README accuracy pass: fix mcp-remote header pattern, add skill install steps

The Desktop config examples showed an inline 'Authorization: Bearer ...' header, which Claude Desktop breaks by splitting args on spaces — replace with the verified env-var pattern (Authorization:${MCP_AUTH_HEADER}, no space). Also: document how the skill is installed/discovered in Claude Code, note the person command in the CLI summary, and correct /health description (it now reports the secret-expiry countdown).

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>

.claude/skills/sharepoint-lists/.env.example

@@ -7,5 +7,10 @@ SP_TENANT_ID=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000
 SP_CLIENT_ID=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000
 SP_CLIENT_SECRET=your-client-secret-value-here
 
+# When the client secret expires (shown in Entra > Certificates & secrets).
+# Optional but recommended: the CLI warns on stderr when <30 days remain,
+# instead of a surprise 401 later.
+# SP_SECRET_EXPIRES=2027-01-01
+
 # Optional: default site so you can omit --site on every command.
 # SP_SITE_URL=https://contoso.sharepoint.com/sites/Marketing

.claude/skills/sharepoint-lists/SKILL.md

@@ -84,6 +84,14 @@ often differ from their display names (a column shown as "Due Date" may be
 [references/graph-api.md](references/graph-api.md) for field-type formats
 (person, lookup, choice, date, etc.) and OData query details.
 
