|
| 1 | +--- |
| 2 | +title: Creating and sharing documents with the PandaDoc MCP Server |
| 3 | +description: Connect PandaDoc to Claude Desktop to generate professional documents from templates using natural language commands. |
| 4 | +--- |
| 5 | + |
| 6 | +PandaDoc is a document automation platform that helps users create professional documents from templates. |
| 7 | + |
| 8 | +Using the PandaDoc MCP Server, you can create and populate professional documents through Claude Desktop, generating contracts, proposals, and reports by describing what you need in natural language. |
| 9 | + |
| 10 | + |
| 11 | + |
| 12 | +This guide shows you how to connect the PandaDoc MCP Server to Claude Desktop. |
| 13 | + |
| 14 | +## Prerequisites |
| 15 | + |
| 16 | +- A [PandaDoc account](https://www.pandadoc.com/) |
| 17 | +- [Claude Desktop](https://claude.ai/download) |
| 18 | + |
| 19 | +## Creating a PandaDoc template |
| 20 | + |
| 21 | +PandaDoc creates documents from templates, so you'll need a template that Claude can populate with your content. |
| 22 | + |
| 23 | +In the PandaDoc dashboard, click **Templates** in the sidebar, then **+ Template** (or **Other Template Type**, if you're using a new account). |
| 24 | + |
| 25 | + |
| 26 | + |
| 27 | +Select **Blank Template**. |
| 28 | + |
| 29 | + |
| 30 | + |
| 31 | +Double-click the template name in the top-left corner and rename the template "Progress Report Template". This will make it easy to reference the template when you ask Claude to create the document using PandaDoc. |
| 32 | + |
| 33 | + |
| 34 | + |
| 35 | +Click **Create document**. |
| 36 | + |
| 37 | +## Retrieving the PandaDoc API key |
| 38 | + |
| 39 | +In the PandaDoc dashboard, navigate to **Settings → API and Integrations**. Scroll down and click **API** under **API and Webhooks**. |
| 40 | + |
| 41 | + |
| 42 | + |
| 43 | +On the API configuration page that opens, you can view the Sandbox and Production keys. Click **Generate** to create a Sandbox key, then copy the key and save it. You'll need it for the Claude Desktop configuration. |
| 44 | + |
| 45 | + |
| 46 | + |
| 47 | +## Connecting the PandaDoc MCP Server |
| 48 | + |
| 49 | +Now add the PandaDoc MCP Server to the Claude Desktop configuration. |
| 50 | + |
| 51 | +In Claude Desktop, go to **Settings** → **Developer** → **Edit Config**. |
| 52 | + |
| 53 | + |
| 54 | + |
| 55 | +Add the PandaDoc configuration to the `claude_desktop_config.json` file that opens: |
| 56 | + |
| 57 | +```json |
| 58 | +{ |
| 59 | + "mcpServers": { |
| 60 | + "pandadoc": { |
| 61 | + "command": "npx", |
| 62 | + "args": [ |
| 63 | + "mcp-remote", |
| 64 | + "https://developers.pandadoc.com/mcp", |
| 65 | + "--header", |
| 66 | + "Authorization: API-Key ${AUTH_TOKEN}" |
| 67 | + ], |
| 68 | + "env": { |
| 69 | + "AUTH_TOKEN": "YOUR_SANDBOX_KEY" |
| 70 | + } |
| 71 | + } |
| 72 | + } |
| 73 | +} |
| 74 | +``` |
| 75 | + |
| 76 | +Replace `YOUR_SANDBOX_KEY` with the sandbox key you copied from PandaDoc. |
| 77 | + |
| 78 | +Restart Claude Desktop. |
| 79 | + |
| 80 | +## Configuring Claude for optimal PandaDoc integration |
| 81 | + |
| 82 | +Update your response preferences in Claude Desktop to ensure Claude works effectively with PandaDoc templates. |
| 83 | + |
| 84 | +Go to **Settings** → **Profile** and add the following instructions to your response preferences: |
| 85 | + |
| 86 | +```txt |
| 87 | +When working with the PandaDoc MCP Server: |
| 88 | +- Always create text fields with specific merge_field names when populating templates |
| 89 | +- Use the pattern: "Add a text field with merge_field name '[field_name]'" |
| 90 | +- Include verification: "Check that the document is filled, otherwise make sure" |
| 91 | +- Specify content length for better generation (e.g., "50-word report") |
| 92 | +``` |
| 93 | + |
| 94 | + |
| 95 | + |
| 96 | + |
| 97 | + |
| 98 | +## Testing the connection |
| 99 | + |
| 100 | +Test the connection by asking Claude to find your PandaDoc template: |
| 101 | + |
| 102 | +```txt |
| 103 | +Confirm the Progress Report template exists using the PandaDoc MCP server. |
| 104 | +``` |
| 105 | + |
| 106 | + |
| 107 | + |
| 108 | +## Generating and sharing a document |
| 109 | + |
| 110 | +Now ask Claude to generate a short scrum report, and create and share the document using PandaDoc: |
| 111 | + |
| 112 | +```txt |
| 113 | +Before starting this task, first review my PandaDoc preferences and confirm you understand them. Then create a short scrum report and create a document in PandaDoc with the Progress Report template following my documented approach. Finally, publish and share the document with an_email_address_com. |
| 114 | +``` |
| 115 | + |
| 116 | + |
| 117 | + |
| 118 | +Claude will generate sample report content, populate your template, create the document in PandaDoc, and share it with the specified email address. |
| 119 | + |
| 120 | + |
| 121 | + |
| 122 | +In a real-world scenario, you could provide the report content as part of the prompt, include a context document containing the data, or have Claude pull the information from another MCP server. |
| 123 | + |
| 124 | + |
| 125 | + |
| 126 | +## Conclusion |
| 127 | + |
| 128 | +Now that you can generate documents in Claude Desktop using the PandaDoc MCP Server, try combining this functionality with other MCP servers. For example, you could use [Slack conversations](/mcp/using-mcp/slack-claude-quickstart) to automatically generate project reports or client updates with PandaDoc. |
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