Office Oxide MCP Server

office-oxide-mcp-server

Skill by ara.so — MCP Skills collection.

Overview

office-oxide-mcp is a Rust-native MCP (Model Context Protocol) server that provides blazing-fast Office document processing capabilities. It supports Excel (XLSX/XLS), Word (DOCX), PowerPoint (PPTX), and PDF operations with sub-millisecond performance — up to 46× faster than Python alternatives.

Key capabilities:

• Read/write Excel spreadsheets with formulas, charts, pivot tables
• Create/modify Word documents from Markdown or programmatically
• Generate PowerPoint presentations with layouts and charts
• Fill PDF forms (AcroForms, XFA) or overlay text at coordinates
• Extract structured data (JSON, Markdown, chunks) from all formats
• Skills system for reusable document generation patterns
• Coherence engine for propagating edits across linked data

Installation

From Binary

cargo install office-oxide-mcp

Or download from GitHub Releases.

From Source

git clone https://github.com/Aimino-Tech/office-oxide-mcp.git
cd office-oxide-mcp
cargo build --release
# Binary at target/release/office-oxide-mcp

Configuration

Claude Desktop

Add to ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json (macOS) or %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json (Windows):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "office": {
      "command": "office-oxide-mcp",
      "args": ["--transport", "stdio"]
    }
  }
}

Cursor

Add to .cursor/mcp_config.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "office-oxide-mcp": {
      "command": "office-oxide-mcp",
      "args": ["--transport", "stdio"]
    }
  }
}

VS Code (Copilot)

Add to .vscode/mcp_servers.json:

{
  "servers": {
    "office-oxide-mcp": {
      "command": "office-oxide-mcp",
      "args": ["--transport", "stdio"]
    }
  }
}

Core Tools

Document Information

get_document_info — Get metadata about any Office document

{
  "file_path": "data/report.xlsx"
}

list_formats — List all supported formats and their capabilities

{}

Reading Documents

office_read — Read document content in various formats

{
  "file_path": "data/financial.xlsx",
  "output_format": "json"
}

Output formats:

• json — Structured data with sheets/cells
• markdown — Human-readable markdown
• chunks — Semantic chunks for RAG/embeddings
• text — Plain text extraction

Example for Excel JSON output:

{
  "sheets": [
    {
      "name": "Summary",
      "cells": [
        {"row": 0, "col": 0, "value": "Revenue", "formula": null},
        {"row": 0, "col": 1, "value": 125000, "formula": "=SUM(B2:B10)"}
      ]
    }
  ]
}

Excel Operations

office_create_xlsx — Create new spreadsheet

{
  "output_path": "output/report.xlsx"
}

office_write_cell — Write single cell

{
  "file_path": "output/report.xlsx",
  "sheet": "Sheet1",
  "row": 0,
  "col": 0,
  "value": "Revenue",
  "value_type": "string"
}

office_write_range — Write multiple cells

{
  "file_path": "output/report.xlsx",
  "sheet": "Sheet1",
  "start_row": 1,
  "start_col": 0,
  "data": [
    ["Q1", 25000],
    ["Q2", 30000],
    ["Q3", 35000],
    ["Q4", 35000]
  ]
}

office_format_range — Apply formatting

{
  "file_path": "output/report.xlsx",
  "sheet": "Sheet1",
  "start_row": 0,
  "start_col": 0,
  "end_row": 0,
  "end_col": 1,
  "format": {
    "bold": true,
    "font_size": 12,
    "bg_color": "#E0E0E0"
  }
}

office_create_chart — Add chart

{
  "file_path": "output/report.xlsx",
  "sheet": "Sheet1",
  "chart_type": "column",
  "data_range": "A2:B5",
  "title": "Quarterly Revenue",
  "x_offset": 300,
  "y_offset": 50
}

Chart types: column, bar, line, pie, area, scatter

office_add_sheet — Add new worksheet

{
  "file_path": "output/report.xlsx",
  "sheet_name": "Analysis"
}

office_merge_cells — Merge cell range

{
  "file_path": "output/report.xlsx",
  "sheet": "Sheet1",
  "start_row": 0,
  "start_col": 0,
  "end_row": 0,
  "end_col": 3
}