+To write a **person column**, first resolve the person's email to the numeric
+LookupId the column stores, then write `<Column>LookupId`:
+
+```bash
+node scripts/sp.mjs person --site "<SITE_URL>" --email user@domain.com
+# → {"lookupId": 53, ...}; then: --fields '{"ProjectManagerLookupId": 53}'
+```
+
 ## Reading items
 
 ```bash

.claude/skills/sharepoint-lists/references/graph-api.md

@@ -57,10 +57,18 @@ field name is usually `<DisplayInternalName>LookupId`. Getting the right id:
 - **Lookup**: the id is the target list item's `id`. Query the source list to
   find it.
 - **Person**: the id is the user's row id in the site's hidden *User Information
-  List*. This is awkward to obtain via Graph alone; if you need to set people
+  List*. Resolve it by email with the built-in resolver — never guess:
-  fields by email/name often, that's a good reason to add a resolver helper (or
+
-  do it via the SharePoint REST `ensureUser` endpoint). Flag this to the user
+  ```bash
-  rather than guessing an id.
+  node scripts/sp.mjs person --site "<SITE_URL>" --email nashotay@pescoinc.biz
+  # → { "lookupId": 53, "displayName": "Nashota Yazzie", "email": "..." }
+  ```
+
+  Then write `{"ProjectManagerLookupId": 53}`. Limitation: the hidden list only
+  contains people who have accessed the site before. SharePoint's `ensureUser`
+  (which force-adds someone) needs certificate-based app-only auth that client
+  secrets can't provide — so if the resolver reports "not found", grant the
+  person site access (or assign them once in the SharePoint UI), then retry.
 
 If a write returns `400 invalidRequest` or `400 generalException`, the field
 name or one of these value formats is almost always the cause.

.claude/skills/sharepoint-lists/references/setup.md

@@ -26,6 +26,9 @@ On the app's **Overview** page, copy:
 1. App → **Certificates & secrets** → **Client secrets** → **New client secret**.
 2. Set an expiry (e.g. 6–12 months — note when it expires; you'll have to rotate).
 3. Copy the secret **Value** immediately (it's only shown once) → `SP_CLIENT_SECRET`.
+4. Record the expiry date in `.env` as `SP_SECRET_EXPIRES=YYYY-MM-DD` — the CLI
+   and MCP server use it to warn you 30 days ahead instead of failing cold with
+   a 401 (AADSTS7000222) when the secret lapses.
 
 > Certificates are more secure than secrets for production. This skill uses a
 > secret for simplicity; swapping to a certificate is a future enhancement.

.claude/skills/sharepoint-lists/scripts/lib/graph.mjs

@@ -310,6 +310,66 @@ export class SharePointListsClient {
     return true;
   }
 
+  // ---- People -------------------------------------------------------------
+
+  /**
+   * Resolve a person to the numeric LookupId that person/group columns store,
+   * by querying the site's hidden "User Information List" (its item id IS the
+   * LookupId). Write the result to `<Column>LookupId`, e.g.
+   * `{ ProjectManagerLookupId: 53 }`.
+   *
+   * Limitation: the hidden list only contains people who have touched the site
+   * (visited it, been granted access, or been referenced before). SharePoint's
+   * ensureUser endpoint — which force-adds a user — requires certificate-based
+   * app-only auth that client secrets can't provide, so an unknown user must
+   * first be given access to the site (or @-mentioned/assigned once in the UI).
+   *
+   * @param {string} siteId Graph site id (from resolveSiteId).
+   * @param {string} email  The person's email (case-insensitive).
+   * @returns {{ lookupId: number, displayName: string, email: string }}
+   */
+  async resolvePersonByEmail(siteId, email) {
+    const needle = String(email).trim().toLowerCase();
+    if (!needle) throw new Error("An email is required.");
+    const base = `/sites/${siteId}/lists/User%20Information%20List/items`;
+    const headers = { Prefer: "HonorNonIndexedQueriesWarningMayFailRandomly" };
+    const expand = "fields($select=EMail,UserName,Title)";
+    const esc = needle.replace(/'/g, "''");
+
+    // Fast path: server-side filter on EMail, then UserName (some entries only
+    // carry the address there).
+    for (const field of ["EMail", "UserName"]) {
+      try {
+        const data = await this.graph("GET", base, {
+          query: { expand, $filter: `fields/${field} eq '${esc}'` },
+          headers,
+        });
+        if (data.value?.length) return personHit(data.value[0]);
