Excel Copilot MCP Server

A 219-tool Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that gives AI agents full Excel superpowers — local .xlsx files, Microsoft 365 / OneDrive / SharePoint, and live COM automation for workbooks already open in Excel on Windows.

Pricing: $0.001 per tool call (configured in .actor/actor.json)

---

Table of Contents

• Features
• Quick Start
• Configuration
• Tool Reference
  • Local Excel Tools (openpyxl)
  • Microsoft 365 / OneDrive Tools
  • Live Excel Tools (COM / xlwings)
• Project Structure
• Requirements
• Apify Pricing
• Troubleshooting

---

Features

Category	Tools	Description
Local Excel (openpyxl)	34	Read/write/format .xlsx files without Excel installed
Microsoft 365 / OneDrive	9	Authenticate, upload, read/write files on OneDrive & SharePoint
Live Excel (COM / xlwings)	176	Full automation of Excel workbooks open on Windows desktop
Total	219

---

Quick Start

1. Clone & Install

git clone https://github.com/your-org/excel-mcp-server.git
cd excel-mcp-server
pip install -r requirements.txt

2. Configure Environment (optional — only for M365 tools)

Copy .env.example to .env and fill in your Azure App credentials:

AZURE_CLIENT_ID=your-client-id
AZURE_TENANT_ID=your-tenant-id
AZURE_CLIENT_SECRET=your-client-secret

3. Run the Server

$python server.py

4. Connect from VS Code (GitHub Copilot Chat)

Add to .vscode/mcp.json in your workspace:

{
  "servers": {
    "excel-copilot": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "python",
      "args": ["C:/path/to/excel-mcp-server/server.py"]
    }
  }
}

---

Configuration

Variable	Required	Description
AZURE_CLIENT_ID	No*	Azure App Registration Client ID
AZURE_TENANT_ID	No*	Azure AD Tenant ID
AZURE_CLIENT_SECRET	No*	Azure App Client Secret

*Required only for Microsoft 365 / OneDrive tools.

Azure App Permissions needed (for M365 tools):

• Files.ReadWrite.All
• Sites.ReadWrite.All
• User.Read

---

Tool Reference

Local Excel Tools (openpyxl)

These tools work on .xlsx files stored locally. Excel does not need to be installed.

Workbook & Sheet Operations

Tool	Description
create_workbook	Create a new blank .xlsx workbook at a given path
read_excel	Read cell values from a range in a worksheet
write_excel	Write a 2-D list of values into a worksheet range
fill_cells	Fill individual cells with values (cell→value dict)
add_formula	Write a formula string into a specific cell
list_sheets	List all worksheet names and the active sheet
create_sheet	Add a new worksheet at an optional position
delete_sheet	Delete a worksheet by name
rename_sheet	Rename an existing worksheet
copy_sheet	Duplicate a worksheet within the same workbook
search_in_excel	Search all sheets for a value (exact or substring match)
get_workbook_info	Return metadata: file size, sheet names, named ranges

Formatting & Layout

Tool	Description
format_cells	Apply font, fill, border, alignment, and number format to a range
set_column_width	Set a specific column width in Excel units
auto_fit_columns	Auto-fit all columns to their content
set_row_height	Set the height of a specific row
freeze_panes	Freeze rows/columns above and to the left of a cell
merge_cells	Merge a cell range into a single cell
unmerge_cells	Un-merge a previously merged range
get_merged_cells	List all merged cell ranges in a worksheet

Row & Column Operations

Tool	Description
insert_rows	Insert blank rows at a given position
insert_columns	Insert blank columns at a given position
delete_rows	Delete rows at a given position
delete_columns	Delete columns at a given position
copy_range	Copy cell values from one range to another
delete_range	Clear/delete a range of cells

Tables, Charts, Pivot & Validation

Tool	Description
create_chart	Insert a bar, column, line, pie, area, or scatter chart
create_table	Create an Excel table from a cell range
create_pivot_table	Create a pivot table from a data range
add_conditional_format	Add a color-scale or data-bar conditional format rule
validate_formula_syntax	Check whether a formula string is syntactically valid
validate_range	Validate that a range address is well-formed
get_data_validation_info	Read data-validation rules on a range
define_named_range	Create a named range in the workbook
delete_named_range	Delete a named range by name
list_named_ranges	List all named ranges in the workbook

---

Microsoft 365 / OneDrive Tools

Connect to Microsoft 365 via the Microsoft Graph API. Call authenticate_m365 first.