Word Document Operations

office_create_docx — Create new Word document

{
  "output_path": "output/contract.docx"
}

office_write_docx_from_md — Generate from Markdown

{
  "file_path": "output/report.docx",
  "markdown": "# Annual Report\n\n## Executive Summary\n\nRevenue increased by **25%** this year.\n\n### Key Metrics\n\n- Total Revenue: $125,000\n- Net Profit: $35,000\n- Growth Rate: 25%"
}

office_add_table — Insert table

{
  "file_path": "output/contract.docx",
  "rows": 4,
  "cols": 3,
  "data": [
    ["Item", "Quantity", "Price"],
    ["Product A", "10", "$100"],
    ["Product B", "5", "$200"],
    ["Total", "15", "$300"]
  ]
}

office_replace_text — Find and replace

{
  "file_path": "output/contract.docx",
  "search": "{{CLIENT_NAME}}",
  "replace": "Acme Corporation"
}

office_add_header_footer — Add header/footer

{
  "file_path": "output/report.docx",
  "header_text": "Confidential Report",
  "footer_text": "Page {PAGE} of {NUMPAGES}"
}

PowerPoint Operations

office_create_pptx — Create presentation

{
  "output_path": "output/pitch.pptx"
}

office_add_slide — Add slide

{
  "file_path": "output/pitch.pptx",
  "layout": "title_and_content"
}

Layouts: title, title_and_content, blank, two_content, comparison

office_add_text_box — Add text to slide

{
  "file_path": "output/pitch.pptx",
  "slide_index": 0,
  "text": "Q4 Strategy Review",
  "x": 50,
  "y": 50,
  "width": 600,
  "height": 100,
  "font_size": 32,
  "bold": true
}

office_add_chart (PPT) — Add chart to slide

{
  "file_path": "output/pitch.pptx",
  "slide_index": 1,
  "chart_type": "column",
  "data": {
    "categories": ["Q1", "Q2", "Q3", "Q4"],
    "series": [
      {"name": "Revenue", "values": [25, 30, 35, 35]},
      {"name": "Profit", "values": [8, 10, 12, 15]}
    ]
  },
  "x": 100,
  "y": 150,
  "width": 500,
  "height": 300
}

PDF Operations

office_list_pdf_fields — List form fields in PDF

{
  "file_path": "forms/application.pdf"
}

Returns:

{
  "fields": [
    {"name": "full_name", "type": "text", "value": "", "required": true},
    {"name": "date_of_birth", "type": "text", "value": "", "required": true},
    {"name": "address", "type": "text", "value": "", "required": false}
  ]
}

office_fill_pdf_form — Fill AcroForm/XFA fields

{
  "file_path": "forms/application.pdf",
  "output_path": "output/application_filled.pdf",
  "fields": {
    "full_name": "John Doe",
    "date_of_birth": "1990-05-15",
    "address": "123 Main St, City, State 12345",
    "email": "john@example.com"
  }
}

office_analyze_pdf_layout — Get layout for coordinate overlay

{
  "file_path": "forms/flat_form.pdf"
}

Returns bounding boxes for text placement on flat PDFs.

office_overlay_pdf_text — Overlay text at coordinates

{
  "file_path": "forms/flat_form.pdf",
  "output_path": "output/form_filled.pdf",
  "fields": [
    {"text": "John Doe", "page": 0, "x": 150, "y": 720, "font_size": 12},
    {"text": "1990-05-15", "page": 0, "x": 150, "y": 680, "font_size": 12},
    {"text": "123 Main St", "page": 0, "x": 150, "y": 640, "font_size": 12}
  ]
}

office_export_pdf — Export Office doc to PDF

{
  "file_path": "output/report.xlsx",
  "output_path": "output/report.pdf"
}

Skills System

skill_list — List available skills

{}

Built-in skills:

• excel.basic — Create formatted spreadsheets
• word.invoice — Generate invoices
• word.report — Generate business reports
• ppt.deck — Create presentation decks

skill_run — Execute a skill

{
  "skill_name": "excel.basic",
  "parameters": {
    "title": "Q4 Revenue Report",
    "data": [
      ["Month", "Revenue", "Expenses", "Profit"],
      ["October", 35000, 20000, 15000],
      ["November", 38000, 22000, 16000],
      ["December", 42000, 24000, 18000]
    ],
    "output_path": "output/q4_report.xlsx"
  }
}

skill_validate — Validate skill parameters

{
  "skill_name": "word.invoice",
  "parameters": {
    "invoice_number": "INV-2024-001",
    "client_name": "Acme Corp"
  }
}