+      } catch {
+        break; // non-indexed filter refused — fall through to the full scan
+      }
+    }
+
+    // Slow path: scan the list (it's small on most sites) and match in code.
+    let data = await this.graph("GET", base, { query: { expand, $top: 200 }, headers });
+    for (;;) {
+      for (const item of data.value) {
+        const f = item.fields ?? {};
+        if ([f.EMail, f.UserName].some((v) => v?.toLowerCase() === needle)) {
+          return personHit(item);
+        }
+      }
+      if (!data["@odata.nextLink"]) break;
+      data = await this.graph("GET", data["@odata.nextLink"], { headers });
+    }
+
+    throw new Error(
+      `No user with email "${email}" in this site's user information list. ` +
+        `They may never have accessed the site — grant them access (or assign ` +
+        `them to any item once in the SharePoint UI), then retry.`,
+    );
+  }
+
   // ---- Convenience --------------------------------------------------------
 
   /** Verify credentials + connectivity. Returns the resolved site (if given). */
@@ -327,6 +387,59 @@ export class SharePointListsClient {
   }
 }
 
+/**
+ * Report how close the app's client secret is to expiring, so consumers can
+ * warn BEFORE auth starts failing with an opaque 401 (AADSTS7000222).
+ *
+ * Azure can't be queried for its own secret's expiry with app-only creds, so
+ * the date is self-reported: set SP_SECRET_EXPIRES=YYYY-MM-DD in .env when you
+ * create/rotate the secret (the Entra portal shows it in Certificates & secrets).
+ *
+ * @param {string} [expiresStr] The configured date; falsy → null (feature unused).
+ * @returns {null | { expiresAt: string, daysLeft: number, level: "ok"|"warning"|"expired", message: string|null }}
+ */
+export function secretExpiryStatus(expiresStr, { warnDays = 30 } = {}) {
+  if (!expiresStr) return null;
+  const exp = new Date(expiresStr);
+  if (Number.isNaN(exp.getTime())) {
+    return {
+      expiresAt: expiresStr,
+      daysLeft: NaN,
+      level: "warning",
+      message: `SP_SECRET_EXPIRES is set but unparseable ("${expiresStr}") — use YYYY-MM-DD.`,
+    };
+  }
+  const daysLeft = Math.floor((exp.getTime() - Date.now()) / 86_400_000);
+  const expiresAt = exp.toISOString().slice(0, 10);
+  if (daysLeft < 0) {
+    return {
+      expiresAt,
+      daysLeft,
+      level: "expired",
+      message: `Client secret EXPIRED ${-daysLeft} day(s) ago (${expiresAt}). Auth will fail with 401 — create a new secret in Entra (Certificates & secrets), update SP_CLIENT_SECRET and SP_SECRET_EXPIRES.`,
+    };
+  }
+  if (daysLeft <= warnDays) {
+    return {
+      expiresAt,
+      daysLeft,
+      level: "warning",
+      message: `Client secret expires in ${daysLeft} day(s) (${expiresAt}) — rotate it soon: new secret in Entra, then update SP_CLIENT_SECRET and SP_SECRET_EXPIRES.`,
+    };
+  }
+  return { expiresAt, daysLeft, level: "ok", message: null };
+}
+
+/** Shape a User Information List item into a person-resolution result. */
+function personHit(item) {
+  const f = item.fields ?? {};
+  return {
+    lookupId: Number(item.id),
+    displayName: f.Title ?? "",
+    email: f.EMail || f.UserName || "",
+  };
+}
+
 /** Flatten the Graph item shape into { id, fields, webUrl, ...meta }. */
 function simplifyItem(item) {
   if (!item) return item;

.claude/skills/sharepoint-lists/scripts/sp.mjs

@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
 import { readFileSync, existsSync } from "node:fs";
 import { dirname, join } from "node:path";
 import { fileURLToPath } from "node:url";
-import { SharePointListsClient, GraphError } from "./lib/graph.mjs";
+import { SharePointListsClient, GraphError, secretExpiryStatus } from "./lib/graph.mjs";
 
 const __dirname = dirname(fileURLToPath(import.meta.url));
 
@@ -57,6 +57,11 @@ async function main() {
     clientSecret: env("SP_CLIENT_SECRET", "AZURE_CLIENT_SECRET"),
   });
 
+  // Nag (on stderr, so stdout stays clean JSON) when the client secret is
+  // close to its self-reported expiry — see secretExpiryStatus in graph.mjs.
+  const expiry = secretExpiryStatus(process.env.SP_SECRET_EXPIRES);
+  if (expiry?.message) process.stderr.write(`⚠ ${expiry.message}\n`);
+
   const site = flags.site || process.env.SP_SITE_URL;
   const needSite = () => {
     if (!site) throw new Error("Missing --site URL (or set SP_SITE_URL).");
