AppStrings.How it works
PRACTICAL SETUP GUIDE

Connect the open Office document.

Use a local Office add-in and MCP sidecar to work with an open Word, Excel or PowerPoint document.

Open maintainer setup instructions

What you’ll need

  • Microsoft 365 desktop Word, Excel or PowerPoint on Windows or macOS, plus Node.js 20+ and npm.
  • The Office add-in, local sidecar and a client configured with a writable sidecar state-file path.

Get connected

  1. Follow the maintainer’s package and add-in setup instructions for your operating system.
  2. Configure the MCP server in your agent and set MCP_OFFICE_SIDECAR_STATE to an absolute path in a writable directory.
  3. Use the documented setup tool to install or repair the relevant Office add-in, and load it in the Office application.
  4. Open a disposable workbook or document, then use the connection status tool and ask the agent to read a small selection.

A first request

“Read the values in cells A1 through B3 of the open workbook.”

This route is for desktop Microsoft 365. On Windows, initial setup may ask an administrator to trust the development certificate; follow the maintainer’s instructions.

Details and commands can change. Follow the maintainer’s current setup instructions .