How to Use the PDF.co MCP in Windsurf

Q: How does PDF.co handle async processing in Windsurf?

The checkjobstatus tool monitors long-running conversion tasks in the background. Cascade polls this endpoint automatically, keeping your editor responsive while processing large files.

Q: Can Windsurf Cascade convert tables directly to spreadsheets?

Yes, Cascade calls pdftocsv to extract tabular data from your documents. It then writes the resulting CSV data directly into your local workspace files.

Q: How do I install the PDF.co MCP Server in Windsurf?

Add the server configuration to your mcpconfig.json file or use the Windsurf settings UI. Cascade automatically discovers all twelve tools once you refresh the connection.

Put your document pipelines on autopilot with Windsurf Cascade chaining PDF.co tools to extract, merge, and convert files.

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Connect PDF.co MCP to Windsurf

Create your Vinkius account to connect PDF.co to Windsurf — we handle the hosting, security, and runtime updates so you don't have to. No server setup required.

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Setup PDF.co with Windsurf

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Autonomous Document Parsing with Cascade

`pdf_to_json` converts messy PDFs into structured JSON data without manual mapping. Cascade analyzes your document layout, selects this tool, and passes the parsed data directly to your local application code. If the file is a scanned image, your agent falls back to `ocr_image` to extract raw text first. This MCP Server handles the pipeline logic so you don't have to write custom parsing code for every new document format.

Multi-Step PDF Manipulation Pipelines

`merge_pdfs` combines multiple independent documents into a single compiled file based on Cascade's plan. Your agent reads your workspace, identifies the target files, and chains this tool with `split_pdf` to rearrange pages. You get a finished document in seconds because Cascade handles the intermediate file paths behind the scenes. This MCP Server turns complex file system operations into a single chat request.

Secure File Workflows in Windsurf

`protect_pdf` secures sensitive outputs by applying password encryption directly through your AI client. Cascade runs this tool as the final step of a document generation sequence to lock down proprietary data. If you need to read protected inputs, `unprotect_pdf` strips the security layers using your provided credentials. Integrating this MCP Server ensures your automated pipelines never stall on password-protected files.

Setup guide

Set up PDF.co 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 PDF.co 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 PDF.co payment history." If connected, Cascade will call the PDF.co tools directly. You will see a green dot next to the server name in the MCP panel.

mcp_config.json

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

Get your connection token →

Independent Platform Disclaimer: Vinkius is an independent platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, verified by, or otherwise authorized by PDF.co. 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 PDF.co MCP in Windsurf

The `check_job_status` tool monitors long-running conversion tasks in the background. Cascade polls this endpoint automatically, keeping your editor responsive while processing large files.

Yes, Cascade calls `pdf_to_csv` to extract tabular data from your documents. It then writes the resulting CSV data directly into your local workspace files.

Add the server configuration to your `mcp_config.json` file or use the Windsurf settings UI. Cascade automatically discovers all twelve tools once you refresh the connection.

Cascade detects the lack of selectable text and invokes the `ocr_image` tool. It processes the raw pixels to extract readable text blocks for your workspace.

Your PDFs, images, and converted CSV or JSON payloads are processed in secure Vinkius sandboxes. Files are cached temporarily to run the conversion tools and are deleted immediately after the job finishes.

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