@@ -75,6 +80,7 @@ async function main() {
   switch (command) {
     case "test":
       result = await client.test(site);
+      if (expiry) result.secretExpiry = expiry;
       break;
     case "lists":
       result = await client.listLists(await needSite());
@@ -94,6 +100,11 @@ async function main() {
     case "get":
       result = await client.getItem(await needSite(), needList(), needId());
       break;
+    case "person": {
+      if (!flags.email) throw new Error("Missing --email user@domain.com");
+      result = await client.resolvePersonByEmail(await needSite(), flags.email);
+      break;
+    }
     case "create":
       result = await client.createItem(await needSite(), needList(), readFields(flags));
       break;
@@ -181,6 +192,7 @@ Commands:
   columns   --site URL --list NAME_OR_ID              Show column internal names + types
   items     --site URL --list NAME_OR_ID [filters]    Query list items
   get       --site URL --list NAME_OR_ID --id ID      Get one item
+  person    --site URL --email USER@DOMAIN            Resolve a person to the LookupId used by person columns
   create    --site URL --list NAME_OR_ID --fields J   Create an item
   update    --site URL --list NAME_OR_ID --id ID --fields J   Update an item
   delete    --site URL --list NAME_OR_ID --id ID      Delete an item

README.md

@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ The repo ships the same capability in two forms, sharing one core Graph client
 │   ├── SKILL.md                         # how the skill works + usage
 │   ├── .env.example                     # credential template (.env is git-ignored)
 │   ├── scripts/
-│   │   ├── sp.mjs                       # CLI: test|lists|columns|items|get|create|update|delete
+│   │   ├── sp.mjs                       # CLI: test|lists|columns|items|get|person|create|update|delete
 │   │   └── lib/graph.mjs                # shared, dependency-free Graph client (single source of truth)
 │   └── references/
 │       ├── setup.md                     # Azure AD (Entra) app registration walkthrough
@@ -48,6 +48,12 @@ Credentials live only in git-ignored `.env` files — **never commit secrets.**
 
 ## Option A — the skill (Claude Code)
 
+**Install:** clone this repo and open it in Claude Code — skills under
+`.claude/skills/` are discovered automatically at session start (invokable as
+`/sharepoint-lists`). To use the skill in a *different* project, copy the
+`.claude/skills/sharepoint-lists/` folder into that project (or into
+`~/.claude/skills/` to make it available everywhere), then create its `.env`:
+
 ```bash
 cp .claude/skills/sharepoint-lists/.env.example .claude/skills/sharepoint-lists/.env
 # fill in SP_TENANT_ID / SP_CLIENT_ID / SP_CLIENT_SECRET (optionally SP_SITE_URL)
@@ -75,6 +81,7 @@ skill uses, so there is one source of truth.
 | `sharepoint_get_columns` | read | Column internal names + types (call before writing) |
 | `sharepoint_list_items` | read | Query items (filter/select/orderby/top/all) |
 | `sharepoint_get_item` | read | Get one item by id |
+| `sharepoint_resolve_person` | read | Email → the LookupId person columns store (for writes) |
 | `sharepoint_create_item` | write | Create an item |
 | `sharepoint_update_item` | write | Update an item (partial) |
 | `sharepoint_delete_item` | write | Delete an item (irreversible) |
@@ -97,6 +104,7 @@ a containerized/remote deployment **must** use the HTTP transport.
 |---|---|---|
 | `SP_TENANT_ID` / `SP_CLIENT_ID` / `SP_CLIENT_SECRET` | yes | from the app registration |
 | `SP_SITE_URL` | no | default site so tools can omit the `site` argument |
+| `SP_SECRET_EXPIRES` | no | client secret expiry (`YYYY-MM-DD`); warns via CLI/`/health`/`sharepoint_test` when <30 days remain |
 | `SP_READONLY` | no | `true` → read-only tool set |
 | `MCP_AUTH_TOKEN` | HTTP only | shared bearer token required on `/mcp`; empty = unauthenticated |
 | `PORT` | HTTP only | listen port (default 3838) |
@@ -127,7 +135,7 @@ curl -s http://localhost:3838/health        # -> {"ok":true,...}
 The service has `restart: unless-stopped` and a healthcheck. The port publishes on
 all host interfaces; restrict it to a LAN IP in `docker-compose.yml` (or via
 firewall) if desired — the bearer token guards `/mcp` regardless. `/health` is
-intentionally open (liveness only, returns no data).
+intentionally open (liveness + secret-expiry countdown only; no secrets).
 
