What credentials do I need to connect HotDocs Advance to this MCP server?

You need four pieces of information: (1) your **Tenancy Moniker** (the subdomain in your HotDocs URL, e.g., 'mycompany' from mycompany.hotdocsadvance.com), (2) the **API Client Display Name** you created in Manage API Credentials, (3) the **Service Principal Name** you added to that client, and (4) the **Service Principal Password** (which is shown only once during creation). All of these are obtained from the HotDocs Advance Auth portal.

Can I assemble documents automatically without going through the interview UI?

Yes! Use the `create_work_item` tool to initialize a work item, then use `update_answers` to inject your data as HotDocs answer XML, and finally call `complete_assembly` to trigger document generation. This fully automated bypasses the interactive interview UI entirely, perfect for batch processing or integrating with external data sources.

How do I find and download documents that have already been assembled?

Use the `list_documents` tool with your workItemId to see all assembled documents and their IDs. Then use `get_document_content` with the workItemId and documentId to retrieve the actual file content. The response includes both the raw content and a direct download URL for easy access to your PDFs or Word documents.

What is a work item and why is it important?

A work item is a unique container in HotDocs Advance that holds interview answers, template associations, and assembled documents for a specific case. Think of it as a 'file folder' for each document automation request. It's identified by a unique ID you assign (like 'contract-john-doe-2024') and persists all data so you can revisit, update, and reassemble documents at any time.

HotDocs MCP Server for CrewAI 14 tools — connect in under 2 minutes

Name: HotDocs
Availability: InStock
Author: Vinkius

docs.crewai.com/mcp/overview

Built by Vinkius GDPR 14 Tools Framework

Connect your CrewAI agents to HotDocs through Vinkius, pass the Edge URL in the `mcps` parameter and every HotDocs tool is auto-discovered at runtime. No credentials to manage, no infrastructure to maintain.

Get MCP Server for AI Agents

ASK AI ABOUT THIS MCP SERVER

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Vinkius supports streamable HTTP and SSE.

python

from crewai import Agent, Task, Crew

agent = Agent(
    role="HotDocs Specialist",
    goal="Help users interact with HotDocs effectively",
    backstory=(
        "You are an expert at leveraging HotDocs tools "
        "for automation and data analysis."
    ),
    # Your Vinkius token. get it at cloud.vinkius.com
    mcps=["https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"],
)

task = Task(
    description=(
        "Explore all available tools in HotDocs "
        "and summarize their capabilities."
    ),
    agent=agent,
    expected_output=(
        "A detailed summary of 14 available tools "
        "and what they can do."
    ),
)

crew = Crew(agents=[agent], tasks=[task])
result = crew.kickoff()
print(result)

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About HotDocs MCP Server

Connect your HotDocs Advance tenancy to any AI agent and take full control of your document automation workflows through natural conversation.

When paired with CrewAI, HotDocs becomes a first-class tool in your multi-agent workflows. Each agent in the crew can call HotDocs tools autonomously, one agent queries data, another analyzes results, a third compiles reports, all orchestrated through Vinkius with zero configuration overhead.

What you can do

Template Discovery — List all template packages and their versions available in your HotDocs tenancy
Work Item Management — Create, inspect, and manage work items that hold interview data and assembled documents
Interview Sessions — Initialize interview sessions programmatically for interactive data collection
Automated Document Assembly — Inject answers via XML and trigger document generation without manual UI interaction
Document Retrieval — List and download assembled documents (PDFs, Word docs) directly from the agent
Validation & Auditing — Check unanswered variables, list work items by date range or user, and audit assembly history

The HotDocs MCP Server exposes 14 tools through the Vinkius. Connect it to CrewAI in under two minutes — no API keys to rotate, no infrastructure to provision, no vendor lock-in. Your configuration, your data, your control.

How to Connect HotDocs to CrewAI via MCP

Follow these steps to integrate the HotDocs MCP Server with CrewAI.

