Articles in this section

See more

MCP - Connecting Claude to Softools

Avatar
Mark Dyer
  • Updated
Follow

Overview

Claude can connect to Softools using Model Context Protocol (MCP), allowing you to ask questions about your Softools Apps and Records using natural language.

Once connected, Claude can retrieve and analyse information from published MCP-enabled Views, helping you identify priorities, review Project progress and understand Risks and Actions.

For example, you could ask:

  • Which Projects have a Red RAG Status?
  • What are my highest-priority Projects?
  • Which Projects have the earliest Delivery Dates?
  • What Risks or resource shortages could affect delivery?

Claude retrieves information using your own Softools account, so your existing permissions continue to apply.

This article explains how to add the Softools connector in Claude, authorise access and start asking questions about your data.

 

Contents

 

Before You Begin

To connect Claude to Softools, you will need:

  • A Softools user account.
  • Access to Claude's custom connector functionality.
  • The Softools MCP server URL, available to App Builders in Softools App Studio.
  • Apps and Views that have been enabled and published for MCP access.

An Advanced App Builder must first approve Claude as an AI assistant for your Softools workspace.

If Claude has not yet been approved, see Approving Claude for Softools MCP.

You do not need Advanced App Builder permissions to connect your own account once Claude has been approved.

 

Finding the MCP Server URL

An App Builder can obtain the MCP server URL by opening:

Softools App Studio > Configure > MCP connections

Copy the URL displayed under MCP server URL to paste into your AI assistant.

If you do not have access to App Studio, ask your App Builder to provide the URL.

 

 

Add the Softools Connector in Claude

To add Softools as a connector:

  1. Open Claude.
  2. Go to Customize > Connectors.
  3. Select Add > Add custom connector.
  4. Enter a name for the connector, such as Softools.
  5. Paste the MCP server URL copied from Softools App Studio.
  6. Select Continue.

Claude then displays the connector's authentication options.

When prompted:

  1. Select Sign in now.
  2. Choose Use Claude's published identity.
  3. Select Add to continue.

Using Claude's published identity allows you to connect through the Claude client approved for your Softools workspace.

 

 

Sign In and Allow Read Access

After adding the connector, Claude opens the Softools sign-in process.

  1. Sign in using your normal Softools account.
  2. Review the connection and the access being requested.
  3. Select Allow read access if you recognise and trust the connection.

If a Returning to your AI assistant screen appears, select Continue to return to Claude.

Once authorised, Claude can retrieve information from the MCP-enabled Views available to your Softools account.

 

What Access Does Claude Have?

The Softools MCP connection is read-only.

Claude can retrieve and analyse information from the Apps and Views available to you, but the MCP connection does not provide tools for creating, updating or deleting Softools Records.

The information available depends on:

  • The Views published for MCP.
  • The Fields included in those Views.
  • Your existing Softools permissions.

 

Configure Tool Permissions

Claude may allow you to control how individual MCP tools are used.

Depending on your Claude interface, the available options can include:

  • Allow automatically — Claude can use the tool without asking each time.
  • Ask for permission — Claude requests confirmation before using the tool.
  • Block — Claude cannot use the tool.

For example, you might allow structured Query tools automatically while requiring confirmation before Data Lens searches.

These settings control how Claude uses its available tools. They do not change your permissions in Softools.

Follow your organisation's policies when deciding which tools to allow automatically.

 

 

Ask Questions About Softools Data

Once connected, you can ask Claude to retrieve, organise and analyse information from Softools.

For example:

Show all Projects in Softools with their RAG Status, Priority and Delivery Date. Group Red, Amber and Green separately and sort each group by Delivery Date.

Claude can retrieve the Project Records, group them by Status and present the results in the requested order.

You can then ask follow-up questions such as:

Which Red Projects have the earliest Delivery Dates?

Which Projects are overdue?

What are the biggest delivery Risks across these Projects?

