Datarails AI Connector connects Claude to your Datarails financial data, allowing you to explore tables, run financial analysis, and generate Excel workbooks and PowerPoint presentations using natural language.
This guide walks you through setting up Datarails AI Connector on Claude Desktop for Windows and macOS. It covers both the Datarails connector and the Datarails plugin, using plugin version 3.5.0.
Before you get started: understand the three components
Datarails offers two separate components for Claude. Most users will benefit from installing both, but each can work independently and serves a different purpose.
| Component | What it provides | Where it works |
|---|---|---|
| Datarails AI Connector | Access to your Datarails data, business metrics, and permissions. | Claude chat, Claude Desktop, and claude.ai |
| Datarails plugin | Specialized finance skills and workflows that generate Excel workbooks and PowerPoint presentations. Includes its own Datarails connection. | Claude Code and Claude Cowork |
| Claude for Excel | Explore financial data, analyze performance, generate reports, and work with live Datarails formulas using natural language. | Excel |
If Claude can answer questions about your financial data but the /datarails-financeos: skills are missing, you've installed the connector but not the plugin.
If the skills appear but return no data, the plugin's connection hasn't been authenticated yet.
Prerequisites
Before installing, make sure you have the following:
- A paid Claude plan. For data privacy compliance, a Claude for Work plan (Team or Enterprise) is recommended. Review Anthropic's privacy policy for how each plan handles your data.
- A Datarails user account. Each person signs in as themselves, and Claude can only see the data that user is permitted to see in Datarails.
- Permission from your Claude administrator, if your Claude organization restricts which connectors and plugins members can add.
Installing Git
If Git isn't installed, Claude may display the message "Git is required to add marketplaces."
Windows
- Download and install Git for Windows.
- Follow the installation instructions.
Mac
- Download and install Git for Mac.
- Follow the installation instructions.
Adding the Datarails connector
- In Claude (claude.ai or Claude Desktop), open Customize from the left sidebar, then select Connectors. You can also open Settings and select Connectors under Customize.
- Click in the Search box at the top of the page.
- Type
datarailsin the search box. - Select datarails - the connector by Datarails with the verified badge.
- Click Connect.
Authenticate to Datarails
- A browser window opens on the Datarails sign-in page. Sign in with your Datarails credentials (or your company's single sign-on, if it is set up).
- Select your Datarails environment if prompted, and approve access on the consent screen.
- Return to Claude. The connector now shows Connected.
The connection uses OAuth, so your Datarails password is never stored in Claude. The connector is read-only: it never creates, changes, or deletes data in Datarails.
Set tool permissions
Claude uses a set of Datarails tools to look up tables, run aggregations, and read metrics. You choose whether Claude can use them freely or has to ask you first.
- With the connector open, scroll to Tool permissions.
- Next to Read-only tools, open the menu and choose how Claude may use them. Always allow stops Claude from asking for approval on every data request.
- To set a single tool differently, use the icons on its row: allow, ask for approval, or block.
Can't choose Always allow? Your Claude administrator controls this. Ask your Claude Owner or Admin to open Organization settings > Connectors and set the Datarails connector to Always allow. You can then choose it for yourself.
Turn on Datarails in a chat
- Start a new chat.
- Click + below the message box and select Connectors.
- Make sure the toggle next to datarails is on.
- Ask a question in plain language. A good first question is "What financial data do I have connected in Datarails?"
- The first time Claude uses a Datarails tool, it asks for permission. Select Always allow so Claude can read your tables without asking each time.
Claude lists the data sources connected in your Datarails environment, such as core financials, GL data, and cash and bank balances. From here you can ask follow-up questions, compare actuals to budget, or ask for the analysis as an Excel workbook.
Install the Datarails plugin (optional)
The plugin adds ready-made finance skills and commands, such as financial summaries, budget comparisons, anomaly detection, executive dashboards, and DR.GET workbooks. It runs in Claude Cowork and Claude Code.
From Claude (Cowork)
- Open Customize and select Plugins.
- Search for
datarailsand open Datarails financeos (from Anthropic Directory). - Click Install. When the plugin is installed, the toggle at the top right shows it is turned on.
- Click Try in Cowork to start using it.
Describe what you want in plain language, for example "Give me a financial summary for 2026", and Claude picks the right skill. To run a skill directly, type /datarails-financeos: and press Tab to see the full list. For a list of prompts, visit our Prompt Library.
Troubleshooting
The Datarails connector doesn't appear, or can't be added.
Your Claude organization may restrict connectors. Ask your Claude administrator to allow the Datarails connector. Also confirm with your Datarails Admin that the AI Connector is turned on.
"Authentication Denied" when connecting.
Connecting Datarails to AI platforms is not enabled for your environment or your user. Contact support@datarails.com for assistance.
The sign-in page doesn't open.
Allow pop-ups for Claude, then disconnect and reconnect the connector from Customize > Connectors.
Claude answers data questions, but the Datarails skills are missing.
The connector is working but the plugin is not installed. Complete Step 7, and remember the skills run in Cowork and Claude Code, not in ordinary chat.
The skills appear but return no data.
The plugin's Datarails connection has not been signed in. In Claude Code, run /mcp and sign in to datarails-finance-os. In Cowork, click + > Connectors and connect Datarails.
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