How to Use the HotDocs MCP in Windsurf

Q: How do I connect HotDocs to Windsurf?

Edit your mcpconfig.json file in /.codeium/windsurf/ and add the server details. You can also use the built-in MCP Marketplace for a one-click install. Hit refresh in the MCP panel to load the tools.

Q: Can Windsurf download the final HotDocs documents?

Yes. Once assembly finishes, the agent calls getdocumentcontent. This returns the file content and a direct download URL for the generated PDF or Word file.

Q: What happens if I use the wrong template version?

Cascade runs listtemplateversions before starting a new job. This ensures it grabs the current active package ID instead of a deprecated form.

Q: Why am I getting authentication errors in Windsurf when using HotDocs?

Your token might be expired. The agent runs getauthtoken to check the credential status. If that fails, verify your API keys in the server configuration.

Let Cascade handle the entire document assembly pipeline natively in Windsurf, from template mapping to final PDF generation.

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Connect HotDocs MCP to Windsurf

Create your Vinkius account to connect HotDocs to Windsurf 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 Windsurf

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Autonomous Document Assembly in Windsurf

The `complete_assembly` tool processes your collected answers and generates the final files based on your template configuration. Cascade handles the prerequisite steps automatically. You just tell it which legal form you need, and the agent figures out the required sequence. It starts by identifying the right form using `list_template_packages`. Then it fires off a `create_work_item` request to establish a unique session. Once the data maps over, the agent finalizes the assembly and pulls the download links via `list_documents`.

Map XML Answers Without Prompting

The `update_answers` tool feeds valid HotDocs XML formats directly into your active work items. You do not have to write the XML structure manually. Cascade reads the target variables and formats the payload. If something goes wrong, the agent calls `get_unanswered_variables` to check what missing data blocked the generation. It sees the gaps, corrects the XML mapping, and resubmits the answers until the template is satisfied.

Audit Work Items

The `list_work_items_by_date` tool filters your document generation history across specific timeframes. You pass an ISO 8601 date range, and the agent pulls down the exact session logs. You can also inspect individual sessions using `get_work_item` or verify the exact version of a template with `list_template_versions`. This gives you immediate visibility into what forms were generated last week without leaving the editor.

Setup guide

Set up HotDocs MCP in Windsurf

Prerequisites

Windsurf IDE installed (macOS, Windows, or Linux)
Active Vinkius subscription with a valid endpoint token

1

Open MCP configuration

Click the Cascade assistant icon in the sidebar, then click the hammer icon (🔨) at the top of the panel. Select "Configure" to open ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json.
2

Add the HotDocs MCP

Paste the JSON snippet shown on the right into the mcpServers object. Replace [YOUR_TOKEN_HERE] with your endpoint token from cloud.vinkius.com.
3

Refresh MCPs

Go back to the hammer icon (🔨) in Cascade and click "Refresh". Windsurf will detect the new server. No full restart is needed — the connection is hot-reloaded.
4

Verify in Cascade

Start a new Cascade conversation and ask something like "Show my HotDocs payment history." If connected, Cascade will call the HotDocs tools directly. You will see a green dot next to the server name in the MCP panel.

mcp_config.json

{
  "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 Windsurf

Edit your mcp_config.json file in ~/.codeium/windsurf/ and add the server details. You can also use the built-in MCP Marketplace for a one-click install. Hit refresh in the MCP panel to load the tools.

Yes. Once assembly finishes, the agent calls get_document_content. This returns the file content and a direct download URL for the generated PDF or Word file.

Cascade runs list_template_versions before starting a new job. This ensures it grabs the current active package ID instead of a deprecated form.

Your token might be expired. The agent runs get_auth_token to check the credential status. If that fails, verify your API keys in the server configuration.

The server acts as a pass-through for your XML answer sets and generated PDFs. Vinkius isolates the execution environment in an ephemeral V8 sandbox, meaning your contract variables disappear the moment the session ends.

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