Install CrewAI

Run pip install crewai

Replace the token

Replace [YOUR_TOKEN_HERE] with your Vinkius token from cloud.vinkius.com

Customize the agent

Adjust the role, goal, and backstory to fit your use case

Run the crew

Run python crew.py. CrewAI auto-discovers 14 tools from HotDocs

Why Use CrewAI with the HotDocs MCP Server

CrewAI Multi-Agent Orchestration Framework provides unique advantages when paired with HotDocs through the Model Context Protocol.

Multi-agent collaboration lets you decompose complex workflows into specialized roles, one agent researches, another analyzes, a third generates reports, each with access to MCP tools

CrewAI's native MCP integration requires zero adapter code: pass Vinkius Edge URL directly in the `mcps` parameter and agents auto-discover every available tool at runtime

Built-in task delegation and shared memory mean agents can pass context between steps without manual state management, enabling multi-hop reasoning across tool calls

Sequential and hierarchical crew patterns map naturally to real-world workflows: enumerate subdomains → analyze DNS history → check WHOIS records → compile findings into actionable reports

HotDocs + CrewAI Use Cases

Practical scenarios where CrewAI combined with the HotDocs MCP Server delivers measurable value.

Automated multi-step research: a reconnaissance agent queries HotDocs for raw data, then a second analyst agent cross-references findings and flags anomalies. all without human handoff

Scheduled intelligence reports: set up a crew that periodically queries HotDocs, analyzes trends over time, and generates executive briefings in markdown or PDF format

Multi-source enrichment pipelines: chain HotDocs tools with other MCP servers in the same crew, letting agents correlate data across multiple providers in a single workflow

Compliance and audit automation: a compliance agent queries HotDocs against predefined policy rules, generates deviation reports, and routes findings to the appropriate team

HotDocs MCP Tools for CrewAI (14)

These 14 tools become available when you connect HotDocs to CrewAI via MCP:

complete_assembly

This processes all collected answers and assembles the final documents based on the template configuration. After calling this, the assembled documents become available for download via list_documents and get_document_content. You must have already created a work item, created a version/session, and provided answers (via interview or update_answers). The workItemId and versionId must match an existing work item and its version. Complete document assembly for a work item version

create_interview_session

This endpoint prepares the system to collect answers for the template variables. The response contains interview data needed to render the HotDocs interview UI. Use this before displaying the interview to the user or before assembling documents. The versionId should be unique for each interview session (e.g., v1, v2, or a UUID). Create a new interview session for a work item

create_work_item

A work item is associated with a specific template package and holds answers provided during interviews. You must provide a unique workItemId (alphanumeric identifier you choose) and optionally a templatePackageId. The workItemId becomes the reference for all subsequent operations (interview, assembly, download). IMPORTANT: workItemId must be unique and URL-safe (letters, numbers, hyphens only). Create a new work item in HotDocs Advance

get_auth_token

This is primarily a utility function for debugging authentication issues. The token is used internally by all other tools automatically. If other tools fail with auth errors, verify your credentials are correct. Get a fresh HotDocs API access token

get_document_content

Use this to download the final generated document (PDF, Word, etc.) after assembly is complete. You need the workItemId and the documentId (obtained from list_documents). The response includes the document content and a download URL for direct access. Download/get content of an assembled document

get_template_package

Use the template package ID obtained from list_template_packages. This helps understand the template structure before creating work items. Get details of a specific template package

get_unanswered_variables

This shows which template variables were not provided answers during the interview process. Useful for validating interview completeness before or after document assembly. Requires the workItemId and documentId (from list_documents). The response includes the list of unanswered variables and assembly results. Get unanswered variables from an assembled document

get_work_item

Use this to inspect a work item before or after conducting interviews or assembling documents. The workItemId is the unique identifier you assigned when creating the work item. Get details of a specific work item

list_documents

After completing assembly, this shows all generated documents with their IDs, names, and metadata. Use the document IDs returned here to download individual documents via get_document_content. Each document entry includes filename, creation date, and assembly results information. List all assembled documents for a work item

