# Excel MCP Server > Excel MCP Server (ExcelMcp) automates the real Microsoft Excel application through its COM API, exposing 33 tools and 425 operations to AI assistants over the Model Context Protocol and to scripts through the `excelcli` command line. Unlike file-parser libraries it can refresh Power Query, evaluate DAX against the Data Model, refresh PivotTables, and run VBA, because Excel itself does the work. Windows-only; requires Microsoft Excel 2016 or later. Every page below is also available as Markdown by appending `index.md` to its URL. The complete corpus is at https://excelmcpserver.dev/llms-full.txt. ## Home - [Home](https://excelmcpserver.dev/index.md): Automate real Microsoft Excel with GitHub Copilot, Claude, and other AI assistants using Power Query, DAX, VBA, PivotTables, charts, and Python. ## Guides - [Overview](https://excelmcpserver.dev/guides/index.md): Task-focused walkthroughs for refreshing Power Query, automating PivotTables, running VBA macros, and querying the Excel Data Model with DAX from an AI assistant. - [Refresh Power Query](https://excelmcpserver.dev/guides/refresh-power-query/index.md): Refresh Excel Power Query automatically from Claude, Copilot, or a script - test M code before saving, choose the load destination, and avoid the common gotchas. - [Automate PivotTables](https://excelmcpserver.dev/guides/automate-pivottables/index.md): Create, configure, and refresh real Excel PivotTables from an AI assistant - worksheet or Data Model sources, DAX measures, PivotCharts, and refresh rules. - [Query the Data Model with DAX](https://excelmcpserver.dev/guides/query-data-model-with-dax/index.md): Create DAX measures, run DAX queries, inspect the Excel Data Model with DMVs, and manage relationships in Power Pivot from an AI assistant or script. - [Run VBA macros](https://excelmcpserver.dev/guides/run-vba-macros/index.md): Read, write, and execute Excel VBA macros from an AI agent - including the Trust Center setting you must enable first and the safety trade-offs involved. - [COM vs. file parsers](https://excelmcpserver.dev/guides/excel-automation-vs-file-parsers/index.md): How driving the real Excel application through COM differs from openpyxl, ExcelJS, and EPPlus - what each approach can do, and when to choose which. - [Claude Desktop setup](https://excelmcpserver.dev/guides/claude-desktop/index.md): Connect Claude Desktop to Microsoft Excel on Windows with Excel MCP Server. Follow MCPB or manual setup, try a first workbook request, and troubleshoot errors. ## Features - [Overview](https://excelmcpserver.dev/features/index.md): Explore Excel automation tools for Power Query, DAX, PivotTables, charts, formulas, VBA, and more. Find the right feature or step-by-step guide for your task. - [Data & analytics](https://excelmcpserver.dev/features/data-analytics/index.md): Automate Power Query, DAX, Power Pivot, Excel Tables, PivotTables, QueryTables, and data connections in Microsoft Excel. - [Cells & workbooks](https://excelmcpserver.dev/features/cells-workbooks/index.md): Automate Excel ranges, formulas, formatting, worksheets, workbooks, named ranges, calculation, and file operations. - [Charts & visuals](https://excelmcpserver.dev/features/charts-visuals/index.md): Automate Excel charts, slicers, conditional formatting, screenshots, drawing objects, and sparklines. - [Automation & advanced](https://excelmcpserver.dev/features/automation-advanced/index.md): Automate Excel with VBA macros, Python in Excel, What-If Analysis, Goal Seek, window management, and XML Maps. ## Installation - [Overview](https://excelmcpserver.dev/installation/index.md): Choose an Excel MCP Server or excelcli installation for Windows. Set up GitHub Copilot, Claude Desktop, other MCP clients, or command-line automation. - [MCP Server](https://excelmcpserver.dev/installation-mcp-server/index.md): Connect GitHub Copilot or Claude Desktop to Microsoft Excel on Windows. Install the VS Code extension, MCPB bundle, npm package, or standalone MCP server. - [CLI](https://excelmcpserver.dev/installation-cli/index.md): Install excelcli on Windows for coding agents, with the same Excel