excel-live-mac

Live Excel MCP server for macOS — interact with running Excel instances in real time.

Unlike file-based tools (openpyxl) that work on saved files offline, this server talks to the live Excel app via the xlwings AppleScript bridge. Changes appear instantly in the spreadsheet you're looking at.

Features

• 10 tools for reading, writing, and interacting with open Excel workbooks
• Real-time updates — write data and watch it appear in Excel immediately
• Formula support — write Excel formulas that calculate live
• VBA macro execution — trigger existing macros from your AI agent
• Selection awareness — read what the user currently has highlighted
• Zero config — no API keys, no network, runs entirely local

Requirements

• macOS (AppleScript bridge — not available on Windows/Linux)
• Microsoft Excel installed
• Python 3.10+

Installation

For Kiro IDE (as a Power)

Import from GitHub in the Kiro Powers panel:

https://github.com/dcol3/excel-live-mac

For any MCP client (via uvx)

uvx --from git+https://github.com/dcol3/excel-live-mac excel-live-mac

Or add to your MCP config:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "excel-live-mac": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["--from", "git+https://github.com/dcol3/excel-live-mac", "excel-live-mac"],
      "disabled": false
    }
  }
}

Manual install

pip install excel-live-mac
excel-live-mac

macOS Permission

On first use, macOS will prompt you to allow your terminal to control Microsoft Excel.

Go to System Settings → Privacy & Security → Automation and ensure your terminal/IDE has permission to control Excel.

Tools

Tool	Description
excel_list_workbooks	List all open workbooks (name, path, sheets)
excel_get_sheet_names	Get sheet names from a workbook
excel_read_range	Read a cell range as a 2D array
excel_write_range	Write a 2D array (appears instantly)
excel_write_cell	Write a value or formula to one cell
excel_read_cell	Read one cell's value and formula
excel_open_workbook	Open a file in Excel
excel_save_workbook	Save the workbook
excel_run_macro	Execute a VBA macro
excel_get_selection	Get the current selection

Use Cases

• Report generation — AI builds formatted spreadsheets while you watch
• Financial modeling — populate budgets, forecasts, and scenario tables live
• Data entry automation — read from databases, write directly into open workbooks
• Interactive analysis — AI reads your current selection, computes, writes results back

Kiro Power

This repo includes a kiro_power/ directory with POWER.md, mcp.json, and steering files for use as a Kiro Power. When installed as a Power, Kiro's agent automatically knows when and how to use these tools based on keyword activation.

License

MIT