Tool	Description
authenticate_m365	Sign in using device-code flow (browser prompt) — must be called first
upload_to_onedrive	Upload a local .xlsx file to a OneDrive folder
open_from_link	Get workbook info from a SharePoint or OneDrive sharing URL
read_m365_excel	Read cell values from a OneDrive/SharePoint Excel file by item ID
write_m365_excel	Write values into a OneDrive/SharePoint Excel worksheet
list_m365_sheets	List worksheets in a OneDrive/SharePoint Excel file
create_m365_workbook	Create a new blank workbook in OneDrive
create_share_link	Generate a shareable link for a OneDrive/SharePoint file
list_onedrive_files	List Excel files in a OneDrive folder

---

Live Excel Tools (COM / xlwings)

Control Excel workbooks currently open on Windows via COM automation. Excel must be installed and running.

Workbook Management

Tool	Description
open_excel_live	Open an Excel file and connect via COM
close_excel_live	Close an open workbook (optionally save first)
save_excel_live	Save the active or named workbook
attach_live_workbook	Attach to an already-open workbook by name
list_live_workbooks	List all workbooks currently open in Excel
list_all_excel_workbooks	List every Excel file in a folder
get_live_workbook_info	Get sheet names, named ranges, and metadata
get_live_workbook_properties	Read workbook custom properties
set_live_workbook_properties	Write workbook custom properties
protect_live_workbook	Password-protect the workbook structure
unprotect_live_workbook	Remove workbook structure protection
run_live_calculate	Force recalculate all formulas
export_live_to_pdf	Export sheet(s) to PDF
export_live_to_csv	Export active sheet to CSV
show_excel_window	Make the Excel window visible
hide_excel_window	Hide the Excel window
set_excel_status_bar	Set text in Excel's status bar
clear_excel_status_bar	Clear the Excel status bar
undo_live	Undo the last action
undo_all_live	Undo all actions since last save
run_vba_macro	Run a named VBA macro in an open workbook
run_live_vba	Execute an arbitrary VBA code string

Sheet Management

Tool	Description
add_live_sheet	Add a new worksheet
delete_live_sheet	Delete a worksheet
rename_live_sheet	Rename a worksheet
copy_live_sheet	Duplicate a worksheet
move_live_sheet	Move a worksheet to a new position
list_live_sheets	List all worksheets with index and visibility
hide_live_sheet	Hide a worksheet
unhide_live_sheet	Unhide a worksheet
set_live_tab_color	Set the tab color of a worksheet (hex color)
protect_live_sheet	Password-protect a worksheet
unprotect_live_sheet	Remove worksheet protection
freeze_live_panes	Freeze rows/columns in a worksheet
unfreeze_live_panes	Remove freeze panes
get_live_sheet_info	Get row/column count and used range
get_live_sheet_objects	List all objects (charts, images, shapes) on a sheet

Cell Read & Write

Tool	Description
read_live_cells	Read cell values from a range
write_live_cell	Write a value or formula to a single cell
fill_live_range	Fill a range with a single value
fill_live_cells	Fill multiple specific cells with their respective values
fill_live_series	Auto-fill a series (numbers, dates, etc.) across a range
get_live_formula	Return the formula string from a cell
add_live_formula	Write a formula into a cell
evaluate_live_formula	Evaluate and return the result of a formula expression
find_live_free_range	Find the next empty range below existing data
get_live_last_row	Get the last row number with data in a column
get_live_last_column	Get the last column letter with data in a row
get_live_used_range	Get the address of the used range
get_live_selection	Get the currently selected range address
set_live_selection	Select a range in the worksheet
navigate_live_cell	Move the active cell to a given address
get_live_cell_info	Get value, formula, format, and type of a cell
get_live_range_stats	Get min, max, sum, average, and count for a range
search_live_workbook	Search all sheets for a value