features as the MCP Server, usually with fewer AI tokens. Choose npm, a Copilot plugin, a standalone executable, or NuGet. ## MCP Server - [MCP Server](https://excelmcpserver.dev/mcp-server/index.md): Use Excel MCP Server tools to read and write cells, refresh Power Query, manage PivotTables, and run VBA. Find usage examples, configuration, and troubleshooting. ## CLI - [CLI](https://excelmcpserver.dev/cli/index.md): Automate Microsoft Excel from the command line with excelcli. Find commands and examples for workbooks, cells, Power Query, PivotTables, and VBA on Windows. ## Workflow guidance - [Overview](https://excelmcpserver.dev/reference/index.md): Plan safe Excel automation workflows, refresh data in the right order, recover from failures, and format reports without duplicating command help. - [Key constraints & sequencing](https://excelmcpserver.dev/reference/workflows/index.md): Operation sequencing rules and hard constraints when automating Excel with an AI agent - refresh order, session lifecycle, and what must happen before what. - [Behavioral rules](https://excelmcpserver.dev/reference/behavioral-rules/index.md): Behavioral rules AI agents follow when driving Excel - verification, destructive-operation safety, and how to interpret tool results. - [Anti-patterns](https://excelmcpserver.dev/reference/anti-patterns/index.md): Common mistakes when automating Excel with AI agents and the correct approach for each. - [Gotchas & known limits](https://excelmcpserver.dev/reference/gotchas/index.md): Known Excel COM limitations and surprising behaviors, with the workaround for each. - [Agent mode in Excel](https://excelmcpserver.dev/reference/agent-mode/index.md): Watch an AI agent drive the visible Excel window while it works - setup, window arrangement, and when it helps. - [Workbook lifecycle](https://excelmcpserver.dev/reference/workbook/index.md): Opening, saving, and closing Excel workbooks safely from an AI agent or script, including session semantics. - [Worksheet operations](https://excelmcpserver.dev/reference/worksheet/index.md): Creating, renaming, copying, protecting, and deleting Excel worksheets programmatically. - [Ranges & formatting](https://excelmcpserver.dev/reference/range/index.md): Reading and writing Excel ranges, formulas, number formats, and cell formatting from an AI agent or script. - [Excel Tables](https://excelmcpserver.dev/reference/table/index.md): Creating and updating Excel Tables (ListObjects), appending rows, and adding tables to the Data Model. - [Window management](https://excelmcpserver.dev/reference/window/index.md): Controlling Excel windows - visibility, arrangement, freeze panes, and zoom. - [Calculation modes](https://excelmcpserver.dev/reference/calculation/index.md): Preserve workbook calculation settings, recalculate formulas when needed, and distinguish automatic, manual and semi-automatic Excel modes. - [Power Query](https://excelmcpserver.dev/reference/powerquery/index.md): Choose Power Query load destinations, refresh dependent data in order, and recover safely from failed loads and staging-query refreshes. - [M code syntax](https://excelmcpserver.dev/reference/m-code-syntax/index.md): Power Query M language syntax essentials, including identifier quoting rules that cause the most common failures. - [Data Model & DAX](https://excelmcpserver.dev/reference/datamodel/index.md): Choose worksheet or model results, build meaningful DAX calculations, and refresh sources and PivotTables in the right order. - [DMV query reference](https://excelmcpserver.dev/reference/dmv-reference/index.md): Dynamic Management View queries for inspecting the Excel Data Model metadata, and their limitations. - [PivotTables](https://excelmcpserver.dev/reference/pivottable/index.md): Choose PivotTable calculations, refresh summaries after their sources, and manage layouts, filters, and shared caches without rebuilding unrelated data. - [QueryTables](https://excelmcpserver.dev/reference/querytable/index.md): Importing local text files and web data into Excel with QueryTables. - [What-If Analysis](https://excelmcpserver.dev/reference/analysis/index.md): Goal