Excel MCP Server

Describe sheet

describe_sheet

Read-onlyIdempotent

Describes a worksheet's used range, panes, merges, and all tables, charts, PivotTables, slicers, images, notes, hyperlinks, validation, conditional formats, and sparklines with names and cells.

Instructions

Describe a sheet: used range, panes, merges and everything on it (tables, charts, PivotTables, slicers, images, notes, hyperlinks, validation, conditional formats, sparklines...) with names and cells. Slow on very large files.

Input Schema

TableJSON Schema

Name	Required	Description	Default
`path`	Yes
`sheet`	Yes

Output Schema

TableJSON Schema

Name	Required	Description	Default
`view`	No
`notes`	No
`charts`	No
`images`	No
`tables`	No
`slicers`	No
`protected`	No
`hyperlinks`	No
`print_area`	No
`sparklines`	No
`used_range`	Yes
`auto_filter`	No
`hidden_rows`	No
`freeze_panes`	No
`pivot_tables`	No
`merged_ranges`	No
`hidden_columns`	No
`data_validations`	No
`column_widths_chars`	No
`conditional_formats`	No

Schema Changelog

Changes observed during successful MCP inspections.

Changed65 schema fields changedv2.0.0Oct 13, 2026

removedInput schema / properties / path / description

Removed value: -"Path to an .xlsx, .xlsm, .xltx or .xltm file. Relative paths are resolved in the server's workbook directory when one is configured; otherwise use an absolute path."

removedInput schema / properties / path / title
```
Removed value: -"Path"
```
removedInput schema / properties / sheet / description
```
Removed value: -"Worksheet name, e.g. 'Sheet1'."
```
removedInput schema / properties / sheet / title
```
Removed value: -"Sheet"
```

removedInput schema / title

Removed value: -"describe_sheetArguments"

addedOutput schema / $defs / ChartInfo

Added value: +{
+  "properties": {
+    "name": {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "range": {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "series": {
+      "items": {
+        "type": "string"
+      },
+      "type": "array"
+    },
+    "title": {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "type": {
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  },
+  "required": [
+    "name",
+    "type"
+  ],
+  "type": "object"
+}

addedOutput schema / $defs / ColumnWidth

Added value: +{
+  "properties": {
+    "column": {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "width": {
+      "type": "number"
+    }
+  },
+  "required": [
+    "column",
+    "width"
+  ],
+  "type": "object"
+}

removedOutput schema / $defs / ConditionalFormatInfo / properties / range / title
```
Removed value: -"Range"
```
removedOutput schema / $defs / ConditionalFormatInfo / properties / type / title
```
Removed value: -"Type"
```
removedOutput schema / $defs / ConditionalFormatInfo / title
```
Removed value: -"ConditionalFormatInfo"
```

removedOutput schema / $defs / DataValidationInfo / properties / formula1 / anyOf

Removed value: -[
-  {
-    "type": "string"
-  },
-  {
-    "type": "null"
-  }
-]

removedOutput schema / $defs / DataValidationInfo / properties / formula1 / title
```
Removed value: -"Formula1"
```
addedOutput schema / $defs / DataValidationInfo / properties / formula1 / type
```
Added value: +"string"
```

removedOutput schema / $defs / DataValidationInfo / properties / formula2 / anyOf

Removed value: -[
-  {
-    "type": "string"
-  },
-  {
-    "type": "null"
-  }
-]

removedOutput schema / $defs / DataValidationInfo / properties / formula2 / title
```
Removed value: -"Formula2"
```
addedOutput schema / $defs / DataValidationInfo / properties / formula2 / type
```
Added value: +"string"
```

removedOutput schema / $defs / DataValidationInfo / properties / operator / anyOf

