Microsoft 365 MCP Server

list-excel-tables

list-excel-tables

Read-only

List all named tables in an Excel workbook to see their names, columns, headers, totals, and styles. Use the returned table IDs to reference specific tables in other operations.

Instructions

Represents a collection of tables associated with the workbook. Read-only.

💡 TIP: Lists all named tables in a workbook. Each table has id, name, showHeaders, showTotals, columns, and style. Use the table name or id with other table endpoints.

Input Schema

TableJSON Schema

Name	Required	Description
`top`	No	Page size (Graph $top). Start small (e.g. 5–15) so responses fit the model context; raise only if needed. Use $select to return fewer fields per item. For more rows, use @odata.nextLink from the response instead of a very large $top.
`skip`	No	Items to skip for pagination. Not supported with $search.
`count`	No	Set true to enable advanced query mode (ConsistencyLevel: eventual). Required for complex $filter on flag/flagStatus or contains().
`expand`	No	Navigation properties to inline, e.g. attachments on a message or event. Only navigation properties can be expanded: expanding a non-navigation property such as a message body fails with "Parsing OData Select and Expand failed", and an unsupported value may be ignored rather than reported. Request ordinary fields with $select instead.
`filter`	No	OData filter expression. Add $count=true for advanced filters (flag/flagStatus, contains()). Cannot combine with $search.
`search`	No	KQL search query in one pair of double quotes; directory (users/groups) instead quotes each clause with no outer pair. Cannot combine with $filter.
`select`	No	Comma-separated fields to return, e.g. id,subject,from,receivedDateTime
`driveId`	Yes	Value for the 'driveId' path segment. Pass it under the name 'driveId', not as 'id'. Use the 'id' field of the drive object as returned by Microsoft Graph.
`orderby`	No	Sort expression, e.g. receivedDateTime desc
`skiptoken`	No	Next page: the @odata.nextLink from the previous response. Keep the other arguments the same.
`driveItemId`	Yes	Value for the 'driveItemId' path segment. Pass it under the name 'driveItemId', not as 'id'. Use the 'id' field of the drive item object as returned by Microsoft Graph.
`fetchAllPages`	No	Follow @odata.nextLink and merge up to 100 pages into one response. Can return enormous payloads—only when the user explicitly needs a full export. Prefer a small $top first, then paginate or narrow with $filter/$search.
`includeHeaders`	No	Include response headers (including ETag) in the response metadata
`excludeResponse`	No	Exclude the full response body and only return success or failure indication

Schema Changelog

Changes observed during successful MCP inspections.

Changed11 schema fields changedv0.154.2Sep 17, 2026

addedInput schema / properties / expand / anyOf

Added value: +[
+  {
+    "type": "string"
+  },
+  {
+    "items": {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "type": "array"
+  }
+]

removedInput schema / properties / expand / items
```
Removed value: -{
-  "type": "string"
-}
```
removedInput schema / properties / expand / type
```
Removed value: -"array"
```

addedInput schema / properties / orderby / anyOf

Added value: +[
+  {
+    "type": "string"
+  },
+  {
+    "items": {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "type": "array"
+  }
+]

removedInput schema / properties / orderby / type
```
Removed value: -"string"
```

addedInput schema / properties / select / anyOf

Added value: +[
+  {
+    "type": "string"
+  },
+  {
+    "items": {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "type": "array"
+  }
+]

removedInput schema / properties / select / type
```
Removed value: -"string"
```
addedInput schema / properties / skip / minimum
```
Added value: +0
```

changedInput schema / properties / skip / type

Previous value: -"number"New value: +"integer"

addedInput schema / properties / top / minimum
```
Added value: +0
```

changedInput schema / properties / top / type

Previous value: -"number"New value: +"integer"

Changed1 schema field changedv0.154.0Sep 12, 2026

changedInput schema / properties / skiptoken / description

Previous value: -"Opaque cursor for the next page, taken from the previous response. Copy the $skiptoken value out of @odata.nextLink (or paste the whole nextLink URL — the token is extracted from it) and resend it with the SAME $filter/$select/$expand/$top as the first call. Use this to walk pages one at a time instead of fetchAllPages. Omit it for the first page."New value: +"Next page: the @odata.nextLink from the previous response. Keep the other arguments the same."

