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LibreOffice MCP Extension

🎯 Overview

The LibreOffice MCP Extension integrates Model Context Protocol (MCP) server functionality directly into LibreOffice, enabling AI assistants to interact with LibreOffice documents in real-time through direct UNO API access.

🚀 Key Features

Real-time Document Manipulation

  • Create documents directly in LibreOffice (Writer, Calc, Impress, Draw)
  • Insert and format text in active documents
  • Live document editing without file I/O overhead
  • Multi-document support for all open documents

Advanced Document Operations

  • Save and export documents to various formats (PDF, DOCX, ODT, etc.)
  • Get comprehensive document information and statistics
  • Real-time text content extraction
  • Format text with fonts, styles, and attributes

AI Assistant Integration

  • HTTP API server running on localhost:8765
  • Compatible with Claude Desktop and other MCP clients
  • RESTful endpoints for easy integration
  • Real-time status monitoring and control

Native LibreOffice Integration

  • Appears in LibreOffice Tools menu
  • Auto-starts with LibreOffice
  • System tray integration
  • Professional .oxt extension format

📋 Installation

Method 1: Extension Manager (Recommended)

  1. Download libreoffice-mcp-extension.oxt
  2. Open LibreOffice
  3. Go to Tools > Extension Manager
  4. Click Add and select the .oxt file
  5. Restart LibreOffice

Method 2: Command Line

unopkg add libreoffice-mcp-extension.oxt

Method 3: Build from Source

cd plugin/
./build.sh
unopkg add ../build/libreoffice-mcp-extension.oxt

🔧 Usage

Manual Control

After installation, access MCP server controls via:

  • Tools > MCP Server (menu)
  • Use the toolbar button for quick toggle

Available commands:

  • Start MCP Server: Begins the HTTP API server
  • Stop MCP Server: Stops the server
  • Restart MCP Server: Restarts the server
  • Show Server Status: Displays current status

HTTP API Endpoints

The extension starts an HTTP server on http://localhost:8765 with the following endpoints:

GET Endpoints

# Server information
curl http://localhost:8765/

# List available tools
curl http://localhost:8765/tools

# Health check
curl http://localhost:8765/health

POST Endpoints

# Execute a specific tool
curl -X POST http://localhost:8765/tools/create_document_live \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"doc_type": "writer"}'

# Execute tool via generic endpoint
curl -X POST http://localhost:8765/execute \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "tool": "insert_text_live",
    "parameters": {
      "text": "Hello from AI assistant!"
    }
  }'

🛠️ Available MCP Tools

Document Creation

  • create_document_live: Create new Writer, Calc, Impress, or Draw documents
  • Parameters: doc_type (writer|calc|impress|draw)

Text Manipulation

  • insert_text_live: Insert text at cursor or specific position
  • format_text_live: Apply formatting to selected text
  • get_text_content_live: Extract text content from document

Document Information

  • get_document_info_live: Get comprehensive document details
  • list_open_documents: List all currently open documents

File Operations

  • save_document_live: Save active document
  • export_document_live: Export to PDF, DOCX, ODT, TXT, etc.

🔗 AI Assistant Configuration

Claude Desktop Setup

Add to your Claude Desktop configuration:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "libreoffice": {
      "command": "curl",
      "args": [
        "-X", "POST",
        "http://localhost:8765/execute",
        "-H", "Content-Type: application/json",
        "-d", "{\"tool\": \"{{tool}}\", \"parameters\": {{parameters}}}"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Super Assistant Integration

Configure the MCP proxy to point to:

http://localhost:8765

🎮 Example Usage

Create and Edit Document

# Create a new Writer document
curl -X POST http://localhost:8765/tools/create_document_live \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"doc_type": "writer"}'

# Insert text
curl -X POST http://localhost:8765/tools/insert_text_live \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"text": "This is AI-generated content!"}'

# Apply formatting to selected text
curl -X POST http://localhost:8765/tools/format_text_live \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "bold": true,
    "font_size": 14,
    "font_name": "Arial"
  }'

# Save document
curl -X POST http://localhost:8765/tools/save_document_live \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"file_path": "/home/user/Documents/ai-document.odt"}'

# Export to PDF
curl -X POST http://localhost:8765/tools/export_document_live \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "export_format": "pdf",
    "file_path": "/home/user/Documents/ai-document.pdf"
  }'

Document Analysis

# Get document information
curl http://localhost:8765/tools/get_document_info_live

# Extract text content
curl http://localhost:8765/tools/get_text_content_live

# List all open documents
curl http://localhost:8765/tools/list_open_documents

🔄 Comparison with External MCP Server

Feature External Server Plugin Extension
Performance ⭐⭐ (file I/O) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (direct API)
Real-time Editing ⭐⭐ (file-based) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (live objects)
Installation ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (simple) ⭐⭐⭐ (extension install)
Multi-document ⭐⭐ (file ops) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (all open docs)
GUI Integration ⭐ (none) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (native menus)
Startup Time ⭐⭐ (LibreOffice launch) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (instant)

🛠️ Technical Architecture

AI Assistant (Claude/Super Assistant)
     ↓ (HTTP API calls)
LibreOffice Plugin Extension
     ↓ (UNO API - direct access)
LibreOffice Internal Components
     ↓ (direct memory access)
Documents & Data Structures

Core Components

  • UNO Bridge: Direct LibreOffice API integration
  • MCP Server: Embedded protocol server
  • AI Interface: HTTP API for external connections
  • Extension Registration: LibreOffice lifecycle management

🐛 Troubleshooting

Extension Not Loading

  1. Check LibreOffice version (requires 7.0+)
  2. Verify Python environment
  3. Check Extension Manager for conflicts
  4. Review LibreOffice error logs

HTTP Server Not Starting

  1. Verify port 8765 is available
  2. Check firewall settings
  3. Review extension logs
  4. Try restarting LibreOffice

Tool Execution Errors

  1. Ensure document is open for document-specific tools
  2. Check parameter formats in API calls
  3. Verify LibreOffice permissions
  4. Check UNO API compatibility

Getting Help

  • Check LibreOffice extension logs
  • Use curl http://localhost:8765/health for server status
  • Access Tools > MCP Server > Show Server Status
  • Visit project GitHub repository for issues

📝 Development

Building from Source

git clone <repository-url>
cd mcp-libre/plugin
./build.sh

Installing Development Version

unopkg remove org.mcp.libreoffice.extension  # Remove old version
unopkg add ../build/libreoffice-mcp-extension.oxt

Debugging

  • Enable LibreOffice Basic IDE debugging
  • Check Python console output
  • Monitor HTTP server logs
  • Use UNO reflection tools

📜 License

This extension is released under the MIT License. See LICENSE file for details.

🤝 Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Please check the main project repository for contribution guidelines.

Happy AI-powered document editing with LibreOffice! 🎉