Docgen MCP Server

Render HTML/markdown to PDF, export rows to xlsx, and fill AcroForm PDFs.

Local serverstdio

What is the Docgen MCP server?

Most developer tooling work still happens through a UI a human drives. Docgen MCP server moves it into the conversation instead. Render HTML/markdown to PDF, export rows to xlsx, and fill AcroForm PDFs.

The short version

Getting it running

Setup follows the usual MCP pattern — install or clone the server, register it in your client's configuration file, restart the client. The configuration blocks on this page cover the common clients.

The tools it exposes

The server publishes 6 tools. What each one is for:

  • docgen_render_pdf — Render HTML, markdown, or a {{key}} template + data object to a downloadable PDF
  • docgen_export_spreadsheet — Render one or more named worksheets of row objects to a downloadable .xlsx workbook
  • docgen_fill_form — Fill the AcroForm fields of a supplied PDF (base64 or https URL) and optionally flatten it
  • docgen_get_document — Re-fetch a previously rendered document by the id a render/export/fill tool returned
  • Prerequisites — The Prerequisites tool exposed by this server
  • Installation — The Installation tool exposed by this server

What it needs from you

Configuration is passed through the environment: MCP_TRANSPORT_TYPE, MCP_LOG_LEVEL, MCP_PUBLIC_URL. Treat anything key-shaped as a real credential — scope it to the minimum the server needs, and rotate it if it ever lands in a shared config.

Things to watch

  • It runs with your machine's permissions. That is convenient and also the reason to think about what you point it at before you approve a tool call.
  • Missing credentials fail quietly in some clients — if no tools show up, check the environment block first.
  • Keep per-call confirmation enabled while you learn its behaviour; it is the cheapest safeguard you have.

How it compares

Among the developer tooling options, the useful question is rarely "what can it do" but "what does it cost you to run" — permissions, credentials, and how much of your context its toolset consumes. Docgen's toolset — docgen_render_pdf, docgen_export_spreadsheet, docgen_fill_form and 3 more — is a fair guide to whether it matches your workflow. It is maintained by cyanheads; worth a glance at recent repository activity before you build anything load-bearing on it.

This entry was verified against Docgen's own documentation before publication; SyncDev keeps the directory reviewed rather than auto-generated.

Available tools

ToolWhat it does
docgen_render_pdfRender HTML, markdown, or a {{key}} template + data object to a downloadable PDF.
docgen_export_spreadsheetRender one or more named worksheets of row objects to a downloadable .xlsx workbook.
docgen_fill_formFill the AcroForm fields of a supplied PDF (base64 or https URL) and optionally flatten it.
docgen_get_documentRe-fetch a previously rendered document by the id a render/export/fill tool returned.
PrerequisitesThe Prerequisites tool exposed by this server.
InstallationThe Installation tool exposed by this server.

How to install the Docgen MCP server

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "docgen-mcp-server": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "bunx",
      "args": ["@cyanheads/docgen-mcp-server@latest"],
      "env": {
        "MCP_TRANSPORT_TYPE": "stdio",
        "MCP_LOG_LEVEL": "info"
      }
    }
  }
}

Configuration as documented by the project. Restart the client after saving.

Configuration

VariableDescriptionRequired
MCP_TRANSPORT_TYPEConfiguration value read at startup.Optional
MCP_LOG_LEVELConfiguration value read at startup.Optional
MCP_PUBLIC_URLEndpoint or connection string the server talks to.Yes

Example prompts to try

  • Use Docgen to docgen render pdf.
  • Use Docgen to docgen export spreadsheet.
  • Use Docgen to docgen fill form.

Frequently asked questions

It connects Docgen to MCP-compatible AI assistants such as Claude and Cursor, exposing 6 tools (docgen_render_pdf, docgen_export_spreadsheet, docgen_fill_form, and more) that the assistant can call on your behalf. Instead of copying data back and forth by hand, the assistant works with Docgen directly.