How to Use the HotDocs MCP in Cline

Q: How do I track which documents were generated today?

Tell the agent to run listworkitemsbydate with today's ISO 8601 date. It returns an audit log of every session started or completed.

Q: What if I need to update an existing HotDocs interview session using Cline?

The agent uses the getworkitem tool to pull the current state. It then injects new data via XML and finalizes the job.

Build custom document generation workflows inside VS Code by connecting Cline directly to the HotDocs API.

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Connect HotDocs MCP to Cline

Create your Vinkius account to connect HotDocs to Cline and route execution through our secure gateway. The platform manages server hosting, runtime updates, and security layers. Configuration requires no manual server provisioning.

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Setup HotDocs with Cline

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End-to-End Template Integration

The `get_template_package` tool pulls the exact structure of your required document templates. Cline reads this schema to understand what data the form expects. You ask the agent to build a custom React frontend that perfectly matches the required fields. Instead of guessing variable names, the agent uses `list_template_packages` to find the right ID. It then writes the exact TypeScript interface needed to map your database records into the HotDocs format.

Execute the HotDocs MCP Server Pipeline

The `create_interview_session` tool prepares the system to collect answers for a specific template. Cline writes the integration code and tests the endpoint live to ensure it returns valid interview data. After setting up the session, the agent uses `create_work_item` to assign a unique identifier. It handles the URL-safe formatting constraints automatically, ensuring your backend code avoids crashing when pushing data to production.

Debug Assembly Failures Live

The `get_unanswered_variables` tool exposes exactly which fields were left blank during an interview. If your automated assembly fails, Cline queries this endpoint to find the missing variables. The agent then modifies your codebase to ensure those specific fields get populated. Once fixed, it calls `update_answers` with the corrected XML payload and runs `complete_assembly` to verify the patch worked.

Setup guide

Set up HotDocs MCP in Cline

Prerequisites

VS Code with Cline extension installed
Active Vinkius subscription with a valid endpoint token

1

Open Cline MCP settings

Click the Cline icon in the VS Code sidebar to open the Cline panel. Then click the MCP Servers icon (server stack) at the top-right corner of the panel.
2

Add a remote server

Click "Remote Servers" at the top, then click "Add Remote MCP". In the Name field, type hotdocs-mcp. In the URL field, paste your Vinkius endpoint: https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp. Get your token from cloud.vinkius.com.
3

Enable the server

After saving, the server appears in the Cline MCP panel. Toggle the switch to enable it. The status indicator turns green when the connection is live.
4

Start using tools

Return to the Cline chat and ask: "Check my latest HotDocs refund status." Cline will discover the available tools and request your approval before invoking each one — giving you full control over every action.

Cline MCP Settings

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "hotdocs-mcp": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
    }
  }
}

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Independent Platform Disclaimer: Vinkius is an independent platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, verified by, or otherwise authorized by HotDocs Advance. All third-party trademarks, logos, and brand names are the property of their respective owners. Their use on this website is strictly for informational purposes to identify service compatibility and interoperability.

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Common questions about HotDocs MCP in Cline

Open the Cline sidebar and click the MCP Servers icon. You can either use the Marketplace tab for a quick install or add the Streamable HTTP URL directly in the Remote Servers tab.

It handles the entire API sequence. The agent creates a work item, pushes dummy XML data, and calls get_document_content to download the test PDF right into your workspace.

Tell the agent to run list_work_items_by_date with today's ISO 8601 date. It returns an audit log of every session started or completed.

The agent uses the get_work_item tool to pull the current state. It then injects new data via XML and finalizes the job.

No persistent storage exists for your interview answers or generated Word documents. The connection routes through a zero-trust MCP architecture, dropping all memory of your variables as soon as the request completes.

Use it with your favorite AI tools

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