Common Patterns

Pattern 1: Extract Excel Data for Analysis

// Step 1: Read spreadsheet
{
  "tool": "office_read",
  "params": {
    "file_path": "data/sales_2024.xlsx",
    "output_format": "json"
  }
}

// Step 2: Process in code, then write summary
{
  "tool": "office_create_xlsx",
  "params": {
    "output_path": "output/sales_summary.xlsx"
  }
}

{
  "tool": "office_write_range",
  "params": {
    "file_path": "output/sales_summary.xlsx",
    "sheet": "Sheet1",
    "start_row": 0,
    "start_col": 0,
    "data": [
      ["Metric", "Value"],
      ["Total Sales", 125000],
      ["Average Order", 2500],
      ["Growth Rate", "15%"]
    ]
  }
}

Pattern 2: Generate Invoice from Template

// Use skill for structured invoice generation
{
  "tool": "skill_run",
  "params": {
    "skill_name": "word.invoice",
    "parameters": {
      "invoice_number": "INV-2024-042",
      "date": "2024-06-15",
      "client_name": "Tech Solutions Inc",
      "client_address": "456 Enterprise Blvd, Business City, BC 67890",
      "items": [
        {"description": "Consulting Services", "quantity": 40, "rate": 150, "amount": 6000},
        {"description": "Software License", "quantity": 5, "rate": 200, "amount": 1000}
      ],
      "subtotal": 7000,
      "tax_rate": 0.10,
      "tax_amount": 700,
      "total": 7700,
      "output_path": "output/invoice_042.docx"
    }
  }
}

Pattern 3: Fill Government PDF Form

// Step 1: Analyze form structure
{
  "tool": "office_list_pdf_fields",
  "params": {
    "file_path": "forms/tax_return.pdf"
  }
}

// Step 2: Fill form fields
{
  "tool": "office_fill_pdf_form",
  "params": {
    "file_path": "forms/tax_return.pdf",
    "output_path": "output/tax_return_filled.pdf",
    "fields": {
      "taxpayer_name": "Jane Smith",
      "ssn": "123-45-6789",
      "filing_status": "Single",
      "total_income": "85000",
      "deductions": "12550",
      "taxable_income": "72450"
    }
  }
}

Pattern 4: Create Presentation from Data

// Step 1: Create deck
{
  "tool": "office_create_pptx",
  "params": {
    "output_path": "output/quarterly_review.pptx"
  }
}

// Step 2: Title slide
{
  "tool": "office_add_slide",
  "params": {
    "file_path": "output/quarterly_review.pptx",
    "layout": "title"
  }
}

{
  "tool": "office_add_text_box",
  "params": {
    "file_path": "output/quarterly_review.pptx",
    "slide_index": 0,
    "text": "Q4 2024 Business Review",
    "x": 50,
    "y": 200,
    "width": 700,
    "height": 100,
    "font_size": 44,
    "bold": true
  }
}

// Step 3: Content slide with chart
{
  "tool": "office_add_slide",
  "params": {
    "file_path": "output/quarterly_review.pptx",
    "layout": "title_and_content"
  }
}

{
  "tool": "office_add_text_box",
  "params": {
    "file_path": "output/quarterly_review.pptx",
    "slide_index": 1,
    "text": "Revenue Growth",
    "x": 50,
    "y": 50,
    "width": 700,
    "height": 50,
    "font_size": 32,
    "bold": true
  }
}

{
  "tool": "office_add_chart",
  "params": {
    "file_path": "output/quarterly_review.pptx",
    "slide_index": 1,
    "chart_type": "column",
    "data": {
      "categories": ["Q1", "Q2", "Q3", "Q4"],
      "series": [
        {"name": "2024", "values": [85, 92, 98, 105]}
      ]
    },
    "x": 100,
    "y": 150,
    "width": 600,
    "height": 350
  }
}

Pattern 5: Batch Process Multiple Documents

// Read multiple spreadsheets and consolidate
{
  "tool": "office_read",
  "params": {
    "file_path": "data/sales_north.xlsx",
    "output_format": "json"
  }
}

{
  "tool": "office_read",
  "params": {
    "file_path": "data/sales_south.xlsx",
    "output_format": "json"
  }
}

