Office Word MCP Server

Instructions

Implementation Reference

• word_document_server/main.py:241-245 (handler)

  MCP tool registration and handler function. Thin wrapper that delegates execution to format_tools.apply_table_alternating_rows.

  @mcp.tool()
  def apply_table_alternating_rows(filename: str, table_index: int, 
                                 color1: str = "FFFFFF", color2: str = "F2F2F2"):
      """Apply alternating row colors to a table for better readability."""
      return format_tools.apply_table_alternating_rows(filename, table_index, color1, color2)

• word_document_server/tools/format_tools.py:294-339 (helper)

  Primary helper function implementing the tool logic: validates input, loads Word document using python-docx, retrieves specified table, calls core shading function, saves the modified document.

  async def apply_table_alternating_rows(filename: str, table_index: int, 
                                       color1: str = "FFFFFF", color2: str = "F2F2F2") -> str:
      """Apply alternating row colors to a table for better readability.
      
      Args:
          filename: Path to the Word document
          table_index: Index of the table (0-based)
          color1: Color for odd rows (hex string, default white)
          color2: Color for even rows (hex string, default light gray)
      """
      filename = ensure_docx_extension(filename)
      
      # Ensure numeric parameters are the correct type
      try:
          table_index = int(table_index)
      except (ValueError, TypeError):
          return "Invalid parameter: table_index must be an integer"
      
      if not os.path.exists(filename):
          return f"Document {filename} does not exist"
      
      # Check if file is writeable
      is_writeable, error_message = check_file_writeable(filename)
      if not is_writeable:
          return f"Cannot modify document: {error_message}. Consider creating a copy first."
      
      try:
          doc = Document(filename)
          
          # Validate table index
          if table_index < 0 or table_index >= len(doc.tables):
              return f"Invalid table index. Document has {len(doc.tables)} tables (0-{len(doc.tables)-1})."
          
          table = doc.tables[table_index]
          
          # Apply alternating row shading
          success = apply_alternating_row_shading(table, color1, color2)
          
          if success:
              doc.save(filename)
              return f"Alternating row shading applied successfully to table {table_index}."
          else:
              return f"Failed to apply alternating row shading."
      except Exception as e:
          return f"Failed to apply alternating row shading: {str(e)}"

• word_document_server/core/tables.py:200-220 (helper)

  Core utility function that implements the alternating row shading: loops through each row, selects alternating color, applies set_cell_shading to every cell in the row.

  def apply_alternating_row_shading(table, color1="FFFFFF", color2="F2F2F2"):
      """
      Apply alternating row colors for better readability.
      
      Args:
          table: The table to format
          color1: Color for odd rows (hex string)
          color2: Color for even rows (hex string)
          
      Returns:
          True if successful, False otherwise
      """
      try:
          for i, row in enumerate(table.rows):
              fill_color = color1 if i % 2 == 0 else color2
              for cell in row.cells:
                  set_cell_shading(cell, fill_color=fill_color)
          return True
      except Exception as e:
          print(f"Error applying alternating row shading: {e}")
          return False