Connect Claude to your Datarails environment and bring AI-powered financial analysis directly into Excel. With Datarails AI Connector, you can explore financial data, analyze performance, generate reports, and work with live Datarails formulas using natural language. Compatible with Excel for Windows, macOS, and the web.
Install the Claude add-in
- Open Excel.
- Navigate to Home > Add-ins in the ribbon.
- Search for Claude in the Microsoft Add-ins store.
- Select Claude by Anthropic and click Install.
- Once installed, the Claude button will appear in your Excel ribbon. Click it to open the sidebar.
- Sign in using your Claude account.
You should now see the Claude sidebar within Excel.
Add the Datarails plugin
Next, add the Datarails plugin to Claude. This enables Claude to access your Datarails financial data and use specialized finance skills. The plugin is available through the Claude plugin directory, so you don't need to enter a custom URL.
- Visit claude.ai and sign in using the same Claude account you used in Step 1.
- Click Customize > Plugins.
- Search for Datarails.
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Select Datarails FinanceOS, the listing with the verified badge.
Avoid results labeled Custom. These are internal development builds and aren't intended for customer use.
- Click Add.
- Open the Datarails FinanceOS plugin and navigate to Connectors.
- Select the Datarails connector and click Connect.
- Complete the authentication process using your Datarails credentials.
Verify your connection in Excel
Now confirm that Claude can access the Datarails plugin.
- Return to Excel and open the Claude sidebar.
- Click the + button.
- Select Plugins.
- Confirm that Datarails FinanceOS appears in the list.
Optional: Set the tool permission to Always allow so Claude doesn't prompt you for approval on every data request. If this option isn't available, your Claude administrator may have restricted it.
First things to try
Start with a few simple prompts in the Claude sidebar to verify your connection and explore what's possible.
| Try this prompt | What you'll get |
| "What Datarails tables do I have access to?" | A list of available tables to confirm your connection is working. |
| "What business metrics are defined in my Datarails account?" | An overview of the KPIs your organization has configured. |
| "Show me revenue by department for the last full quarter." | A financial breakdown by department. |
| "Pull actuals versus budget by month for this fiscal year and write it into a new sheet." | A monthly variance analysis in a new Excel worksheet. |
Tip: Be specific when writing prompts. Include the dimensions, time periods, and scenarios you want to analyze, such as "by department," "Q1 2026," or "Actuals vs. Budget." Also specify where you want the results to appear in your workbook.
Excel Add-In Agent
Claude can do more than answer questions about your financial data. It can interact directly with the workbook you have open.
This is where the Datarails Excel Add-In Agent comes in. It works alongside Datarails AI Connector to help you refresh data, drill into numbers, create formulas, and build complete financial reports without leaving Excel. Think of it this way: the connector answers questions; the agent takes action.
Claude determines which capability to use based on your request. Questions about your financial data use the connector, while requests to refresh, drill into, or write information to your workbook use the Excel Add-In Agent.
Add-In Agent Actions
Claude for Excel puts Claude in a sidebar inside Excel. Connecting Datarails Excel Add-In lets it read your live financial data while you work in the workbook. The agent can perform a range of actions directly within your open workbook.
| Action | What it can do |
| Refresh financial data |
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| Drill into financial results |
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| Create and evaluate Datarails formulas |
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| Build dynamic financial reports |
Ask Claude to create a complete financial report from scratch. The agent can:
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| Customize your reports |
The agent can also build additional functionality into your reports, including:
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| Connect and submit files | The agent can also help you connect and submit files to Datarails. |
First things to try
Open a workbook containing Datarails formulas, or a blank workbook with the Datarails Add-In connected, and try these prompts.