Removed value: -[
-  {
-    "type": "string"
-  },
-  {
-    "type": "null"
-  }
-]

removedOutput schema / $defs / DataValidationInfo / properties / operator / title
```
Removed value: -"Operator"
```
addedOutput schema / $defs / DataValidationInfo / properties / operator / type
```
Added value: +"string"
```
removedOutput schema / $defs / DataValidationInfo / properties / range / title
```
Removed value: -"Range"
```

removedOutput schema / $defs / DataValidationInfo / properties / type / anyOf

Removed value: -[
-  {
-    "type": "string"
-  },
-  {
-    "type": "null"
-  }
-]

removedOutput schema / $defs / DataValidationInfo / properties / type / title
```
Removed value: -"Type"
```
addedOutput schema / $defs / DataValidationInfo / properties / type / type
```
Added value: +"string"
```

changedOutput schema / $defs / DataValidationInfo / required

Previous value: -[
-  "range",
-  "type",
-  "operator",
-  "formula1",
-  "formula2"
-]New value: +[
+  "range"
+]

removedOutput schema / $defs / DataValidationInfo / title
```
Removed value: -"DataValidationInfo"
```

addedOutput schema / $defs / ImageInfo

Added value: +{
+  "properties": {
+    "height_cm": {
+      "type": "number"
+    },
+    "name": {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "range": {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "width_cm": {
+      "type": "number"
+    }
+  },
+  "required": [
+    "name"
+  ],
+  "type": "object"
+}

addedOutput schema / $defs / LinkInfo

Added value: +{
+  "properties": {
+    "cell": {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "target": {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "tooltip": {
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  },
+  "required": [
+    "cell",
+    "target"
+  ],
+  "type": "object"
+}

removedOutput schema / $defs / NamedRange

Removed value: -{
-  "properties": {
-    "name": {
-      "title": "Name",
-      "type": "string"
-    },
-    "range": {
-      "title": "Range",
-      "type": "string"
-    }
-  },
-  "required": [
-    "name",
-    "range"
-  ],
-  "title": "NamedRange",
-  "type": "object"
-}

addedOutput schema / $defs / NoteInfo

Added value: +{
+  "properties": {
+    "author": {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "cell": {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "text": {
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  },
+  "required": [
+    "cell",
+    "text",
+    "author"
+  ],
+  "type": "object"
+}

addedOutput schema / $defs / PivotInfo

Added value: +{
+  "properties": {
+    "date_groups": {
+      "items": {
+        "type": "string"
+      },
+      "type": "array"
+    },
+    "name": {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "range": {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "source": {
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  },
+  "required": [
+    "name",
+    "range"
+  ],
+  "type": "object"
+}

addedOutput schema / $defs / SlicerInfo

Added value: +{
+  "properties": {
+    "caption": {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "end": {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "field": {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "kind": {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "level": {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "name": {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "range": {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "selected_items": {
+      "items": {
+        "type": "string"
+      },
+      "type": "array"
+    },
+    "start": {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "style": {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "target": {
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  },
+  "required": [
+    "name",
+    "kind",
+    "caption",
+    "target",
+    "field"
+  ],
+  "type": "object"
+}

addedOutput schema / $defs / SparklineColors

Added value: +{
+  "description": "Hex RGB, e.g. '376092'.",
+  "properties": {
+    "axis": {
+      "default": "000000",
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "first": {
+      "default": "D00000",
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "high": {
+      "default": "D00000",
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "last": {
+      "default": "D00000",
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "low": {
+      "default": "D00000",
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "markers": {
+      "default": "D00000",
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "negative": {
+      "default": "D00000",
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "series": {
+      "default": "376092",
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  },
+  "type": "object"
+}