Formatting

Tool	Description
format_live_range	Apply fill color, font color, bold/italic/underline to a range
add_live_border	Add borders around or inside a cell range
get_live_cell_format	Read all formatting properties of a cell
set_live_font	Set font name, size, bold, italic, underline, color
set_live_number_format	Set number format string (e.g. #,##0.00, dd/mm/yyyy)
get_live_number_format	Read the number format of a cell
set_live_cell_alignment	Set horizontal/vertical alignment and text orientation
set_live_cell_style	Apply a named Excel cell style
set_live_text_wrap	Enable or disable text wrap in a range
copy_live_cell_format	Copy formatting from one cell to another range
clear_live_range	Clear values and formatting from a range
clear_live_range_contents	Clear only the values from a range
clear_live_range_format	Clear only the formatting from a range
set_live_zoom	Set the worksheet zoom level (10–400%)

Row & Column Operations

Tool	Description
insert_live_rows	Insert blank rows at a position
insert_live_columns	Insert blank columns at a position
delete_live_rows	Delete rows at a position
delete_live_columns	Delete columns at a position
hide_live_rows	Hide a row range
unhide_live_rows	Unhide a row range
hide_live_columns	Hide a column range
unhide_live_columns	Unhide a column range
set_live_column_width	Set width of one or more columns
set_live_row_height	Set height of one or more rows
autofit_live_columns	Auto-fit column widths to content
autofit_live_rows	Auto-fit row heights to content
group_live_rows	Group rows for collapsing/expanding
ungroup_live_rows	Remove row grouping
group_live_columns	Group columns for collapsing/expanding
ungroup_live_columns	Remove column grouping

Range Operations

Tool	Description
copy_live_range	Copy a range (with formatting) to a target range
copy_live_range_as_values	Paste only values from source to target
delete_live_range	Delete a range and shift cells left or up
move_live_range	Cut and paste a range to a new location
sort_live_range	Sort a range by one or more columns
filter_live_range	Apply AutoFilter to a range
clear_live_filter	Clear AutoFilter from a worksheet
find_and_replace_live	Find and replace values in a range
remove_live_duplicates	Remove duplicate rows in a range
paste_live_transpose	Paste a range transposed (rows ↔ columns)

Merge Operations

Tool	Description
merge_live_cells	Merge a cell range
unmerge_live_cells	Un-merge a previously merged range
get_live_merged_cells	List all merged regions on a sheet

Named Ranges

Tool	Description
define_live_named_range	Create or update a named range
delete_live_named_range	Delete a named range
list_live_named_ranges	List all named ranges with their addresses
update_live_named_range	Update the reference address of a named range
get_live_named_range_value	Read the values in a named range

Tables

Tool	Description
create_live_table	Create an Excel table from a range
delete_live_table	Delete a table (and optionally its data)
list_live_tables	List all tables on a sheet or workbook
rename_live_table	Rename an existing table
apply_live_table_style	Apply a named table style
toggle_live_table_total_row	Show or hide the totals row
convert_live_table_to_range	Convert a table back to a plain range
add_live_table_row	Append a new row to a table
get_live_table_data	Read all data from a table including headers

Charts

Tool	Description
create_live_chart	Create a chart (bar, column, line, pie, scatter, area, etc.)
delete_live_chart	Delete a chart by name or index
list_live_charts	List all charts on a sheet
update_live_chart_title	Change the chart title
update_live_chart_type	Change the chart type
move_live_chart	Move a chart to a new position
resize_live_chart	Resize a chart (width/height in points)
add_live_chart_series	Add a new data series to an existing chart
delete_live_chart_series	Remove a data series from a chart
get_live_chart_data	Read chart series data and properties
set_live_chart_axis_title	Set the X or Y axis title
set_live_chart_data_range	Update the data range of a chart
set_live_chart_legend	Show, hide, or reposition the legend

Pivot Tables

Tool	Description
create_live_pivot_table	Create a PivotTable from a data range
delete_live_pivot_table	Delete a PivotTable
list_live_pivot_tables	List all PivotTables in a workbook
refresh_live_pivot_tables	Refresh all PivotTables
refresh_live_single_pivot	Refresh a specific PivotTable by name
get_live_pivot_data	Read PivotTable data and field configuration

Conditional Formatting

Tool	Description
add_live_conditional_format	Add a conditional formatting rule to a range
clear_live_conditional_format	Remove conditional formatting from a range
get_live_conditional_formats	List all conditional formatting rules on a sheet