 

 

Working with Multiple Apps

Where related Apps have been published for MCP, Claude can retrieve information from more than one App.

For example, if your organisation has published Projects, Actions and Risks Views, you could ask:

For the highest-priority Project, summarise its outstanding Actions and biggest Risks.

Claude can use the available Project and linked Record information to provide a combined summary.

 

 

Query and Data Lens Search

Depending on the published Views, Claude may have access to two types of tools:

Query retrieves structured information using Fields, filters and sorting. It is suitable for precise questions and complete lists of matching Records, using pagination where required.

Data Lens Search finds relevant information based on meaning rather than exact Field values. It is useful for questions such as:

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

Data Lens returns ranked matches rather than an exhaustive list of all matching Records.

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

 

 

Find Your Own Projects

Softools MCP includes a Current Softools User tool, which allows Claude to identify the Softools account associated with your connection.

This is useful when asking questions about Records assigned to you.

For example:

Show Projects where I am the Project Lead and identify those with Red or Amber RAG Status.

Claude can identify the current Softools user and query the relevant Project Lead Field, provided it is included in the published View.

You can then ask further questions about your Projects without repeatedly entering your name.

For example:

Which of my Projects have the earliest Delivery Dates?

Are there any significant Risks affecting my Projects?

Note: The relevant Person or User Field must be included in the MCP-enabled View for Claude to filter Records using that Field.

 

 

Refresh Available MCP Tools

When an App Builder adds, changes or republishes an MCP-enabled View, Claude may continue using an older set of tool definitions.

If newly published tools are missing or an existing tool is no longer available, refresh the connection.

  1. Open Claude's Connectors settings.
  2. Locate the Softools connector.
  3. Refresh or reconnect it using the options available.
  4. If necessary, remove and re-add the connector using the Softools MCP server URL.
  5. Start a new conversation.

You can then ask:

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

Claude can identify the tools exposed by the published Views.

To confirm that a tool is working, follow this with a simple Query, such as:

Show the first five Projects available in Softools.

Listing a tool confirms that Claude has discovered it. Running a Query confirms that it can retrieve information successfully.

 

 

Managing Your Connection

You can manage your Softools connector through Claude's connector settings.

If you no longer need the connection, you can remove it using the available connector management options.

An Advanced App Builder can also revoke Claude's approval in Softools under:

App Studio > Configure > MCP connections

Revoking the approved client prevents further access through that authorisation and revokes its associated Softools user grants.

It does not necessarily remove information previously retrieved or processed by Claude.

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

 

 

Troubleshooting

I cannot find the Softools MCP server URL

The URL is available in Softools App Studio > Configure > MCP connections.

Ask an App Builder to provide it if you do not have access.

 

Claude cannot connect to Softools

Check that you entered the correct MCP server URL, that Claude has been approved in Softools and that you completed the sign-in process.

 

I cannot complete authentication

Check that you are signing in with the correct Softools account.

If the connection is no longer approved, an Advanced App Builder may need to review it.

 

An App is missing from Claude

Confirm that the relevant View has been enabled and published for MCP.

Refresh the connector if the View was published after your connection was created.

 

Claude reports an unknown or unavailable tool

Claude may be using an outdated tool definition.

Refresh or reconnect the Softools connector and start a new conversation.

 

Claude cannot identify my Projects

Check that the relevant Project Lead or Person Field is included in the published View.

Claude can use Current Softools User to identify your account, but it also needs access to the Field used to identify the Records assigned to you.

 

Search results appear incomplete

Data Lens Search returns ranked matches rather than every matching Record.

For complete lists, ask Claude to use a structured Query and retrieve additional pages where necessary.

 

Claude returns unexpected priorities or recommendations

Review the underlying Softools Records and check that the published Fields have clear descriptions.

For example, a Priority Field should explain whether Level 1 or Level 5 represents the highest priority.

Ask Claude to identify the Records and Fields used to support its conclusions.

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

 

Related Articles

Comments

0 comments

Article is closed for comments.