Microsoft Excel MCP Server by CData

Name: Microsoft Excel MCP Server by CData
Author: CDataSoftware

@CDataSoftware

About Microsoft Excel MCP Server by CData

This project builds a read-only MCP server. For full read, write, update, delete, and action capabilities and a simplified setup, check out our free [CData MCP Server for Microsoft Excel (beta)](https://www.cdata.com/download/download.aspx?sku=RXZK-V&type=beta).

#microsoft-excel #mcp-server #data-access

Basic information

Config

Add this server to your MCP-compatible client using the configuration below.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "{classname_dash}": {
      "command": "PATH\\TO\\java.exe",
      "args": [
        "-jar",
        "PATH\\TO\\CDataMCP-jar-with-dependencies.jar",
        "PATH\\TO\\microsoft-excel.prp"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Tools

No tools detected

We auto-extract tools from the README. The maintainer can list them under a ## Tools heading to populate this section.

Overview

What is Microsoft Excel MCP Server by CData?

This read-only MCP server allows LLMs like Claude Desktop to query live Microsoft Excel data. It wraps the CData JDBC Driver for Microsoft Excel, which exposes Excel data as relational SQL models, so users can retrieve information using natural language without writing SQL.

How to use Microsoft Excel MCP Server by CData?

Clone the repository, build with mvn clean install, install and license the CData JDBC Driver for Microsoft Excel, configure a .prp file with your JDBC connection string, then add the server to your client’s MCP configuration (e.g., claude_desktop_config.json). The server runs via stdio and is invoked by the client.

Key features of Microsoft Excel MCP Server by CData

Read-only access to live Microsoft Excel data
Natural language querying via LLM clients
Exposes Excel tables as relational SQL models
Built-in tools: get_tables, get_columns, run_query
Uses CData JDBC Driver for connectivity
MIT licensed open-source project

Use cases of Microsoft Excel MCP Server by CData

Ask Claude Desktop to summarize sales data from Excel spreadsheets
Query inventory levels or financial figures without writing SQL
Correlate data across multiple Excel tables using natural language
Integrate Excel data into AI workflows for reporting and analysis
Enable non-technical users to explore Excel data conversationally

FAQ from Microsoft Excel MCP Server by CData

Is this server read-only?

Yes, the project builds a read-only MCP server. The README explicitly states it is read-only and points to a separate beta version for full read/write/update/delete capabilities.

What are the runtime dependencies?

You need Java, Apache Maven to build the project, and the CData JDBC Driver for Microsoft Excel (must be downloaded and licensed separately).

Where does the data reside?

Data stays in your local Excel files or network location as configured in the JDBC connection string. The server processes queries locally and does not send data externally beyond what the client (e.g., Claude Desktop) uses.

What transport does the server use?

The server uses stdio transport, so it can only be used with clients running on the same machine as the server.

How do I authenticate to Excel?

Authentication is handled through the CData JDBC Driver’s connection string. You configure OAuth or other credentials using the driver’s Connection String utility before running the server.