Set up GoCalc in three steps

Install GoCalc, add Python for Python templates, then connect an AI tool. You need Windows 10 or 11 and desktop Microsoft Excel.

  1. 01GoCalc
  2. 02Python
  3. 03AI tool
01
Step one

Download and install GoCalc

A Windows app that runs beside Excel. It installs for your Windows account only, needs no admin rights, and updates itself.

GoCalc
Latest version · Windows 10 / 11
Sign in to download Create free account
  1. Unblock the zip. Right-click the downloaded zip › Properties, tick Unblock if it's shown, then OK. Windows marks downloaded files as blocked otherwise.
  2. Extract it. Right-click the zip › Extract All.
  3. Run the installer. In the extracted folder, double-click Install GoCalc.cmd. It copies GoCalc to %LOCALAPPDATA%\Programs\GoCalc and adds Start menu and desktop shortcuts.
  4. Start GoCalc with Excel open. It attaches to your Excel by itself, and the Start page shows the template library.
Updates GoCalc checks for a new version 2 minutes after it starts and then every 4 hours. When one is ready, the status bar offers to restart and install it.
02
Step two

Install Python

Needed for Python templates, CalcPy and Process macros. Excel templates run without it.

  1. Download Python 3 for Windows from python.org. Use the python.org installer: GoCalc doesn't use the Microsoft Store version.
    python.org downloads ↗
  2. Run the installer. Tick Add python.exe to PATH on the first screen, then click Install Now.
  3. Install the packages the library's templates use. Open PowerShell and run:
    py -m pip install numpy matplotlib
    You can also install packages later from the pip button in GoCalc's Python pane.
  4. That's it. GoCalc finds the newest Python installed on your PC by itself. To use a different one, set its path in Option.
03
Step three

Connect an AI tool

Let an AI agent read your tables, run templates and calculations, and open the reports, through GoCalc's built-in MCP server.

  1. Install an AI tool. Any of these works; GoCalc sets up each one it finds.
    Claude Code ↗ Anthropic's coding agent, in a terminal or VS Code. Install it from PowerShell: irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex
    VS Code + GitHub Copilot ↗ Install VS Code, sign in to GitHub Copilot, and use Copilot Chat in agent mode.
    OpenAI Codex ↗ OpenAI's coding agent, as the Codex app or the Codex CLI.
  2. Turn on AI agents in GoCalc. Open Option › AI agents and choose Read & calculate, or Read, calculate, change & save to let the agent also write cells and save workbooks. It's Off until you choose.
  3. Click AI.Agent on GoCalc's toolbar. GoCalc registers its MCP server, gocalc-desktop, with every AI tool it finds, together with a short guide to its tools.
  4. Start a new session in your AI tool and ask it something, for example:
    agent → gocalc-desktop
    Check that GoCalc is running and list the templates in the library.
    Run the RC beam template for an 8 m span and show me the report.
Installed an AI tool later? Click AI.Agent again and GoCalc sets that one up too. Agent runs show in GoCalc's usual progress windows, labelled "Started by AI agent".