Seek, scenarios, and data tables in Excel driven programmatically. - [XML maps](https://excelmcpserver.dev/reference/xmlmap/index.md): Importing, exporting, and mapping XML data in Excel workbooks with XML maps, driven from an AI assistant or script. - [Charts](https://excelmcpserver.dev/reference/chart/index.md): Choose trustworthy chart sources, preserve detail behind labels, group periods correctly, and verify live PivotCharts and plotted data. - [Conditional formatting](https://excelmcpserver.dev/reference/conditionalformat/index.md): Build meaningful row-highlighting formulas and change selected conditional formatting rules without clearing unrelated workbook formatting. - [Slicers](https://excelmcpserver.dev/reference/slicer/index.md): Plan slicers and timelines, check shared PivotTable connections, and verify which data and charts an interactive filter actually affects. - [Drawing objects](https://excelmcpserver.dev/reference/drawing/index.md): Shapes, text boxes, and other drawing objects in Excel. - [Screenshots](https://excelmcpserver.dev/reference/screenshot/index.md): Capturing Excel screenshots so an AI agent can visually verify its own work. - [Optional report formatting](https://excelmcpserver.dev/reference/report-formatting/index.md): Task-scoped report formatting, financial-model conventions, and dashboard layout for Excel automation. - [Dashboard guidance links](https://excelmcpserver.dev/reference/dashboard/index.md): Best practices for building Excel dashboards and reports with an AI assistant. ## Resources - [Downloadable dashboard](https://excelmcpserver.dev/samples/world-in-motion/index.md): Watch the ExcelMCP dashboard demo, then download the real Excel workbook comparing 25 countries with World Bank data and ask your agent to adapt it. - [Excel to PowerPoint briefing](https://excelmcpserver.dev/samples/world-bank-briefing/index.md): Watch one AI agent turn World Bank data into an Excel analysis and a 7-slide PowerPoint briefing from a single request, then download both files. - [Usage analytics](https://excelmcpserver.dev/usage-analytics/index.md): See how developers use Excel MCP Server for AI-powered Excel automation, including adoption trends, popular features, and downloads. - [Examples & use cases](https://excelmcpserver.dev/use-cases/index.md): Example prompts and practical workflows for automating Excel with AI, including Power Query, PivotTables, charts, formatting, VBA, and Goal Seek. - [Agent Skills](https://excelmcpserver.dev/skills/index.md): Optional MCP and CLI formatting skills for requested Excel reports, with installation instructions and evidence about broad skill costs. - [FAQ](https://excelmcpserver.dev/faq/index.md): Answers to common questions about Excel MCP Server - Windows and Excel requirements, CLI vs. MCP Server, workbook safety, cost, and privacy. - [Troubleshooting](https://excelmcpserver.dev/troubleshooting/index.md): Fixes for the most common Excel MCP Server issues - Excel must be closed, VBA trust, DAX/MSOLAP setup, PATH problems, and protected workbooks. - [Architecture](https://excelmcpserver.dev/architecture/index.md): How Excel MCP Server drives the real Excel application through equal MCP Server and CLI entry points backed by one shared core. - [Changelog](https://excelmcpserver.dev/changelog/index.md): Release notes and version history for Excel MCP Server. Track new features, bug fixes and improvements. - [Contributing](https://excelmcpserver.dev/contributing/index.md): How to contribute to Excel MCP Server development — guidelines for pull requests, code style and community participation. - [Security](https://excelmcpserver.dev/security/index.md): Security policy for Excel MCP Server — how to report vulnerabilities, supported versions and security features. - [Privacy](https://excelmcpserver.dev/privacy/index.md): Privacy policy for Excel MCP Server — how we handle your data, telemetry collection and data protection. - [Related projects](https://excelmcpserver.dev/related-projects/index.md): More open-source projects by Stefan Broenner — AI automation, testing and cloud tooling that complement Excel MCP Server.