list_template_packages

Template packages define the structure of documents that can be assembled. Each package contains interview questions and document output configurations. Use this to discover what templates are available for document assembly. The response includes package IDs which are required for creating work items. List all available template packages in HotDocs Advance

list_template_versions

Each template can have multiple versions over time. This shows version history and helps identify which version is currently live/active. Use the package_id from list_template_packages to query versions. List all versions of a template package

list_work_items

You can filter by user ID and/or date range to find specific work items. Leave all parameters empty to list all work items. This is useful for auditing, tracking progress, or finding existing work items to continue working on. Date format should be ISO 8601 (e.g., 2024-01-15 or 2024-01-15T10:30:00). List work items with optional filters

list_work_items_by_date

This is optimized for date-based filtering and auditing. Both fromDate and toDate are required for this tool. Use ISO 8601 date format (e.g., 2024-01-01 or 2024-01-01T00:00:00 for datetime). This is useful for generating reports on document assembly activity over time periods. List work items filtered by a specific date range

update_answers

The answer_xml parameter must contain valid HotDocs answer XML format that matches the template variables. This is useful for automated/batch document assembly where you already have the data. You can call this multiple times to incrementally add answers. Answer XML format example: <AnswerSet><A v="VariableName"><V>Answer Value</V></A></AnswerSet> Update answers for a work item using XML answer format

Example Prompts for HotDocs in CrewAI

Ready-to-use prompts you can give your CrewAI agent to start working with HotDocs immediately.

"List all available template packages in my HotDocs tenancy."

"Create a new work item 'contract-2024-001' using the employment contract template and assemble a document with these details: employee name is John Smith, position is Software Engineer, start date is March 1st 2024, salary is $95,000."

"Show me all work items created in the last 30 days and check if there are any unanswered variables in the documents."

Troubleshooting HotDocs MCP Server with CrewAI

Common issues when connecting HotDocs to CrewAI through the Vinkius, and how to resolve them.

MCP tools not discovered

Ensure the Edge URL is correct. CrewAI connects lazily when the crew starts. check console output.

Agent not using tools

Make the task description specific. Instead of "do something", say "Use the available tools to list contacts".

Timeout errors

CrewAI has a 10s connection timeout by default. Ensure your network can reach the Edge URL.

Rate limiting or 429 errors

Vinkius enforces per-token rate limits. Check your subscription tier and request quota in the dashboard. Upgrade if you need higher throughput.

HotDocs + CrewAI FAQ

Common questions about integrating HotDocs MCP Server with CrewAI.

How does CrewAI discover and connect to MCP tools?

CrewAI connects to MCP servers lazily. when the crew starts, each agent resolves its MCP URLs and fetches the tool catalog via the standard tools/list method. This means tools are always fresh and reflect the server's current capabilities. No tool schemas need to be hardcoded.

Can different agents in the same crew use different MCP servers?

Yes. Each agent has its own mcps list, so you can assign specific servers to specific roles. For example, a reconnaissance agent might use a domain intelligence server while an analysis agent uses a vulnerability database server.

What happens when an MCP tool call fails during a crew run?

CrewAI wraps tool failures as context for the agent. The LLM receives the error message and can decide to retry with different parameters, fall back to a different tool, or mark the task as partially complete. This resilience is critical for production workflows.

Can CrewAI agents call multiple MCP tools in parallel?

CrewAI agents execute tool calls sequentially within a single reasoning step. However, you can run multiple agents in parallel using process=Process.parallel, each calling different MCP tools concurrently. This is ideal for workflows where separate data sources need to be queried simultaneously.

Can I run CrewAI crews on a schedule (cron)?

Yes. CrewAI crews are standard Python scripts, so you can invoke them via cron, Airflow, Celery, or any task scheduler. The crew.kickoff() method runs synchronously by default, making it straightforward to integrate into existing pipelines.