Changed2 schema fields changedv0.153.0Sep 12, 2026

changedInput schema / properties / search / description

Previous value: -"KQL search query — wrap value in double quotes. Cannot combine with $filter."New value: +"KQL search query in one pair of double quotes; directory (users/groups) instead quotes each clause with no outer pair. Cannot combine with $filter."

addedInput schema / properties / skiptoken

Added value: +{
+  "description": "Opaque cursor for the next page, taken from the previous response. Copy the $skiptoken value out of @odata.nextLink (or paste the whole nextLink URL — the token is extracted from it) and resend it with the SAME $filter/$select/$expand/$top as the first call. Use this to walk pages one at a time instead of fetchAllPages. Omit it for the first page.",
+  "type": "string"
+}

Changed3 schema fields changedv0.134.4Jul 28, 2026

changedInput schema / properties / driveId / description

Previous value: -"Path parameter: driveId"New value: +"Value for the 'driveId' path segment. Pass it under the name 'driveId', not as 'id'. Use the 'id' field of the drive object as returned by Microsoft Graph."

changedInput schema / properties / driveItemId / description

Previous value: -"Path parameter: driveItemId"New value: +"Value for the 'driveItemId' path segment. Pass it under the name 'driveItemId', not as 'id'. Use the 'id' field of the drive item object as returned by Microsoft Graph."

changedInput schema / properties / expand / description

Previous value: -"Expand related entities"New value: +"Navigation properties to inline, e.g. attachments on a message or event. Only navigation properties can be expanded: expanding a non-navigation property such as a message body fails with \"Parsing OData Select and Expand failed\", and an unsupported value may be ignored rather than reported. Request ordinary fields with $select instead."

Addedv0.131.2Jul 18, 2026
Removedv0.131.2Jul 18, 2026
Addedv0.114.0May 28, 2026
Removedv0.112.2May 22, 2026
Addedv0.110.0May 18, 2026
Removedv0.108.0May 15, 2026
Addedv0.96.0May 4, 2026

TDQS

A3.6/5.0

Behavior4/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

Annotations already declare readOnlyHint=true and destructiveHint=false, and the description reinforces "Read-only." Beyond the annotations, it discloses the returned table shape (id, name, showHeaders, showTotals, columns, style), which is valuable since there is no output schema. This adds behavioral context without contradicting the annotations.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness3/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The overall description is short, and the tip is useful. However, the opening sentence "Represents a collection of tables associated with the workbook" is redundant with the clearer "Lists all named tables in a workbook," and "Read-only" duplicates the annotation. Not every sentence earns its place, so it is not a top-tier concise description.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness4/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

For a read-only list operation, the description plus annotations and fully documented schema are sufficient for an agent to decide and invoke the tool. It names the output fields, notes the read-only nature, and points to follow-up table endpoints. A small gap is that it does not mention the standard paginated value-list response shape, but the parameter descriptions for top, skiptoken, and fetchAllPages already cover related behavior.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema description coverage is 100%, so the input schema already documents all 14 parameters, including required driveId and driveItemId. The description does not add parameter-level meaning beyond the schema, but because the schema is fully descriptive, the baseline of 3 is appropriate.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose4/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description clearly identifies the resource and action: "Lists all named tables in a workbook." It also describes the returned table fields, which reinforces what the tool does. However, it does not explicitly distinguish itself from siblings like get-excel-table or list-excel-table-rows, so it falls just short of full differentiation.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines3/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The tip implies when to use this tool: when you need an inventory of named tables in a workbook. It also gives a follow-up hint to use the table name or id with other table endpoints. It does not explicitly state when not to use it or name an alternative tool, so guidance is only implied rather than explicit.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

Deploy Server

list-excel-tables

Instructions

Input Schema

Schema Changelog

TDQS

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