simplify the format of data in batch read and write function to list of lists (#16)

src/excel_mcp/data.py

@@ -51,8 +51,14 @@ def read_excel_range(
             except ValueError as e:
                 raise DataError(f"Invalid end cell format: {str(e)}")
         else:
-            # For single cell, use same coordinates
+            # Dynamically expand range until all values are empty
             end_row, end_col = start_row, start_col
+            while end_row <= ws.max_row and any(ws.cell(row=end_row, column=c).value is not None for c in range(start_col, ws.max_column + 1)):
+                end_row += 1
+            while end_col <= ws.max_column and any(ws.cell(row=r, column=end_col).value is not None for r in range(start_row, ws.max_row + 1)):
+                end_col += 1
+            end_row -= 1  # Adjust back to last non-empty row
+            end_col -= 1  # Adjust back to last non-empty column
 
         # Validate range bounds
         if start_row > ws.max_row or start_col > ws.max_column:
@@ -62,31 +68,13 @@ def read_excel_range(
             )
 
         data = []
-        # If it's a single cell or single row, just read the values directly
-        if start_row == end_row:
-            row_data = {}
+        for row in range(start_row, end_row + 1):
+            row_data = []
             for col in range(start_col, end_col + 1):
-                cell = ws.cell(row=start_row, column=col)
-                col_name = f"Column_{col}"
-                row_data[col_name] = cell.value
-            if any(v is not None for v in row_data.values()):
+                cell = ws.cell(row=row, column=col)
+                row_data.append(cell.value)
+            if any(v is not None for v in row_data):
                 data.append(row_data)
-        else:
-            # Multiple rows - use header row
-            headers = []
-            for col in range(start_col, end_col + 1):
-                cell_value = ws.cell(row=start_row, column=col).value
-                headers.append(str(cell_value) if cell_value is not None else f"Column_{col}")
-
-            # Get data rows
-            max_rows = min(start_row + 5, end_row) if preview_only else end_row
-            for row in range(start_row + 1, max_rows + 1):
-                row_data = {}
-                for col, header in enumerate(headers, start=start_col):
-                    cell = ws.cell(row=row, column=col)
-                    row_data[header] = cell.value
-                if any(v is not None for v in row_data.values()):
-                    data.append(row_data)
 
         wb.close()
         return data
@@ -100,7 +88,7 @@ def read_excel_range(
 def write_data(
     filepath: str,
     sheet_name: str | None,
-    data: list[dict[str, Any]] | None,
+    data: list[list] | None,
     start_cell: str = "A1",
 ) -> dict[str, str]:
     """Write data to Excel sheet with workbook handling
@@ -230,7 +218,7 @@ def _determine_header_behavior(worksheet, start_row, start_col, data):
 
 def _write_data_to_worksheet(
     worksheet: Worksheet, 
-    data: list[dict[str, Any]], 
+    data: list[list], 
     start_cell: str = "A1",
 ) -> None:
     """Write data to worksheet with intelligent header handling"""
@@ -246,46 +234,10 @@ def _write_data_to_worksheet(
         except ValueError as e:
             raise DataError(f"Invalid start cell format: {str(e)}")
 
-        # Validate data structure
-        if not all(isinstance(row, dict) for row in data):
-            raise DataError("All data rows must be dictionaries")
-
-        # Get headers from first data row's keys
-        headers = list(data[0].keys())
-        
-        # Check if first row appears to be headers (keys match values)
-        first_row_is_headers = _looks_like_headers(data[0])
-        
-        # Determine if we should write headers based on context
-        should_write_headers = _determine_header_behavior(
-            worksheet, start_row, start_col, data
-        )
-        
-        # Determine what data to write
-        actual_data = data
-        
-        # Only skip the first row if it contains headers AND we're writing headers
-        if first_row_is_headers and should_write_headers:
-            actual_data = data[1:]
-        elif first_row_is_headers and not should_write_headers:
-            actual_data = data
-        
-        # Write headers if needed
-        current_row = start_row
-        if should_write_headers:
-            for i, header in enumerate(headers):
-                cell = worksheet.cell(row=current_row, column=start_col + i)
-                cell.value = header
-                cell.font = Font(bold=True)
-            current_row += 1  # Move down after writing headers
-        
-        # Write actual data
-        for i, row_dict in enumerate(actual_data):
-            if not all(h in row_dict for h in headers):
-                raise DataError(f"Row {i+1} is missing required headers")
-            for j, header in enumerate(headers):
-                cell = worksheet.cell(row=current_row + i, column=start_col + j)
-                cell.value = row_dict.get(header, "")
+        # Write data
+        for i, row in enumerate(data):
+            for j, val in enumerate(row):
+                worksheet.cell(row=start_row + i, column=start_col + j, value=val)
     except DataError as e:
         logger.error(str(e))
         raise

src/excel_mcp/server.py

@@ -91,7 +91,10 @@ def apply_formula(
     cell: str,
     formula: str,
 ) -> str:
-    """Apply Excel formula to cell."""
+    """
+    Apply Excel formula to cell.
+    Excel formula will write to cell with verification.
+    """
     try:
         full_path = get_excel_path(filepath)
         # First validate the formula
@@ -188,7 +191,12 @@ def read_data_from_excel(
     end_cell: str = None,
     preview_only: bool = False
 ) -> str:
-    """Read data from Excel worksheet."""
+    """
+    Read data from Excel worksheet.
+    
+    Returns:  
+    Data from Excel worksheet as json string. list of lists or empty list if no data found. sublists are assumed to be rows.
+    """
     try:
         full_path = get_excel_path(filepath)
         from excel_mcp.data import read_excel_range
@@ -206,16 +214,19 @@ def read_data_from_excel(
 def write_data_to_excel(
     filepath: str,
     sheet_name: str,
-    data: List[Dict],
+    data: List[List],
     start_cell: str = "A1",
 ) -> str:
-    """Write data to Excel worksheet.
-    
-    The function automatically detects the context and handles headers intelligently:
-    - Headers are added when writing to a new area
-    - Headers are not duplicated when writing below existing headers
-    - Title areas (rows 1-4) are treated specially
-    - If the first row of data appears to be headers, it will be used accordingly
+    """
+    Write data to Excel worksheet.
+    Excel formula will write to cell without any verification.
+
+    PARAMETERS:  
+    filepath: Path to Excel file
+    sheet_name: Name of worksheet to write to
+    data: List of lists containing data to write to the worksheet, sublists are assumed to be rows
+    start_cell: Cell to start writing to, default is "A1"
+  
     """
     try:
         full_path = get_excel_path(filepath)

uv.lock

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 version = 1
+revision = 1
 requires-python = ">=3.10"
 
 [[package]]
@@ -66,7 +67,7 @@ wheels = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "excel-mcp-server"
-version = "0.1.0"
+version = "0.1.1"
 source = { editable = "." }
 dependencies = [
     { name = "mcp", extra = ["cli"] },