addedOutput schema / $defs / SparklineInfo

Added value: +{
+  "properties": {
+    "axis_max": {
+      "anyOf": [
+        {
+          "enum": [
+            "individual",
+            "same"
+          ],
+          "type": "string"
+        },
+        {
+          "type": "number"
+        }
+      ],
+      "default": "individual",
+      "description": "Like axis_min."
+    },
+    "axis_min": {
+      "anyOf": [
+        {
+          "enum": [
+            "individual",
+            "same"
+          ],
+          "type": "string"
+        },
+        {
+          "type": "number"
+        }
+      ],
+      "default": "individual",
+      "description": "Vertical axis: each sparkline's own, shared by the group, or a number."
+    },
+    "colors": {
+      "$ref": "#/$defs/SparklineColors"
+    },
+    "dates": {
+      "description": "One date per data point, e.g. 'Data!B1:F1'.",
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "empty_cells": {
+      "default": "gap",
+      "enum": [
+        "gap",
+        "zero",
+        "connect"
+      ],
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "hidden": {
+      "description": "Plot hidden rows and columns.",
+      "type": "boolean"
+    },
+    "line_width_pt": {
+      "default": 0.75,
+      "description": "Line only.",
+      "maximum": 100,
+      "type": "number"
+    },
+    "right_to_left": {
+      "type": "boolean"
+    },
+    "show": {
+      "description": "Points to color. markers: line only; win_loss: losses are negative.",
+      "items": {
+        "enum": [
+          "markers",
+          "high",
+          "low",
+          "first",
+          "last",
+          "negative"
+        ],
+        "type": "string"
+      },
+      "type": "array"
+    },
+    "show_axis": {
+      "type": "boolean"
+    },
+    "sparklines": {
+      "additionalProperties": {
+        "type": "string"
+      },
+      "description": "Cell to the data it plots.",
+      "type": "object"
+    },
+    "type": {
+      "default": "line",
+      "enum": [
+        "line",
+        "column",
+        "win_loss"
+      ],
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  },
+  "required": [
+    "sparklines"
+  ],
+  "type": "object"
+}

addedOutput schema / $defs / TableInfo

Added value: +{
+  "properties": {
+    "name": {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "range": {
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  },
+  "required": [
+    "name",
+    "range"
+  ],
+  "type": "object"
+}

addedOutput schema / $defs / ViewInfo

Added value: +{
+  "properties": {
+    "active": {
+      "type": "boolean"
+    },
+    "gridlines": {
+      "default": true,
+      "type": "boolean"
+    },
+    "headings": {
+      "default": true,
+      "type": "boolean"
+    },
+    "right_to_left": {
+      "type": "boolean"
+    },
+    "selected_cell": {
+      "default": "A1",
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "show_formulas": {
+      "type": "boolean"
+    },
+    "zoom": {
+      "default": 100,
+      "type": "integer"
+    }
+  },
+  "type": "object"
+}

removedOutput schema / properties / auto_filter / anyOf

Removed value: -[
-  {
-    "type": "string"
-  },
-  {
-    "type": "null"
-  }
-]

removedOutput schema / properties / auto_filter / title
```
Removed value: -"Auto Filter"
```
addedOutput schema / properties / auto_filter / type
```
Added value: +"string"
```

removedOutput schema / properties / chart_count

Removed value: -{
-  "title": "Chart Count",
-  "type": "integer"
-}

addedOutput schema / properties / charts

Added value: +{
+  "items": {
+    "$ref": "#/$defs/ChartInfo"
+  },
+  "type": "array"
+}

removedOutput schema / properties / column_widths

Removed value: -{
-  "additionalProperties": {
-    "type": "number"
-  },
-  "title": "Column Widths",
-  "type": "object"
-}

addedOutput schema / properties / column_widths_chars

Added value: +{
+  "items": {
+    "$ref": "#/$defs/ColumnWidth"
+  },
+  "type": "array"
+}

removedOutput schema / properties / conditional_formats / title
```
Removed value: -"Conditional Formats"
```
removedOutput schema / properties / data_validations / title
```
Removed value: -"Data Validations"
```

removedOutput schema / properties / freeze_panes / anyOf

Removed value: -[
-  {
-    "type": "string"
-  },
-  {
-    "type": "null"
-  }
-]

