bilig

AnythingLLM WorkPaper MCP setup

Use this when an AnythingLLM agent needs spreadsheet-shaped business logic, but the formula state should live behind explicit WorkPaper tools instead of Excel UI automation, browser grid clicks, or stale XLSX cached values.

AnythingLLM loads MCP servers from plugins/anythingllm_mcp_servers.json in the AnythingLLM storage directory. Its MCP integration exposes tools to agents; it does not expose MCP Resources, Prompts, or Sampling.

Official AnythingLLM references:

Fastest smoke test: hosted Streamable HTTP

Use this when you only need to prove that AnythingLLM can discover and call the Bilig WorkPaper tools.

Edit plugins/anythingllm_mcp_servers.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "bilig-workpaper": {
      "type": "streamable",
      "url": "https://bilig.proompteng.ai/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Then open Agent Skills and refresh MCP servers, or invoke the agent so AnythingLLM starts the configured server. The hosted endpoint is stateless and request-local. It proves tool discovery and formula readback, but it does not persist a private project file.

Persistent Desktop WorkPaper: stdio

Use this in AnythingLLM Desktop when the WorkPaper JSON file should live on the host machine and survive across turns.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "bilig-workpaper-local": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "--package",
        "@bilig/workpaper@latest",
        "bilig-workpaper-mcp",
        "--workpaper",
        "./pricing.workpaper.json",
        "--init-demo-workpaper",
        "--writable"
      ]
    }
  }
}

--init-demo-workpaper creates the demo file only when it is missing. --writable persists tool writes back to the same WorkPaper JSON file.

AnythingLLM Desktop runs MCP commands on the host machine. Make sure npx works from a normal terminal before refreshing Agent Skills.

Persistent Docker WorkPaper: stdio

Use this when AnythingLLM runs in Docker and the WorkPaper file should persist inside AnythingLLM storage. AnythingLLM documents that Docker MCP servers can use paths under /app/server/storage/..., which map back to the host STORAGE_LOCATION.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "bilig-workpaper-docker": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "--package",
        "@bilig/workpaper@latest",
        "bilig-workpaper-mcp",
        "--workpaper",
        "/app/server/storage/workpapers/pricing.workpaper.json",
        "--init-demo-workpaper",
        "--writable"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Create the workpapers directory under the same host STORAGE_LOCATION that AnythingLLM mounts for /app/server/storage.

If startup cost matters, keep the MCP server enabled but opt out of automatic startup until the agent needs workbook tools:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "bilig-workpaper-docker": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "--package",
        "@bilig/workpaper@latest",
        "bilig-workpaper-mcp",
        "--workpaper",
        "/app/server/storage/workpapers/pricing.workpaper.json",
        "--init-demo-workpaper",
        "--writable"
      ],
      "anythingllm": {
        "autoStart": false
      }
    }
  }
}

Proof prompt

After refreshing Agent Skills, ask in an agent-enabled thread:

@agent Use the Bilig WorkPaper MCP tools. List the tools, read the sample sheets,
set Inputs!B3 to 0.4, read Summary!B3, export the WorkPaper document, and return
editedCell, before, after, afterRestore, persistedDocumentBytes, verified, and
limitations.

The Bilig server exposes these tools:

list_sheets
read_range
read_cell
set_cell_contents
get_cell_display_value
export_workpaper_document
validate_formula

Before wiring it into AnythingLLM, you can prove the same local MCP contract from a terminal:

npx -y --package @bilig/workpaper@latest bilig-mcp-challenge --json

Expected proof fields include:

{
  "transport": "stdio-json-rpc",
  "editedCell": "Inputs!B3",
  "dependentCell": "Summary!B3",
  "before": 60000,
  "after": 96000,
  "afterRestart": 96000,
  "verified": true
}

verified should only be true after the dependent formula output is read back and the persisted document can be restored.

Boundaries

AnythingLLM MCP exposes tools only. Do not rely on MCP Resources, Prompts, or Sampling for this integration.
Hosted Streamable HTTP is stateless. Use Desktop or Docker stdio for private writable WorkPaper files.
Desktop paths are host paths. Docker paths should live under /app/server/storage/... when the file must persist through the mounted storage directory.
Keep Excel or another workbook oracle in the loop for macros, pivots, charts, external links, and layout fidelity.

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