// Create consolidated report
{
  "tool": "office_create_xlsx",
  "params": {
    "output_path": "output/sales_consolidated.xlsx"
  }
}

{
  "tool": "office_add_sheet",
  "params": {
    "file_path": "output/sales_consolidated.xlsx",
    "sheet_name": "North Region"
  }
}

{
  "tool": "office_add_sheet",
  "params": {
    "file_path": "output/sales_consolidated.xlsx",
    "sheet_name": "South Region"
  }
}

// Write data to respective sheets
// (continue with write_range calls for each region)

Troubleshooting

Server Won't Start

Issue: office-oxide-mcp command not found

Solution:

# Verify installation
cargo install --list | grep office-oxide-mcp

# Add cargo bin to PATH
export PATH="$HOME/.cargo/bin:$PATH"

# Or use full path
~/.cargo/bin/office-oxide-mcp --transport stdio

File Permission Errors

Issue: Cannot read/write files

Solution:

• Ensure file paths are absolute or relative to MCP server working directory
• Check file permissions: chmod 644 input.xlsx
• Verify output directory exists: mkdir -p output/

PDF Form Fields Not Filling

Issue: office_fill_pdf_form doesn't populate fields

Solution:

// First, list fields to get exact names
{
  "tool": "office_list_pdf_fields",
  "params": {
    "file_path": "form.pdf"
  }
}

// Use exact field names from output (case-sensitive)
{
  "tool": "office_fill_pdf_form",
  "params": {
    "file_path": "form.pdf",
    "output_path": "output/form_filled.pdf",
    "fields": {
      "TextField1": "Value",  // Use exact name from list_pdf_fields
      "CheckBox2": "Yes"
    }
  }
}

Chart Not Appearing in Excel

Issue: Chart created but not visible

Solution:

// Ensure data range exists before creating chart
{
  "tool": "office_write_range",
  "params": {
    "file_path": "output.xlsx",
    "sheet": "Sheet1",
    "start_row": 0,
    "start_col": 0,
    "data": [
      ["Month", "Sales"],
      ["Jan", 100],
      ["Feb", 150],
      ["Mar", 200]
    ]
  }
}

// Then create chart with correct range (A1:B4 for above data)
{
  "tool": "office_create_chart",
  "params": {
    "file_path": "output.xlsx",
    "sheet": "Sheet1",
    "chart_type": "column",
    "data_range": "A1:B4",  // Include headers
    "title": "Monthly Sales",
    "x_offset": 300,
    "y_offset": 50
  }
}

Performance Issues with Large Files

Issue: Slow processing on very large spreadsheets

Solution:

• Use chunks output format for large documents to process incrementally
• Read specific sheets only if possible (check schema first)
• For 10M+ cells, consider splitting into multiple files
• Increase system memory if available

Skill Validation Failures

Issue: skill_run reports missing parameters

Solution:

// Use skill_validate first to check requirements
{
  "tool": "skill_validate",
  "params": {
    "skill_name": "excel.basic",
    "parameters": {
      "title": "My Report"
      // Intentionally incomplete
    }
  }
}

// Response shows required fields:
// {"valid": false, "missing": ["data", "output_path"]}

// Then provide all required parameters
{
  "tool": "skill_run",
  "params": {
    "skill_name": "excel.basic",
    "parameters": {
      "title": "My Report",
      "data": [["A", "B"], [1, 2]],
      "output_path": "output/report.xlsx"
    }
  }
}

Performance Tips

1. Batch operations: Use office_write_range instead of multiple office_write_cell calls
2. Reuse files: Open once, perform multiple operations, save once
3. Format after data: Write all data first, then apply formatting
4. Use skills: Pre-built skills are optimized for common patterns
5. Read efficiently: Use json format for structured access, text for content only

Advanced: Coherence Engine

The coherence engine tracks semantic relationships between data in documents.

// Check for inconsistencies
{
  "tool": "office_check_consistency",
  "params": {
    "file_path": "output/financial.xlsx"
  }
}

// Propagate edits to linked cells
{
  "tool": "office_propagate_edit",
  "params": {
    "file_path": "output/financial.xlsx",
    "sheet": "Summary",
    "row": 5,
    "col": 2,
    "new_value": 150000
  }
}

Related Documentation

• GitHub Repository
• MCP Specification
• Use Cases Gallery