expose the FastMCP server via the Streamable HTTP transport and register it with Claude/Claude Code for direct tool use. For development you can also use the MCP Inspector or run a small HTTP adapter that forwards Claude Messages to the MCP server.

Example (from research spec):
```sh
claude mcp add --transport http my-excel-mcp http://localhost:8000/mcp
```

- ### Anthropic Claude Code
Claude Code supports stdio, HTTP/SSE, and plugin-bundled MCP servers. For local development add a project-scoped `.mcp.json` or register a stdio command; for sharing use a plugin that bundles a `.mcp.json` entry.

Example (project `.mcp.json` from research spec):
```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "excel-mcp": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "uv",
      "args": ["run", "src/mcp_server/main.py"],
      "env": { "PYTHONPATH": "src" }
    }
  }
}
```

- ### OpenAI / ChatGPT
OpenAI supports an `mcp` tool via the Responses API (remote MCP/SSE or streamable HTTP), ChatGPT plugins (OpenAPI + `ai-plugin.json`), or a local function-calling wrapper that mediates calls to the local MCP server. Protect public endpoints with TLS/auth or prefer the local wrapper for private data.

Example (Responses API `mcp` tool from research spec):
```py
from openai import OpenAI
client = OpenAI()

resp = client.responses.create(
    model="gpt-5",
    tools=[{
        "type": "mcp",
        "server_label": "excel-mcp",
        "server_description": "Excel MCP server",
        "server_url": "https://your-public-host.example.com/sse",
        "authorization": "Bearer YOUR_MCP_TOKEN",
        "require_approval": "always",
    }],
    input="Read first 20 rows from /tmp/demo.xlsx"
)
print(resp.output_text)
```

## Try it with the MCP Inspector
Inspect tools, resources, and prompts without an LLM in the loop:
```sh
npx @modelcontextprotocol/inspector uv run --directory . src/mcp_server/main.py
```

## Verifications
Run tests with:
```sh
uv run pytest -v
```

Run linting with:
```sh
uv run ruff check src/ tests/
```

Run MyPy type checks with:
```sh
uv run mypy src/mcp_server
```

# Prompts
The server ships 20 MCP prompts (`src/mcp_server/prompts.py`) for common workflows:

| Prompt                            | Description                                                                                 |
| --------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `excel-quickstart`                | Create a new Excel workbook, populate it with formatted data, and auto-fit columns          |
| `excel-data-analysis`             | Profile, filter, aggregate, sort, and find duplicates in an Excel dataset                   |
| `excel-data-cleaning`             | Full data cleaning pipeline: profile, clean, validate, deduplicate, and export              |
| `excel-chart-builder`             | Create, style, and annotate charts with trendlines, axis labels, data labels, and legends   |
| `excel-report-builder`            | Assemble a multi-sheet formatted report with data, charts, statistics, and print setup      |
| `excel-financial-model`           | Build a financial model workbook with loan amortisation, DCF analysis, and financial ratios |
| `excel-pivot-etl`                 | Create pivot tables and run ETL transforms: merge, unpivot, add computed columns            |
| `excel-multi-file`                | Aggregate, filter, compare, and validate schema consistency across multiple Excel files     |
| `excel-statistical-analysis`      | Run OLS regression and exponential smoothing with forecasting on Excel data                 |
| `excel-formula-builder`           | Write, fill, auto-sum, and audit Excel formulas across a sheet                              |
| `excel-data-governance`           | Apply data validation, protection, named ranges, and scenario management to a workbook      |
| `excel-csv-workflow`              | Preview a CSV, convert to Excel, clean, analyse, and export results                         |
| `excel-readonly-audit`            | Inspect workbook structure, formulas, tables, and data quality without mutating the file    |
| `excel-formula-diagnosis`         | Diagnose formula errors, trace precedents and dependents, and apply the smallest safe fix   |
| `excel-workbook-maintenance`      | Perform conservative workbook housekeeping: sheets, layout, print setup, and sizing         |
| `excel-table-manager`             | Create, inspect, resize, total, and convert native Excel tables                             |
| `excel-what-if-analysis`          | Run goal seek, solver, sensitivity, and scenario analysis                                   |
| `excel-multi-file-reconciliation` | Validate, compare, aggregate, and filter multiple files with schema checks                  |
| `excel-search-repair`             | Find and repair text or formula content with a read-before-write workflow                   |
| `excel-safe-transform`            | Apply a sandboxed custom transform only when built-in tools are not enough                  |

## Tools

This section merges the previous "Tool Overview" and the full grouped tool list. Each group includes a short description of its purpose and the individual tools provided by the server.

- Workbook management (5) — Manage workbooks and sheets (create, inspect, rename, delete, copy, move)
  - `get_workbook_metadata` — Return workbook metadata (sheets, active sheet, named ranges).
  - `create_workbook` — Create a new workbook file with optional initial sheets.
  - `get_sheet_summary` — Summarise a sheet (header detection, used range, dimensions).
  - `write_multi_sheet` — Create/overwrite a workbook from multiple sheet definitions.
  - `sheet_management` — Rename, delete, copy, hide/unhide, tab color, and move sheets.

