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MCP - Connecting Other AI Assistants to Softools Using MCP

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Mark Dyer
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Check: Are you using Claude or Microsoft Copilot Studio?

The following article is for alternative AI Assistants. If you are using Claude or Microsoft Copilot then please follow our dedicated guides:

 

Overview

Softools can connect to compatible AI assistants using Model Context Protocol (MCP), allowing users to retrieve and analyse information from their Softools Apps using natural language.

For AI assistants that are not listed as a dedicated connection option in Softools, App Builders can use Manual / another AI assistant to approve the connection.

This article uses ChatGPT as a worked example, showing how to configure a manual MCP connection, authorise access to Softools and begin asking questions about your data.

Once connected, you can ask questions such as:

  • Which Projects have the highest priority?
  • Which Projects have a Red RAG Status?
  • What Risks or delivery delays need attention?
  • Can you provide links to the relevant Softools Records?

The assistant retrieves information from published MCP-enabled Views, subject to the user's existing Softools permissions.

 

Contents

 

Before You Begin

To connect another AI assistant to Softools, you will need:

  • A compatible AI assistant that supports custom MCP connections and OAuth authentication.
  • App Builder access to Softools to retrieve the MCP server URL.
  • Advanced App Builder permissions to approve the connection.
  • Apps and Views that have been enabled and published for MCP access.

The Softools approval process and the AI assistant configuration may be completed by different people.

Each user subsequently authorises access using their own Softools account.

For guidance on preparing your Apps and Views, see Preparing Softools Apps and Views for MCP.

 

 

Find Your Softools MCP Server URL

The MCP server URL for your workspace is available in Softools App Studio.

  1. Open Softools App Studio.
  2. Select Configure from the left-hand menu.
  3. Open MCP connections.
  4. Locate MCP server URL to paste into your AI assistant.
  5. Copy the URL displayed for your workspace.

You will use this URL when configuring the MCP connection in your AI assistant.

The URL identifies your Softools workspace and allows the assistant to discover the tools exposed through its published MCP-enabled Views.

 

 

Approve a Manual AI Assistant Connection in Softools

Before connecting an AI assistant using the manual method, an Advanced App Builder must approve the client in Softools.

Step 1: Select the Manual Connection Option

  1. Open Softools App Studio > Configure > MCP connections.
  2. Under Which AI assistant do you want to connect?, select Manual / another AI assistant.
  3. Enter a name that identifies the client, such as ChatGPT.
  4. Select Manual public client.

 

Step 2: Enter the Redirect URL

Softools needs a redirect URL to complete the sign-in process. For ChatGPT, use the following URL:

https://chatgpt.com/connector_platform_oauth_redirect

Copy and paste this into the Redirect URL Field in Softools.

If you're connecting a different AI assistant, use the redirect URL specified by that assistant.

 

Step 3: Approve the Client

  1. Review the connection details.
  2. Select Approve client.
  3. Copy the Public Client ID provided by Softools.

You will need the Public Client ID when configuring the connection in ChatGPT.

Important: A Public Client ID identifies the approved application. It is not a client secret and does not provide access to Softools by itself.

Only approve connections and redirect URLs for AI assistants trusted by your organisation.

 

 

Add Softools to ChatGPT

Once the manual client has been approved, you can configure the Softools MCP connection in ChatGPT.

The available connection options depend on your ChatGPT account and interface.

Step 1: Add a Custom MCP Server

  1. Open ChatGPT.
  2. Navigate to Plugins > Add > Add custom MCP server.
  3. Enter a name for the connection, such as Softools.
  4. Paste the MCP server URL copied from Softools App Studio.
  5. Select OAuth as the authentication method.

Step 2: Configure OAuth

Open Advanced OAuth settings and configure the connection using the details supplied by Softools.

  1. Select User-Defined OAuth Client.
  2. Enter the Public Client ID provided when the connection was approved in Softools.
  3. Leave the Client secret blank.
  4. Set the token endpoint authentication method to none.
  5. Use the OAuth discovery settings and scopes returned for the connection.

The scopes may include mcp:read and offline_access.

Save or create the connection.

Note: The Public Client ID and MCP server URL must belong to the same Softools workspace. Do not use connection details from another workspace.

 

 

Authorise Access to Softools

After configuring the MCP connection, ChatGPT will direct you to Softools to authorise access.

  1. Continue to the Softools sign-in page.
  2. Sign in using your normal Softools account.
  3. Review the authorisation request.
  4. Select Allow read access if you recognise and trust the connection.

Once authorised, ChatGPT can retrieve information using the MCP tools available to your Softools account.