 Full hosting details: [mcp-server/README.md](mcp-server/README.md).
 
@@ -161,16 +169,19 @@ server automatically.
         "-y", "mcp-remote",
         "http://<host>:3838/mcp",
         "--allow-http",
-        "--header", "Authorization: Bearer ${SP_MCP_TOKEN}"
+        "--header", "Authorization:${MCP_AUTH_HEADER}"
       ],
-      "env": { "SP_MCP_TOKEN": "<your MCP_AUTH_TOKEN>" }
+      "env": { "MCP_AUTH_HEADER": "Bearer <your MCP_AUTH_TOKEN>" }
     }
   }
 }
 ```
 
 `--allow-http` permits a plain-HTTP LAN URL; the token must match the container's
-`MCP_AUTH_TOKEN`. Fully quit and reopen Claude Desktop after editing the config.
+`MCP_AUTH_TOKEN`. Note the header value is passed via the env var (including the
+`Bearer ` prefix) and there is **no space after `Authorization:`** — Claude
+Desktop splits config args on spaces, so an inline `Bearer <token>` breaks.
+Fully quit and reopen Claude Desktop after editing the config.
 
 ---
 

mcp-server/.env.example

@@ -3,6 +3,11 @@ SP_TENANT_ID=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000
 SP_CLIENT_ID=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000
 SP_CLIENT_SECRET=your-client-secret-value-here
 
+# When the client secret expires (shown in Entra > Certificates & secrets).
+# Optional but recommended: the server warns at startup, in /health, and in the
+# sharepoint_test tool when <30 days remain — instead of a surprise 401 later.
+# SP_SECRET_EXPIRES=2027-01-01
+
 # Optional: default site so tools can omit the `site` argument.
 # SP_SITE_URL=https://contoso.sharepoint.com/sites/Marketing
 

mcp-server/README.md

@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ on a different machine.
 | `sharepoint_get_columns` | read | Column internal names + types (call before writing) |
 | `sharepoint_list_items` | read | Query items (filter/select/orderby/top/all) |
 | `sharepoint_get_item` | read | Get one item by id |
+| `sharepoint_resolve_person` | read | Email → the LookupId person columns store (for writes) |
 | `sharepoint_create_item` | write | Create an item |
 | `sharepoint_update_item` | write | Update an item (partial) |
 | `sharepoint_delete_item` | write | Delete an item (irreversible) |
@@ -41,6 +42,7 @@ Credentials come from the environment or `mcp-server/.env` (git-ignored). See
 |---|---|---|
 | `SP_TENANT_ID` / `SP_CLIENT_ID` / `SP_CLIENT_SECRET` | yes | app registration |
 | `SP_SITE_URL` | no | default site so tools can omit `site` |
+| `SP_SECRET_EXPIRES` | no | client secret's expiry date (`YYYY-MM-DD`); warns at startup, in `/health`, and in `sharepoint_test` when <30 days remain |
 | `SP_READONLY` | no | `true` → read-only tool set |
 | `MCP_AUTH_TOKEN` | HTTP only | shared bearer token required on `/mcp`; empty = unauthenticated |
 | `PORT` | HTTP only | listen port (default 3838) |
@@ -89,16 +91,18 @@ Desktop:
         "-y", "mcp-remote",
         "http://192.168.101.12:3838/mcp",
         "--allow-http",
-        "--header", "Authorization: Bearer ${SP_MCP_TOKEN}"
+        "--header", "Authorization:${MCP_AUTH_HEADER}"
       ],
-      "env": { "SP_MCP_TOKEN": "<your MCP_AUTH_TOKEN>" }
+      "env": { "MCP_AUTH_HEADER": "Bearer <your MCP_AUTH_TOKEN>" }
     }
   }
 }
 ```
 
