# MCPB Build & Packaging Guide
This document contains developer information for building and submitting the Excel MCP Server to the Claude Desktop directory.
## Directory Contents
```
mcpb/
├── Build-McpBundle.ps1 # Packaging script
├── manifest.json # MCPB manifest for Claude directory
├── icon-512.png # Server icon (512x512 PNG)
├── README.md # End-user documentation (ships with package)
├── BUILD.md # This file (developer documentation)
└── artifacts/ # Build output (gitignored)
```
## Prerequisites
- .NET 10 SDK
- Windows x64 development machine
## Building the MCPB Package
From the `mcpb` directory:
```powershell
.\Build-McpBundle.ps1
```
This creates `mcpb/artifacts/ExcelMcp.McpServer-win-x64.zip`.
### Build Options
```powershell
# Specify version
.\Build-McpBundle.ps1 -Version "1.2.0"
# Custom output directory
.\Build-McpBundle.ps1 -OutputDir "./dist"
```
## Package Contents
The MCPB zip file contains:
```
ExcelMcp.McpServer-win-x64.zip/
├── Sbroenne.ExcelMcp.McpServer.exe # Self-contained executable (~15 MB)
├── .mcp/
│ └── server.json # MCP server configuration
├── manifest.json # MCPB manifest
├── README.md # End-user documentation
└── icon-512.png # Server icon (512x512)
```
## Release Workflow
1. **Create GitHub Release:**
- Tag format: `v1.x.x`
- Upload `ExcelMcp.McpServer-win-x64.zip` as release asset
2. **Update manifest.json download URL:**
- Verify the `install.win32.download` URL points to the release asset
- URL format: `https://github.com/sbroenne/mcp-server-excel/releases/latest/download/ExcelMcp.McpServer-win-x64.zip`
3. **Submit to Claude Directory:**
- Follow Anthropic's submission process
- Include the manifest.json content
## Manifest Schema
The manifest follows MCPB version 0.3 specification:
```json
{
"manifestVersion": "0.3",
"server": {
"id": "excel-mcp-server",
"name": "Excel MCP Server",
"type": "binary",
"platforms": ["win32"]
},
"install": {
"win32": {
"download": "https://github.com/.../ExcelMcp.McpServer-win-x64.zip",
"command": "Sbroenne.ExcelMcp.McpServer.exe"
}
}
}
```
## Tool Annotations
All 22 MCP tools include the `Destructive = true` annotation since they can modify Excel files:
```csharp
[McpServerTool(Name = "range", Title = "Excel Range Operations", Destructive = true)]
```
## Technical Notes
### Why Self-Contained?
- Users don't need .NET SDK installed
- Avoids version conflicts
- Single executable deployment (~15 MB compressed)
### Why No Trimming?
Excel COM interop uses `Type.GetTypeFromProgID()` which requires reflection. Trimming would break COM activation with IL2072 errors.
### Why Windows x64 Only?
- COM interop requires Windows
- x64 is the most common architecture
- ARM64 Windows can run x64 binaries via emulation
## Verification
After building, verify the package:
```powershell
# List zip contents
Expand-Archive ./artifacts/ExcelMcp.McpServer-win-x64.zip -DestinationPath ./test-extract
dir ./test-extract
Remove-Item -Recurse ./test-extract
```
## Submission Guidelines Reference
See the [MCPB Submission Guide](https://support.claude.com/en/articles/12922832-local-mcp-server-submission-guide) for:
- Tool annotation requirements (readOnlyHint, destructiveHint)
- README requirements (minimum 3 examples with expected behavior)
- Privacy policy requirements
- manifest_version requirements (≥ 0.3)
## Links
- [MCPB Specification](https://modelcontextprotocol.io/docs/registry)
- [Claude Desktop Documentation](https://docs.anthropic.com/claude/docs/claude-for-desktop)
- [Submission Guidelines](https://support.claude.com/en/articles/12922832-local-mcp-server-submission-guide)
