Microsoft Excel Automation Setup with Claude
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Let's set up and test the Excel MCP server.
Automatic Set Up with Claude
- Copy this command and run it in Claude:
Add excel mcp server credentials to the Claude config file:
uvx excel-mcp-server stdio
Verify Updated Config File (Optional)
To verify, use the shortcut Command + , or Ctrl + ,, or open Settings โ Developer tab โ Edit config, and check the file in a text editor. You should see the Excel MCP block added.
Restart Claude
- Fully exit Claude (Mac:
Cmd + Q, Windows:Alt + F4); - Restart Claude;
Test the Excel MCP Server
Note
Disable Desktop Commander MCP so that Claude uses Excel MCP specifically. The file with dataset will be attached because without Desktop Commander, Claude can't access local files.
Create a New Excel Workbook
- Open a new Claude chat and send this prompt:
Create a new excel workbook on my desktop. Build a pivot table
that groups the data by the product column and summarize the total
quantity and the total revenue for each product. Use the attached file.
Use only python libraries for analysis.
- Attach the CSV file;
- Run the prompt.
Further Prompting
If Claude doesn't create the Excel file on the Desktop, clarify with:
Run the script, but don't create excel since I want to test new excel mcp
- When Claude asked for using Excel MCP AI agent, click Allow always or Allow once;
- If the file was not created in the previously requested folder, just clarify with the next prompt, for example:
Move the file onto Desktop
- Check the new file and practice prompting to enhance it.
Everything was clear?
Thanks for your feedback!
Sectionย 4. Chapterย 2
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Sectionย 4. Chapterย 2