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Getting Started with MCP

The SheetXL MCP server gives any MCP client a real spreadsheet engine. The agent opens workbooks as sessions, runs TypeScript inside the calculation engine, and every change is a commit you can undo. In VS Code it also works on the workbooks you have open.

It runs through npx, so there is nothing to install first. You only need Node.js 22 or later (24 recommended). Setup means registering it with your client.

The quickest way is to let your agent do it:

I'd like to upgrade your spreadsheet skills with SheetXL:
npx -y sheetxl setup agent

Then register the SheetXL MCP server with the client you are running in, using the commands it prints, and tell me what to restart so the SheetXL tools connect.

Or pick your client below. A newly registered server connects at the client's next session, so restart the client (or start a new chat) after adding it.

Claude Code​

The sheetxl plugin brings the MCP server and the SheetXL skill, at the same version.

Paste this into Claude Code:

I'd like to upgrade your spreadsheet skills with SheetXL:
claude plugin marketplace add sheetxl/skills
claude plugin install sheetxl@sheetxl

Then tell me what to restart so the SheetXL tools connect.

To add only the server, without the plugin:

claude mcp add sheetxl -- npx -y @sheetxl/mcp

Codex​

The same plugin works in Codex.

Paste this into Codex:

I'd like to upgrade your spreadsheet skills with SheetXL:
codex plugin marketplace add sheetxl/skills
codex plugin add sheetxl@sheetxl

Then tell me what to restart so the SheetXL tools connect.

Cursor​

Add SheetXL to Cursor

Cursor shows the server's configuration and asks you to confirm. If the button does nothing, add this to ~/.cursor/mcp.json (or .cursor/mcp.json in a project):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "sheetxl": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@sheetxl/mcp"]
    }
  }
}

VS Code​

Install the SheetXL extension. It opens spreadsheets in the editor and registers the MCP server for you, so Copilot and other agents work on the same workbook you see.

To add only the server, without the extension:

Add the MCP server to VS Code

 

code --add-mcp '{"name":"sheetxl","command":"npx","args":["-y","@sheetxl/mcp"]}'

Claude Desktop​

Open Settings → Developer → Edit Config and add the server to claude_desktop_config.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "sheetxl": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@sheetxl/mcp"]
    }
  }
}

Then quit and reopen Claude Desktop. The file lives at %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json on Windows and ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json on macOS.

Any other client​

Every MCP client takes the same launch command. Add it wherever your client keeps its servers:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "sheetxl": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@sheetxl/mcp"]
    }
  }
}

Check it​

Ask your agent:

Call the SheetXL info tool and tell me what it reports.

From a terminal, npx -y sheetxl setup agent lists the clients that already have SheetXL registered, and npx -y sheetxl info checks the engine.

The server's tools are listed in the @sheetxl/mcp README.