 `--allow-http` permits the plain-HTTP LAN URL (no TLS). The token must match the
-container's `MCP_AUTH_TOKEN`.
+container's `MCP_AUTH_TOKEN`. The header value goes through the env var (with the
+`Bearer ` prefix) and there is **no space after `Authorization:`** — Claude
+Desktop splits config args on spaces, so an inline `Bearer <token>` breaks.
 
 ### Claude Desktop → local stdio (no container)
 
@@ -122,6 +126,7 @@ The repo-root `.mcp.json` registers the local stdio server automatically.
 - App-only auth = the server has full access to the granted SharePoint sites
   with no per-user check. Anyone who can reach an unauthenticated `/mcp` has that
   access — always set `MCP_AUTH_TOKEN` for the HTTP transport.
-- `/health` is intentionally unauthenticated (liveness only; returns no data).
+- `/health` is intentionally unauthenticated (liveness + secret-expiry countdown
+  only; no secrets).
 - Field formats for writes (person/lookup/choice/date) are in
   `../.claude/skills/sharepoint-lists/references/graph-api.md`.

mcp-server/index.mjs

@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ import { McpServer } from "@modelcontextprotocol/sdk/server/mcp.js";
 import { StdioServerTransport } from "@modelcontextprotocol/sdk/server/stdio.js";
 import { StreamableHTTPServerTransport } from "@modelcontextprotocol/sdk/server/streamableHttp.js";
 // Single source of truth — the same client the skill's CLI uses.
-import { SharePointListsClient, GraphError } from "../.claude/skills/sharepoint-lists/scripts/lib/graph.mjs";
+import { SharePointListsClient, GraphError, secretExpiryStatus } from "../.claude/skills/sharepoint-lists/scripts/lib/graph.mjs";
 
 const __dirname = dirname(fileURLToPath(import.meta.url));
 loadDotEnv();
@@ -42,6 +42,15 @@ const client = new SharePointListsClient({
   clientSecret: process.env.SP_CLIENT_SECRET,
 });
 
+// Self-reported client-secret expiry (SP_SECRET_EXPIRES=YYYY-MM-DD) — warn
+// loudly before auth starts failing with an opaque 401. Computed fresh on each
+// use so a long-running container keeps counting down.
+const secretExpiry = () => secretExpiryStatus(process.env.SP_SECRET_EXPIRES);
+{
+  const s = secretExpiry();
+  if (s?.message) console.error(`[sharepoint-lists] ⚠ ${s.message}`);
+}
+
 // ---- helpers --------------------------------------------------------------
 
 const ok = (data) => ({
@@ -97,7 +106,10 @@ function buildServer() {
     },
     async ({ site }) => {
       try {
-        return ok(await client.test(site || process.env.SP_SITE_URL));
+        const result = await client.test(site || process.env.SP_SITE_URL);
+        const s = secretExpiry();
+        if (s) result.secretExpiry = s;
+        return ok(result);
       } catch (e) {
         return fail(e);
       }
@@ -184,6 +196,27 @@ function buildServer() {
     },
   );
 
+  server.registerTool(
+    "sharepoint_resolve_person",
+    {
+      title: "Resolve a person to their LookupId",
+      description:
+        "Look up the numeric LookupId a person/group column stores, by email. Use the result when writing person fields, e.g. fields {\"ProjectManagerLookupId\": 53}. Only finds people who have accessed the site before; if not found, grant them site access first and retry.",
+      inputSchema: {
+        site: SITE,
+        email: z.string().describe("The person's email address (case-insensitive)."),
+      },
+      annotations: { readOnlyHint: true },
+    },
+    async ({ site, email }) => {
+      try {
+        return ok(await client.resolvePersonByEmail(await siteId(site), email));
+      } catch (e) {
+        return fail(e);
+      }
+    },
+  );
+
   if (!READONLY) {
     const FIELDS = z
       .record(z.any())
@@ -277,8 +310,16 @@ async function runHttp() {
     res.status(401).json({ error: "Unauthorized" });
   };
 
-  // Liveness probe (no secrets) — intentionally unauthenticated for healthchecks.
+  // Liveness probe (no secrets — expiry days-left only) — intentionally
-  app.get("/health", (_req, res) => res.json({ ok: true, readonly: READONLY }));
+  // unauthenticated so healthchecks/monitors can watch it.
+  app.get("/health", (_req, res) => {
+    const s = secretExpiry();
+    res.json({
+      ok: true,
+      readonly: READONLY,
+      ...(s ? { secretExpiry: { level: s.level, daysLeft: s.daysLeft, expiresAt: s.expiresAt } } : {}),
+    });
+  });
 
   // Stateless: a fresh server + transport per request.
   app.post("/mcp", requireAuth, async (req, res) => {