# Claude in Excel Using Claude AI directly inside Excel and PowerPoint. Tips, workflows, macroeconomic dashboards, return analysis, XGBoost models - all in a spreadsheet. ## Blog Posts (11) - [Claude in Excel + MCP + xlwings Lite + Claude Code: Combining the 4 for power impact.](https://tigzig.com/post/claude-in-excel-mcp-xlwings-lite-claude-code-combining-4-tools.html) — Tags: claude-in-excel, mcp, xlwings-lite, ai-coders, portfolio-analytics Live walkthrough of S&P 500 forward returns scenario model built with four tools. Claude in Excel pulls data via YFIN MCP server and builds MAP/LAMBDA formula model. Claude Code validates offline with independent Python recomputation - catches a formula error that in-Excel checks missed. xlwings Lite generates distribution charts (fan, ridgeline, raincloud) from Python into Excel. Covers when to use each tool and MCP architecture for client work. AI-readable: https://tigzig.com/ai/posts/claude-in-excel-mcp-xlwings-lite-claude-code-combining-4-tools.md - [Talk to Your Database from Excel via Claude & MCP - Part 2](https://tigzig.com/post/talk-to-your-database-from-excel-mcp-part-2.html) — Tags: claude-in-excel, mcp Part 2 of connecting Excel to databases via Claude MCP. Two new server options: open public server hardened with 23 defense layers (rate limits, concurrency caps, SQL validation) and OAuth-secured server via Auth0 with JWT validation for client sharing. Full source code open as single Python file. Includes standard MCP security advice and link to 80+ item security checklist. AI-readable: https://tigzig.com/ai/posts/talk-to-your-database-from-excel-mcp-part-2.md - [Talk to Your Database from Excel - Postgres, DuckDB - via Claude in Excel with MCP](https://tigzig.com/post/talk-to-your-database-from-excel-postgres-duckdb-claude-mcp.html) — Tags: claude-in-excel, mcp, duckdb, database-ai Public MCP server enabling SQL queries against live Postgres (Supabase, ODI cricket) and DuckDB (T20 cricket) databases from Claude in Excel. Covers 2 million rows of ball-by-ball data from 2013-2025. Built with FastAPI, asyncpg, and fastapi-mcp. Includes detailed tool docstrings for schema context, 1000-row response cap, read-only security, rate limiting, and SQL validation. Open source, single-file Python backend. AI-readable: https://tigzig.com/ai/posts/talk-to-your-database-from-excel-postgres-duckdb-claude-mcp.md - [Claude in Excel with MCP Connector - Talk to Your Backends from Inside Excel](https://tigzig.com/post/claude-in-excel-mcp-connector-talk-to-backends.html) — Tags: claude-in-excel, mcp Tests Claude in Excel with MCP custom connectors across three backend servers: Yahoo Finance data pulls, AI technical analysis report generation, and multi-security performance review. Covers practical results, limitations with large data writes, URL handling, and MCP security considerations. Includes three open-source public MCP servers (YFIN, SPR, Technical Analysis). Compares Claude in Excel, Custom GPTs, xlwings Lite, and Claude Code for different use cases. AI-readable: https://tigzig.com/ai/posts/claude-in-excel-mcp-connector-talk-to-backends.md - [NIFTY50 - 30 Day Forward Return Analysis Feb 2008 to 2026 - Claude in Excel with Python, Lambdas and Advanced Formulas](https://tigzig.com/post/nifty50-30-day-forward-return-analysis-claude-in-excel.html) — Tags: claude-in-excel, portfolio-analytics Nifty50 forward return analysis built entirely in Claude in Excel. For each trading day from 2008-2026, computes 30 forward returns with quintile cuts (P20-P80), positive/negative day counts, and confidence intervals. Uses Python for initial computation, then validates with manual formulas, LET+SEQUENCE, and named LAMBDA functions. MAP, REDUCE, and SCAN with LAMBDA for trade diagnostics. Completed in 2.5 hours across two sessions. AI-readable: https://tigzig.com/ai/posts/nifty50-30-day-forward-return-analysis-claude-in-excel.md - [Power User Guide to Claude in Excel & PowerPoint - 26 Working Tips](https://tigzig.com/post/claude-in-excel-powerpoint-working-tips.html) — Tags: claude-in-excel 26 practical tips for using Claude in Excel and PowerPoint. Covers voice dictation, providing domain context, validation techniques (triple-match formulas), LET and LAMBDA