Data Validation

Tool	Description
add_live_data_validation	Add a data validation rule (list, number, date, etc.)
delete_live_data_validation	Remove a data validation rule
get_live_data_validation_info	Read data validation settings on a range
list_live_data_validations	List all data validation rules on a sheet

Comments & Hyperlinks

Tool	Description
add_live_comment	Add a comment to a cell
get_live_comments	List all comments on a sheet
delete_live_comment	Delete a comment from a cell
add_live_hyperlink	Add a hyperlink to a cell
get_live_hyperlinks	List all hyperlinks on a sheet
delete_live_hyperlink	Remove a hyperlink from a cell

Shapes, Images & Text Boxes

Tool	Description
add_live_shape	Insert a shape (rectangle, ellipse, arrow, etc.)
delete_live_shape	Delete a shape by name
list_live_shapes	List all shapes on a sheet
get_live_shape_info	Get position, size, and type of a shape
rename_live_shape	Rename a shape
set_live_shape_text	Set the text inside a shape
add_live_text_box	Insert a text box at a given position
add_live_image	Insert an image from a file path
delete_live_image	Delete an image by name
list_live_images	List all images on a sheet

Sparklines & Slicers

Tool	Description
add_live_sparkline	Add a sparkline (line, column, win/loss) to a cell
delete_live_sparkline	Delete a sparkline
add_live_slicer	Add a slicer connected to a table or PivotTable
delete_live_slicer	Delete a slicer
list_live_slicers	List all slicers on a sheet

Print & Page Setup

Tool	Description
set_live_print_area	Define the print area for a sheet
set_live_page_orientation	Set portrait or landscape orientation
set_live_paper_size	Set paper size (A4, Letter, etc.)
set_live_margins	Set page margins (top, bottom, left, right in inches)
set_live_header_footer	Set header and footer text for printing
get_live_page_setup	Read all page setup settings
set_live_print_scale	Set the print scale percentage
set_live_fit_to_page	Fit sheet to a given number of pages wide/tall
set_live_print_titles	Set rows/columns to repeat on every printed page
insert_live_page_break	Insert a manual page break
remove_live_page_break	Remove a manual page break
list_live_page_breaks	List all manual page breaks on a sheet
lock_live_cells	Lock/unlock cells for sheet protection

External Data

Tool	Description
refresh_live_external_data	Refresh all external data connections
list_live_external_connections	List all external data connections

---

Project Structure

excel-mcp-server/
├── .actor/
│   ├── actor.json          # Apify actor config + $0.001/call pricing
│   └── input_schema.json   # Apify input schema
├── tools/
│   ├── local_excel.py      # openpyxl-based local file tools
│   ├── m365_excel.py       # Microsoft Graph API / M365 tools
│   └── live_excel.py       # xlwings COM automation tools
├── server.py               # FastMCP server — 219 tools
├── requirements.txt        # Python dependencies
├── Dockerfile              # Container build file
└── README.md

---

Requirements

mcp
openpyxl
msal
requests
python-dotenv
pandas
xlwings

Install: pip install -r requirements.txt

Note: xlwings (live Excel tools) requires Microsoft Excel installed on Windows or macOS. Live tools do not work in headless Linux/Docker environments. Local and M365 tools work on any platform.

---

Apify Pricing

Published on Apify with pay-per-use pricing:

Event	Price
1 tool call	$0.001 USD

Configured in .actor/actor.json:

"monetization": {
  "pricingModel": "PER_USAGE_EVENT",
  "pricePerUnitUsd": 0.001,
  "usageEventTitle": "Tool call"
}

---

Troubleshooting

xlwings COM error: "Application not found"

• Excel must be installed and licensed on the same Windows machine.
• Start Excel at least once before using live tools.

PermissionError when saving .xlsx

• The file is open in another process. Close it first, or use save_excel_live.

M365 authentication fails

• Check that AZURE_CLIENT_ID and AZURE_TENANT_ID are set in .env.
• Ensure the Azure App has Files.ReadWrite.All and Sites.ReadWrite.All permissions granted by an admin.
• Re-run authenticate_m365 to refresh the token.

Server not detected by MCP client

• Verify the path in your MCP client config points to the correct server.py.
• Python 3.10+ is required.