- Cell & range operations (6) — Read and write cells/ranges and perform range transforms
  - `read_cells` — Read a single cell, a rectangular range, or stream large sheets in chunks.
  - `write_cells` — Write a single cell, a 2D range, generate series, merge/unmerge ranges.
  - `clear_range` — Clear values from a rectangular range.
  - `copy_range` — Copy a range between sheets (values and/or styles, optional paste-values-only).
  - `find_replace` — Find and replace text (optionally in formulas) across a sheet.
  - `transpose_range` — Transpose rows↔columns and write the result at a target cell.

- Formatting & styling (5) — Apply and manage cell formatting at scale
  - `format_cells` — Apply fonts, fills, alignment, borders and number formats to a range.
  - `auto_fit_columns` — Auto-fit column widths to their contents.
  - `copy_cell_format` — Copy formatting from a source cell to every cell in a target range.
  - `clear_cell_format` — Remove formatting from a range without changing values.
  - `apply_named_style` — Apply built-in Excel named styles (e.g. Heading, Good, Bad).

- Formulas (2) — Write and audit formulas
  - `formula_write` — Set single formulas, batch-set, drag-fill, or insert AutoSum formulas.
  - `formula_audit` — Inspect formula values, list errors, find precedents/dependents, or list formulas.

- Charts (1) — Create and manage chart lifecycle and series
  - `chart` — Create, list, delete, update, add series, and configure axes, trendlines, combo charts, legends, and data labels.

- Worksheet operations (4) — UI, structure, print and cross-workbook transfers
  - `worksheet_view` — Freeze panes, set/remove auto-filter, toggle gridlines.
  - `worksheet_structure` — Insert/delete rows/cols, group/ungroup, set sizes.
  - `worksheet_print` — Set print area, page setup, print titles, and page breaks.
  - `worksheet_transfer` — Copy ranges across sheets within a workbook, copy sheets across workbooks, merge workbooks, and stack sheets.

- Data analysis (9) — Filtering, aggregation, profiling and helper utilities
  - `sort_data` — Sort worksheet rows by one or more columns.
  - `column_statistics` — Compute descriptive statistics for a numeric column.
  - `aggregate_data` — Group rows and aggregate values using common operations.
  - `find_duplicates` — Identify duplicate rows based on a set of columns.
  - `vlookup_helper` — Cross-file lookup helper (exact or fuzzy matching) to enrich data.
  - `filter_data_advanced` — Filter rows using multiple conditions combined with AND/OR logic.
  - `insert_subtotals` — Insert SUBTOTAL formula rows after groups in a sorted sheet.
  - `profile_data` — Produce a per-column data profile (types, nulls, unique counts, samples).
  - `value_counts` — Frequency counts (optionally normalized, top-n) for a column.

- Pivot & ETL (6) — Pivot tables and ETL-style transforms
  - `create_pivot_table` — Build a pivot table and optionally write it to a sheet/file.
  - `refresh_pivot_table` — Re-run a stored pivot definition to refresh output.
  - `unpivot_data` — Melt wide-form data into long-form (id_vars/value_vars).
  - `merge_datasets` — Join two sheets using SQL-style join semantics.
  - `add_computed_column` — Add a computed column via safe expressions or cumsum/rolling operations.
  - `deduplicate_data` — Remove duplicate rows (with keep strategy) from a sheet.

- Financial (8) — Time-value calculations, DCF, goal-seek and financial modelling tools
  - `goal_seek` — Solve for a variable cell value that makes an expression equal a target.
  - `loan_amortization` — Generate an amortization schedule for a loan.
  - `dcf_analysis` — Discounted cash flow valuation with terminal value calculation.
  - `budget_variance_analysis` — Compare budget vs actual by category and report variances.
  - `financial_ratio_analysis` — Compute common financial ratios and compare to benchmarks.
  - `break_even_analysis` — Compute break-even units and revenue from cost structure.
  - `create_sensitivity_table` — Build 1- or 2-variable sensitivity tables in the workbook.
  - `time_value_calc` — FV/PV/NPER/RATE/depreciati

…

## Source & license

This open-source MCP server is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

- **Author:** [mbeps](https://github.com/mbeps)
- **Source:** [mbeps/excel-mcp](https://github.com/mbeps/excel-mcp)
- **License:** MIT

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.

## Pricing

- **Free** — Free

## Security capabilities

Automated source analysis of v0.1.0 — what this tool can access:

- **Network access:** no
- **Filesystem access:** no
- **Shell / process execution:** no
- **Environment & secrets:** no
- **Dynamic code execution:** no

*"Yes" means the capability is present in the source — more access means more to trust, not that it is unsafe.*


## Versions

- **0.1.0** — security scan: passed — Imported from the upstream source.

## Links

- Listing page: https://agentstack.voostack.com/l/mcp-mbeps-excel-mcp
- Seller: https://agentstack.voostack.com/s/mbeps
- Browse the marketplace: https://agentstack.voostack.com/browse

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