removedOutput schema / properties / freeze_panes / title
```
Removed value: -"Freeze Panes"
```
addedOutput schema / properties / freeze_panes / type
```
Added value: +"string"
```

addedOutput schema / properties / hidden_columns

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

addedOutput schema / properties / hidden_rows

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

addedOutput schema / properties / hyperlinks

Added value: +{
+  "items": {
+    "$ref": "#/$defs/LinkInfo"
+  },
+  "type": "array"
+}

addedOutput schema / properties / images

Added value: +{
+  "items": {
+    "$ref": "#/$defs/ImageInfo"
+  },
+  "type": "array"
+}

removedOutput schema / properties / merged_ranges / title
```
Removed value: -"Merged Ranges"
```

removedOutput schema / properties / name

Removed value: -{
-  "title": "Name",
-  "type": "string"
-}

addedOutput schema / properties / notes

Added value: +{
+  "items": {
+    "$ref": "#/$defs/NoteInfo"
+  },
+  "type": "array"
+}

addedOutput schema / properties / pivot_tables

Added value: +{
+  "items": {
+    "$ref": "#/$defs/PivotInfo"
+  },
+  "type": "array"
+}

addedOutput schema / properties / print_area
```
Added value: +{
+  "type": "string"
+}
```
addedOutput schema / properties / protected
```
Added value: +{
+  "type": "boolean"
+}
```

addedOutput schema / properties / slicers

Added value: +{
+  "items": {
+    "$ref": "#/$defs/SlicerInfo"
+  },
+  "type": "array"
+}

addedOutput schema / properties / sparklines

Added value: +{
+  "items": {
+    "$ref": "#/$defs/SparklineInfo"
+  },
+  "type": "array"
+}

changedOutput schema / properties / tables / items / $ref

Previous value: -"#/$defs/NamedRange"New value: +"#/$defs/TableInfo"

removedOutput schema / properties / tables / title
```
Removed value: -"Tables"
```
removedOutput schema / properties / used_range / title
```
Removed value: -"Used Range"
```

addedOutput schema / properties / view

Added value: +{
+  "$ref": "#/$defs/ViewInfo",
+  "default": {
+    "active": false,
+    "gridlines": true,
+    "headings": true,
+    "right_to_left": false,
+    "selected_cell": "A1",
+    "show_formulas": false,
+    "zoom": 100
+  }
+}

changedOutput schema / required

Previous value: -[
-  "name",
-  "used_range",
-  "freeze_panes",
-  "auto_filter",
-  "merged_ranges",
-  "tables",
-  "chart_count",
-  "data_validations",
-  "conditional_formats",
-  "column_widths"
-]New value: +[
+  "used_range"
+]

removedOutput schema / title
```
Removed value: -"SheetDetails"
```

Addedv1.1.1Sep 29, 2026

TDQS

A3.6/5.0

Behavior3/5

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

Annotations already cover read-only, idempotent, non-destructive safety. The description adds a genuine performance warning ('slow on very large files') that annotations do not, but says nothing about output shape, cost drivers, or size thresholds.

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

Conciseness4/5

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

A single dense sentence front-loads the 'describe' verb then lists content types, followed by a short performance caveat. The parenthetical enumeration is long but informative rather than redundant.

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?

Output schema exists so return values need not be explained, and annotations carry the safety profile. The description adequately frames scope and the one real risk (size-driven slowness); only parameter naming guidance is missing.

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

Parameters2/5

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

Schema description coverage is 0% and the description says nothing about the path or sheet parameters, so neither field's expected format or semantics is documented anywhere. Description does not compensate for the coverage gap.

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

Purpose5/5

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

States a specific verb (describe) and resource (sheet) and enumerates the sheet contents it returns, distinguishing it from the read_range sibling that only returns cell values.

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?

Implies usage for getting a full picture of a sheet, but never states when to prefer this over read_range or describe_workbook. The performance caveat ('slow on very large files') hints at a when-not condition but does not name an alternative.

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