mcp-server-xlwings 0.2.0

MCP server for Excel automation via xlwings COM. Supports DRM-protected files.

mcp-server-xlwings

MCP server for Excel automation via xlwings COM. Works with DRM-protected files.

Why xlwings?

Libraries like openpyxl or pandas read .xlsx files directly from disk. This fails when:

• DRM / file-level encryption is applied (common in enterprise environments)
• You need to interact with a live Excel session (formulas, macros, add-ins)
• Files are locked by another process

mcp-server-xlwings uses COM automation to talk to the running Excel process, so it can read and write any file that Excel itself can open -- including DRM-protected documents.

xlwings-exclusive capabilities

These features are impossible with file-based libraries like openpyxl:

• Read the user's current selection -- see exactly what the user is looking at
• Get the active workbook -- no need to specify a file path
• Run VBA macros -- execute existing macros and get their return values
• Live formula results -- set_formula returns the calculated value immediately
• Force recalculation -- trigger Excel to recalculate all formulas

Installation

With uvx (recommended)

uvx mcp-server-xlwings

With pip

pip install mcp-server-xlwings

Configuration

Claude Desktop

Add to your claude_desktop_config.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "xlwings": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["mcp-server-xlwings"]
    }
  }
}

Or with a local Python installation:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "xlwings": {
      "command": "python",
      "args": ["-m", "mcp_server_xlwings"]
    }
  }
}

Claude Code

claude mcp add xlwings -- uvx mcp-server-xlwings

Available Tools (17)

Active Excel (xlwings-exclusive)

Tool	Description
get_active_workbook	Get info about the currently active workbook, sheet, and selection
read_selection	Read data from the cells the user currently has selected
activate_sheet	Switch the visible sheet in Excel
run_macro	Execute a VBA macro and get its return value
close_workbook	Close a workbook, optionally saving first
recalculate	Force recalculation of all formulas

Core Workbook

Tool	Description
list_open_workbooks	List all currently open workbooks
open_workbook	Open a file or create a new workbook
save_workbook	Save or Save As

Read / Write

Tool	Description
read_range	Read data from a cell range
write_range	Write a 2D array to a cell range
read_cell_info	Get detailed cell info (value, formula, format, type)
set_formula	Set a formula and get the calculated result immediately
find_replace	Search for text, optionally replace it

Sheet & Structure

Tool	Description
manage_sheets	List, add, delete, rename, or copy sheets
insert_delete_cells	Insert or delete rows/columns

Formatting

Tool	Description
format_range	Apply formatting (bold, italic, underline, color, borders, alignment, wrap text, number format)

Examples

See what the user is working on

"What's in the spreadsheet I have open?"

The agent calls get_active_workbook() to discover the workbook name and sheets, then read_range() to fetch the data.

Read the user's selection

"Summarize the data I've selected"

The agent calls read_selection() to get exactly the cells the user has highlighted.

Run a macro

"Run the UpdateReport macro"

The agent calls run_macro(macro_name="UpdateReport") and returns the result.

Build a summary row

"Add a SUM formula in C10 that totals C2:C9"

The agent calls set_formula(workbook="report.xlsx", cell="C10", formula="=SUM(C2:C9)") and gets back the calculated value.

Format a header row

"Make row 1 bold and centered with a yellow background"

The agent calls format_range(workbook="report.xlsx", cell_range="A1:D1", bold=true, alignment="center", bg_color="#FFFF00").

Insert rows

"Insert 3 blank rows at row 5"

The agent calls insert_delete_cells(workbook="report.xlsx", action="insert", target="row", position=5, count=3).

Requirements

• Windows (Excel COM automation is Windows-only)
• Microsoft Excel installed
• Python 3.10+

License

MIT