usage, advanced Excel functions, Python sandbox capabilities and limitations, token conservation, automation options via xlwings Lite or Claude Code, data privacy considerations across different deployment models, and when to use each tool in the ecosystem. AI-readable: https://tigzig.com/ai/posts/claude-in-excel-powerpoint-working-tips.md - [Claude in Excel - Nifty50 Return Distribution Analysis (30 days forward) 2008 to 2026](https://tigzig.com/post/claude-in-excel-nifty50-return-distribution-analysis.html) — Tags: claude-in-excel, portfolio-analytics Claude in Excel used to compute Nifty50 30-day forward return distributions from 2008-2026. For each trading day, calculates 30 forward returns and extracts quintile cuts (P20-P80) plus positive/negative day counts. Built after 15-20 minutes of brainstorming with Claude on methodology. Includes manual validation for a single day and reconstructed Python code output. Shared as downloadable Excel file. AI-readable: https://tigzig.com/ai/posts/claude-in-excel-nifty50-return-distribution-analysis.md - [Claude in Excel built a 50-chart India Macroeconomic Dashboard from RBI data in under an hour](https://tigzig.com/post/claude-in-excel-rbi-macroeconomic-dashboard.html) — Tags: claude-in-excel Claude in Excel built a 50-chart India macroeconomic dashboard from RBI data in under one hour. Covers weekly, fortnightly, monthly, and quarterly indicators. Organized data into flat file format with frequency, unit, and value columns. Includes validation sheet with three cross-checks (formula totals, Python output, SUMIF from database sheet). Shared as downloadable Excel file with reconstructed code. AI-readable: https://tigzig.com/ai/posts/claude-in-excel-rbi-macroeconomic-dashboard.md - [Claude in Excel & PowerPoint. Is it worth it? What works and what doesn't](https://tigzig.com/post/python-in-excel-with-claude-what-works-and-what-doesnt.html) — Tags: claude-in-excel, python-in-excel Evaluation of Claude in Excel focusing on Excel/PowerPoint productivity and Python sandbox capabilities. Covers what works: pivots, formulas, stats, image reading, web search, ML models, charts. Python limitations: no API calls, no external databases, no local file writes, 30MB upload limit, non-deterministic outputs. Compares Claude in Excel (AI assistant) vs xlwings Lite (full Python environment). Includes 18-page slide deck. AI-readable: https://tigzig.com/ai/posts/python-in-excel-with-claude-what-works-and-what-doesnt.md - [Python In Excel - Claude Vs. xlwings Lite? Who Wins?](https://tigzig.com/post/python-in-excel-claude-vs-xlwings-lite.html) — Tags: claude-in-excel, python-in-excel, xlwings-lite Comparison of Claude in Excel and xlwings Lite as different tools for different jobs. Claude in Excel: AI assistant for Excel heavy lifting, Python sandbox, no API calls, no automation, no local file access, non-deterministic. xlwings Lite: pure Python in Excel, API calls, web scraping, database connections, local folders, automation. Also covers when to use Jupyter/Colab for ML models and Claude Code for full-stack development. AI-readable: https://tigzig.com/ai/posts/python-in-excel-claude-vs-xlwings-lite.md - [Claude in Excel just one-shotted an XGBoost response model with train-test split, AUC and full decile table. In a spreadsheet.](https://tigzig.com/post/claude-in-excel.html) — Tags: claude-in-excel, python-in-excel First-hand test of Claude in Excel building an XGBoost response model with train-test split, AUC, and full decile table inside a spreadsheet. Also tested pivot table creation. Notes Python sandbox runs on Anthropic servers with no visible code editor. Discusses data privacy implications across different deployment models (direct Anthropic vs AWS Bedrock/Azure). Shared as downloadable Excel file. AI-readable: https://tigzig.com/ai/posts/claude-in-excel.md ## Related Topics - [Database AI & Text-to-SQL](https://tigzig.com/ai/tags/database-ai.md) - [Python in Excel (xlwings Lite)](https://tigzig.com/ai/tags/python-in-excel.md) - [DuckDB - Analytics & Dashboards](https://tigzig.com/ai/tags/duckdb.md) - [MCP Servers & Agents](https://tigzig.com/ai/tags/mcp-servers.md) - [Portfolio & Quantitative Analysis](https://tigzig.com/ai/tags/portfolio-quants.md)