PDF.co MCP

How to Install and Use PDF.co MCP

PDF.co MCP is a tool that lets you work with PDFs in many useful ways. It uses the PDF.co API to convert, edit, search, and secure PDF files easily. Below is a simple guide on how to install PDF.co MCP and start using it with some examples of code you can try right away.

Step 1: Get Your API Key

Before installing PDF.co MCP, you need an API key from PDF.co. This key lets you access all the features securely.

• Visit the PDF.co website.
• Sign up for a free account if you don't have one.
• Once logged in, find your API key on the dashboard.
• Keep this key safe—you will need it later.

Step 2: Install UV Packaging Tool

PDF.co MCP uses UV, a fast Python packaging tool. Installing UV is simple and depends on your computer’s system.

• For macOS and Linux:
  Open your terminal and run:

  curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh | sh
  

• For Windows:
  Open PowerShell as Administrator and run:

  powershell -ExecutionPolicy ByPass -c "irm https://astral.sh/uv/install.ps1 | iex"
  

• Alternative Ways
  You can also install UV using Homebrew or Python tools:
  • Homebrew: brew install uv
  • Pipx: pipx install uv
  • Pip: pip install uv

For more options, check the UV installation guide.

Step 3: Set Up the MCP Server

After installing UV, you need to configure PDF.co MCP to run properly.

• Create or open the file .cursor/mcp.json.
• Add this configuration, replacing "YOUR_API_KEY_HERE" with your actual API key:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "pdfco": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["pdfco-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "X_API_KEY": "YOUR_API_KEY_HERE"
      }
    }
  }
}

This setup lets your tools like Cursor IDE or Claude Desktop connect to the MCP server.

Step 4: Running PDF.co MCP and Using Tools

Now your PDF.co MCP is ready! You can use its many features by sending simple commands. Here are some examples:

• Convert PDF to Text:
  This extracts text from a PDF file:

  Convert this PDF file to text: https://example.com/document.pdf
  

• Merge Images into a PDF:
  Combine images as a single PDF document:

  Create a PDF from these images: image1.jpg, image2.png, image3.jpg
  

• Search for Text in PDF:
  Find a specific word inside a PDF:

  Find the word "contract" in this PDF document
  

• Fill PDF Form Fields:
  Fill a form field in a PDF file:

  Fill the name field in this PDF form with "John Doe"
  

Each command you type tells PDF.co MCP what you want to do with your PDF files.

Summary

To get started with PDF.co MCP, simply obtain your API key, install the UV packaging tool, configure the MCP server with your key, and then send commands to process your PDFs. The installation is straightforward, and the tool supports many functions like converting, editing, and searching PDFs. Use the examples above as a quick start to explore what PDF.co MCP can do for you.