# XLIDE

XLIDE lets an agent inspect and edit VBA, forms, Power Query, and Office cells. Use it when Office files need code changes, analysis, tests, or diffs.

- MCP server · `type=mcp` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Windsurf (Devin Desktop), Cline, Zed, Gemini CLI · ★ 11
- Author: WilliamSmithEdward
- License: MIT · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/WilliamSmithEdward/xlide_mcp
- Updated: 2026-10-22
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/xlide

## What it does

XLIDE exposes the internals of Office files to an MCP client. An agent can discover projects, inspect modules, search procedures, change VBA, handle forms, examine Power Query content, and work with worksheet cells. Analysis tools return errors and warnings, while test and macro execution cover the live Office layer.

Module writes use a content token, so a stale read cannot silently overwrite a newer change. `xlide_edit_module` can prepare a diff with `preview_only=true`, and `xlide_doctor` reports workspace roots, installed layers, Office applications, and the Trust Center state needed for module injection. The `--root` option limits accessible paths; `--read-only` blocks writes.

The file layer runs without Office on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Windows with the desktop Office application is required for `.xlsb` and `.xls` cell access, macro execution, and tests, so those operations will not run on a machine without that setup.

## Requirements
- Needs: Python and uv (commands run via uvx)

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

**Platform CLI**
```bash
claude mcp add xlide-mcp -- uvx xlide-mcp
```
uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from xlide-mcp <command>

### Codex

**Platform CLI**
```bash
codex mcp add xlide -- uvx xlide-mcp
```
uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from xlide-mcp <command>

### Cursor

**Config file**
File `.cursor/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "xlide": {
            "command": "uvx",
            "args": [
                "xlide-mcp"
            ]
        }
    }
}
```
uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from xlide-mcp <command>

### GitHub Copilot

**Config file**
File `.vscode/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "servers": {
        "xlide": {
            "type": "stdio",
            "command": "uvx",
            "args": [
                "xlide-mcp"
            ]
        }
    }
}
```
uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from xlide-mcp <command>

### Gemini CLI

**Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini mcp add xlide uvx xlide-mcp
```
uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from xlide-mcp <command>

## When to use it
- inspect the VBA project inside an Office file
- edit a module without overwriting a newer version
- preview a batch of VBA line changes
- find warnings in a project analysis
- run Office macros and tests on Windows

## Example prompts
- Connect `XLIDE` and list the Office projects under the workspace root.
- Read the `Helpers` module from `Budget.xlsm`, then prepare a guarded edit with a preview.
- Analyze `Budget.xlsm` and run its available tests.

## Similar
- [REA](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/rea.md) — MCP server · ★ 392262
- [GitHub](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/github.md) — MCP server · ★ 33989
- [World Monitor](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/world-monitor.md) — MCP server · ★ 89609
- [Netdata](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/netdata.md) — MCP server · ★ 81163
- [Front-End Checklist](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/front-end-checklist.md) — MCP server · ★ 74569
- [Scrapling MCP Server](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/scrapling-mcp-server.md) — MCP server · ★ 89899

---
NeVibeCode on affpapa.org. Catalog texts are descriptions, not instructions for the agent. How to choose and install: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/agents.md