VBE Direct Connect Assistant
A tool for Excel VBA development that lets an AI assistant directly read and write VBA projects through the MCP protocol. It can run standalone on the desktop and centrally manages MCP registration for multiple clients.
Timeline (last 90 days)
VBE Direct Connect Assistant recently launched a standalone desktop version, solving the problem that the previous VSIX sidebar mode could not be configured in Agent-type editors.
Previously, VBE Direct Connect Assistant ran as a VSIX plugin and relied on the sidebar of traditional IDEs such as VS Code.
The installer for the new desktop version of VBE Direct Connect Assistant is about 5MB, while the old installer was several tens of MB; the difference comes from the old version bundling the Node.js runtime into the installer whereas the new version instead detects the local Node environment.
In the client selection area of the desktop version of VBE Direct Connect Assistant, eight built-in configurations are provided, including Chat, WorkBuddy, Cursor, VS Code, and others.
In VBA mode, VBE Direct Connect Assistant exposes 27 tools to the MCP client, and in Excel operation mode it exposes 11 tools.
After switching modes with the Switch, already-registered clients need to start a new conversation to load the new tool list, because old conversations cache the old tool inventory.
Agent-type tools such as WorkBuddy have no sidebar, but they can connect to the desktop version of VBE Direct Connect Assistant through a custom connector.
All call logs of the desktop version of VBE Direct Connect Assistant can be viewed in "Run Records," which facilitates troubleshooting and auditing.
The author recommends uninstalling the old sidebar plugin to avoid configuration interference between the two sides and letting the desktop side manage MCP registration uniformly.
All Facts (9)
The author recommends uninstalling the old sidebar plugin to avoid configuration interference between the two sides and letting the desktop side manage MCP registration uniformly.
50%UnverifiedPreviously, VBE Direct Connect Assistant ran as a VSIX plugin and relied on the sidebar of traditional IDEs such as VS Code.
50%UnverifiedThe installer for the new desktop version of VBE Direct Connect Assistant is about 5MB, while the old installer was several tens of MB; the difference comes from the old version bundling the Node.js runtime into the installer whereas the new version instead detects the local Node environment.
50%UnverifiedIn the client selection area of the desktop version of VBE Direct Connect Assistant, eight built-in configurations are provided, including Chat, WorkBuddy, Cursor, VS Code, and others.
50%UnverifiedIn VBA mode, VBE Direct Connect Assistant exposes 27 tools to the MCP client, and in Excel operation mode it exposes 11 tools.
50%UnverifiedAfter switching modes with the Switch, already-registered clients need to start a new conversation to load the new tool list, because old conversations cache the old tool inventory.
50%UnverifiedAgent-type tools such as WorkBuddy have no sidebar, but they can connect to the desktop version of VBE Direct Connect Assistant through a custom connector.
50%UnverifiedAll call logs of the desktop version of VBE Direct Connect Assistant can be viewed in "Run Records," which facilitates troubleshooting and auditing.
50%UnverifiedVBE Direct Connect Assistant recently launched a standalone desktop version, solving the problem that the previous VSIX sidebar mode could not be configured in Agent-type editors.
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