| Try this prompt | What it does |
| "Refresh this report and tell me which three cost centers have the biggest variance to budget in March." | Refreshes the report and identifies the largest variances. |
| "Drill down on this cell and show me what's behind it." | Retrieves the underlying transactions for a selected cell. |
| "Break this cell down by Account Name and tell me which accounts explain the gap." | Analyzes the components of a financial variance. |
| "Write a two-line variance commentary next to each of the three biggest variances in the sheet." | Adds commentary directly to your worksheet. |
| "Build a departmental operating expense report in this workbook for January to July 2026, by cost center, showing Actual vs. Budget with variance and variance %. Use live Datarails data." | Creates a dynamic financial report using live Datarails formulas. |
Tip: Use the exact scenario names configured in your organization. For example, if your budget data lives in a Forecast scenario or a specific version, specify that in your prompt. Otherwise, the Budget column may include more data than you intended.
Troubleshooting
Datarails doesn't appear in the Claude panel after connecting
You've added the plugin, but Datarails doesn't appear in the plugin list in Claude for Excel.
How to fix it:
- Close and reopen the Claude for Excel add-in.
- Click + > Plugins in the Claude sidebar.
- Confirm that Datarails FinanceOS appears in the list.
- If it still doesn't appear, verify that you're signed in to Excel with the same Claude account you used to add the plugin.
Several Datarails entries appear in the plugin directory
Searching for Datarails returns multiple results.
How to fix it:
Select Datarails FinanceOS, the entry with the verified badge. Avoid entries labeled Custom, which are internal development builds and aren't intended for customer use.
Your organization hasn't enabled the plugin
The Datarails plugin doesn't appear or can't be added because your Claude organization restricts which plugins are available.
How to fix it:
Ask your Claude administrator to enable the Datarails plugin for your organization.
Authentication fails or the login page doesn't load
What's happening?
Clicking Connect doesn't open the authentication page, or the page fails to load.
How to fix it:
- Allow pop-ups in your browser.
- Confirm that you have an active Datarails license.
- Disconnect and reconnect the Datarails connector through the plugin.
- If the problem persists, clear your browser cache and try again.
I receive an "Authentication Denied" message
What's happening?
Connecting returns the following message:
"Authentication Denied: It seems like you are not permitted to use this tool. Please reach out to your CSM for more details."
How to fix it:
Contact your support@datarails.com to confirm that connecting Datarails to AI platforms is enabled for your environment and user account.
The connector is connected, but Claude can't find my data
The Datarails plugin is installed and connected, but Claude can't find your tables or financial values.
How to fix it:
- Confirm that AI Connector is enabled in your Datarails environment. Contact your CSM if you're unsure.
- Verify that your Datarails user has permission to access the data you're requesting.
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Test the connection independently of your original question by asking:
"What Datarails tables do I have access to?"
Remember, your existing Datarails permissions apply when using AI Connector.
Requests time out when analyzing large amounts of data
What's happening?
A request starts but times out or returns only partial results.
How to fix it:
Narrow your request using filters, such as a single department or a shorter date range.
Very large aggregations may be truncated rather than returned in full. Breaking your request into smaller analyses can help you get more complete results.
Claude returns numbers but doesn't refresh or write to my workbook
What's happening?
Claude answers using the connector but doesn't take action in your workbook, or reports that it can't reach the Datarails Add-In.
How to fix it:
- Confirm that the Datarails Add-In is signed in. Check the Datarails tab in the Excel ribbon.
- Verify that the add-in is signed in using the same Datarails user account as the connector in the plugin.
- If you're using the desktop add-in, update it to the latest version.
- If everything is configured correctly, contact your CSM to confirm that the Excel Add-In Agent is enabled for your organization.
Claude says the Datarails Add-In isn't responding
What's happening?
Claude reports that it can't communicate with the Datarails Add-In or that the add-in isn't responding to requests.
How to fix it:
- Excel for the web: Close and reopen the Datarails task pane.
- Excel desktop: Confirm that the Datarails Add-In is enabled and that Excel isn't waiting for an open dialog or confirmation window.
Once you've completed these steps, ask Claude to retry the request.
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