Build Exa-Powered Applications in Cursor with CData MCP Server

Cursor is an AI-powered code editor that integrates agentic AI into everyday development workflows. With support for MCP, Cursor can connect to local tools and enterprise data sources directly from the editor, enabling natural language interaction with live systems without switching context.

Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard for connecting LLM clients to external services through structured tool interfaces. MCP servers expose capabilities such as schema discovery and live querying, allowing AI agents to retrieve and reason over real-time data safely and consistently.

In this article, we guide you through installing the CData API Driver for MCP Server, configuring the connection to Exa, connecting the MCP Server add-on to Cursor, and querying live Exa data from within the editor.

Step 1: Download and install the CData API Driver for MCP Server

1. To begin, download the CData API Driver for MCP Server
2. Find and double-click the installer to begin the installation
3. Run the installer and follow the prompts to complete the installation

When the installation is complete, you are ready to configure your MCP Server add-on by connecting to Exa.

Step 2: Configure the connection to Exa

1. After installation, open the CData API Driver for MCP Server configuration wizard

   NOTE: If the wizard does not open automatically, search for "CData API Driver for MCP Server" in the Windows search bar and open the application.

   
2. In MCP Configuration > Configuration Name, either select an existing configuration or choose to create a new one
3. Name the configuration (e.g. "cdata_api") and click OK

4. Enter the appropriate connection properties in the configuration wizard

   Start by setting the Profile connection property to the location of the Exa Profile on disk (e.g. C:\profiles\Exa.apip). Next, set the ProfileSettings connection property to the connection string for Exa (see below).

   Exa API Profile Settings

   Visit dashboard.exa.ai, sign in or create an account, and generate an API key from your API settings.

   
5. Click Connect to authenticate with Exa
6. Then, click Save Configuration to save the MCP Server add-on

This process creates a .mcp configuration file that Cursor will reference when launching the MCP Server add-on. Now with your MCP Server add-on configured, you are ready to connect it to Cursor.

Step 3: Connect the MCP Server add-on to Cursor

1. Download the Cursor desktop application and complete the sign-up flow for your account
2. From the top menu, click Settings to open the settings panel
3. In the left navigation, open the Tools & MCP tab and click Add Custom MCP

Option 1: Manually add the MCP configuration

1. Cursor opens an mcp.json file in the editor
2. Add the code shown below and save the file

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "cdata-local": {
      "command": "C:/Program Files/Java/jdk-17/bin/java.exe",
      "args": [
        "-jar",
        "C:/Program Files/CData/CData API Driver for MCP Server/lib/cdata.mcp.api.jar",
        "cdata_api"
      ]
    }
  }
}



NOTE: The command value should point to your Java 17+ java.exe executable, and the JAR path should point to the installed CData MCP Server add-on .jar file. The final argument must match the MCP configuration name you saved in the CData configuration wizard (e.g. "cdata_api").

Option 2: Copy the MCP configuration from the CData API Driver for MCP Server UI

1. After saving and testing your connection in the configuration wizard, click Next

2. Select Cursor from the AI MCP Tool dropdown

3. Follow the MCP Client Instructions to create the required folders for the MCP config

4. Copy the displayed JSON code and paste it into your configuration file
5. In Cursor, open the project folder you created with the mcp.json config
4. The MCP Server add-on should appear as Running under Installed MCP Servers

Step 4: Query live Exa data in Cursor

1. From the top bar, click Toggle AI Pane to open the chat window
2. Ask questions about your Exa data using natural language. For example:

   "List all tables available in my Exa data connection."

   

Cursor is now fully integrated with CData API Driver for MCP Server and can use the MCP tools exposed to explore schemas and execute live queries against Exa.

Build with MCP Server. Deploy with CData Drivers.

Download MCP Server for free and give your AI tools schema-aware access to live Exa data during development. When you're ready to move to production, CData Exa Drivers deliver the same SQL-based access with enterprise-grade performance, security, and reliability.

Visit the CData Community to share insights, ask questions, and explore what's possible with MCP-powered AI workflows.