The Softools MCP connection is read-only. It does not provide tools for creating, updating or deleting Softools Records.

Your existing Softools permissions continue to determine which information is available to you.

 

 

Using ChatGPT with Softools Data

Once connected, you can ask ChatGPT to retrieve and organise information from your Softools Apps.

For example:

Show the Projects available in Softools, including their RAG Status, Priority and Delivery Date.

ChatGPT can retrieve the relevant Records and present the information in a structured response.

You can then ask follow-up questions such as:

Which Red Projects have the earliest Delivery Dates?

Which Projects have potential delivery delays or resource shortages?

Can you provide links to the relevant Softools Records?

 

 

Understanding the Available MCP Tools

The tools available to ChatGPT depend on the Views published for MCP in Softools.

You can ask:

List the Softools MCP tools currently available, grouped by App.

Depending on the configuration, these may include:

  • Query tools — retrieve and filter Records using structured queries.
  • Search tools — find relevant Records using Data Lens, where enabled.
  • Current Softools User — identify the Softools account associated with the connection.

For example, four MCP-enabled Views with Data Lens enabled can expose four Query tools, four Search tools and the Current Softools User tool.

Listing a tool confirms that it has been discovered, but you should also run a query to confirm that it can retrieve information successfully.

 

 

Query and Data Lens Search

Use Query when you need precise filtering, sorting or a complete list of matching Records.

Query supports pagination, allowing additional Records to be retrieved when the result set is larger than a single response.

Use Data Lens Search when you want to find information based on meaning rather than exact Field values.

For example:

Search my Projects for delivery delays, resource shortages or other significant Risks.

Data Lens can return up to 40 ranked matches, making it useful for identifying relevant information rather than producing an exhaustive list.

 

 

Opening Softools Records

Where a published View includes a Field containing the direct URL of a Softools Record, you can ask ChatGPT to include those links in its response.

This allows users to move from an AI-generated summary directly into the relevant Record in Softools.

For more examples, see Using AI Assistants with Softools Data.

 

 

Refreshing MCP Tools

If an App Builder adds, changes or republishes an MCP-enabled View, the updated tools may not immediately appear in an existing ChatGPT connection.

In some cases, an older tool definition may produce an error such as Unknown or unavailable tool.

To refresh the connection:

  1. Open the Softools connection in ChatGPT's plugin settings.
  2. Refresh or reconnect it using the available controls.
  3. If necessary, remove the custom MCP connection and add it again.
  4. Start a new conversation.
  5. Ask ChatGPT to list the available Softools tools.
  6. Run a Query to confirm that the tools work correctly.

If you reconnect, use the approved connection details and complete Softools authorisation again if prompted.

 

 

Managing and Revoking Access

Advanced App Builders can review and manage approved manual AI assistant connections in Softools.

To revoke a connection:

  1. Open Softools App Studio.
  2. Go to Configure > MCP connections.
  3. Locate the relevant client under Approved AI assistants.
  4. Select Revoke access.

Revoking the approved client also revokes its associated Softools user grants.

This prevents further access through that authorisation, but does not necessarily remove information previously retrieved or processed by the external AI assistant.

Users may also manage their personal connection through the AI assistant's connection settings.

For more information, see Security Considerations When Connecting AI Assistants to Softools.

 

 

Troubleshooting

I cannot find the MCP server URL

Open Softools App Studio > Configure > MCP connections.

The MCP server URL is displayed on this page. Contact an App Builder if you do not have access.

 

The OAuth connection fails

Check that the correct redirect URL and Public Client ID have been entered.

For the manual public-client configuration, ensure the client secret is blank and the token endpoint authentication method is set to none.

Also check the OAuth discovery settings and scopes.

 

ChatGPT cannot connect to the MCP server

Check that the MCP server URL belongs to the correct Softools workspace and that the manual client has been approved.

 

Some Apps are missing

Confirm that the relevant Views have been enabled and published for MCP.

Refresh the connection if the Views were published after the MCP connection was created.

 

A tool is listed but cannot be used

The assistant may be using an outdated tool definition.

Refresh or reconnect the MCP server, start a new conversation and execute a Query.

 

Some Records are missing

Check the published View configuration and the signed-in user's Softools permissions.

For a complete list, use Query with pagination rather than relying on Data Lens Search.

 

ChatGPT returns unexpected information

Check that the relevant Fields are included in the published Views and that their descriptions clearly explain their meaning.

Ask ChatGPT to identify which Records and Fields support its response.

AI-generated recommendations should be reviewed against the underlying Softools information before important decisions are made.

 

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