How to Query Live PDFMonkey Data in Perplexity MacOS Desktop

Perplexity is an AI-powered research and answer engine that allows users to combine web search, structured data, and connected tools through a unified conversational interface. With Perplexity Desktop for macOS, users can bring local tools and data sources directly into their workflow using MCP, enabling fast, context-aware insights powered by live data.

Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an emerging, open-source standard for connecting LLMs with external services and enterprise data sources. Using MCP Servers, AI clients such as Perplexity Desktop can securely interact with applications and data, performing actions, retrieving live information, and enabling natural language access to data.

CData MCP Server provides schema-aware context to AI tools — whether you're using it for AI-assisted code generation in IDEs like Cursor, or for querying live data through chat interfaces like Perplexity Desktop.

In this article, we guide you through installing CData API Driver for MCP Server, configuring the connection to PDFMonkey, and interacting with your live PDFMonkey data from Perplexity Desktop.

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

1. To begin, download CData API Driver for MCP Server
2. Find and double-click the installer to begin the installation
3. Drag the MCP Server app into the Applications folder

When the installation is complete, you are ready to configure MCP Server by connecting to PDFMonkey.

NOTE: Since you downloaded the application from the internet and not the Apple App Store, you may see a warning that the application was not opened because Apple could not verify its security. You may continue with the installation.

Installing a trusted, unverified App

CData's solutions are trusted across the globe by some of the largest software vendors in the world. That said, if you have any concerns about continuing, please consult with your IT and/or security team.

1. In the warning message that pops up, click "Done"
2. Open "System Settings" on your machine and navigate to the "Privacy & Security" page

3. Scroll down to the "Security" section and click "Open Anyway"
4. Authorize the installation (passkey or password)

Step 2: Configure the Connection to PDFMonkey

1. After installation, you can open CData API Driver for MCP Server from the Applications folder on your mac
2. Click the dropdown menu in MCP Configuration > Configuration Name and select "new configuration"
3. Name the configuration (e.g. "cdata_api") and click "OK"

4. Enter the appropriate connection properties in the configuration wizard.

   Using API Key Authentication

   PdfMonkey uses API key authentication. To obtain an API key:

   1. Log in to your PdfMonkey account at https://app.pdfmonkey.io
   2. Navigate to your account settings
   3. Open the API Key page
   4. Copy your API key

   After obtaining your API key, set the following connection properties:

   • AuthScheme: Set this to APIKey.
   Set the following in the ProfileSettings connection property:
   • APIKey: Set this to your PdfMonkey API key.

   Example Connection String

   Profile=C:\profiles\PdfMonkey.apip;AuthScheme=APIKey;ProfileSettings="APIKey=your_api_key"
   

   Connecting to PdfMonkey

   Once the authentication is configured, you can connect to PdfMonkey and query data from any of the available tables such as CurrentUser, DocumentCards, Documents, DocumentTemplateCards, and DocumentTemplates.

   
5. Click "Connect" to authenticate with PDFMonkey.
6. Click "Save Configuration" to save the configuration

With MCP Server configured, you are ready to connect it to Perplexity Desktop.

Step 3: Connect MCP Server to Perplexity Desktop

1. Download the Perplexity Desktop application for macOS and sign in with your Pro or Premium account
2. Open Settings > Connectors. If the Perplexity Helper App is not installed, you will be prompted to download it. Install the Helper App, then restart Perplexity Desktop
3. After restarting, return to Settings > Connectors and click Add Connector
4. Select the Simple tab and assign a name for the connector (e.g., "CData PDFMonkey"). In the Command box, enter the absolute path to the MCP Server executable.

   For example:

   	/Applications/CData API Driver for MCP Server.app/Contents/Payload/jre/Contents/Home/bin/java \
   	-jar /Applications/CData API Driver for MCP Server.app/Contents/Payload/lib/cdata.mcp.api.jar \
   	cdata_api
   

   
5. Click Save. MCP Server should now appear in the connector list with a "Running" status

Step 4: Query Your Live PDFMonkey data in Perplexity Desktop

1. Open a new chat in Perplexity Desktop. Click the Sources toggle and enable MCP Server
2. Start asking questions about your PDFMonkey data. For example:

   "List all the tables available in my PDFMonkey data connection."

   

Build with MCP Server. Deploy with CData Drivers.

Download MCP Server for free and give your AI tools schema-aware access to live PDFMonkey data during development. When you're ready to move to production, CData PDFMonkey 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.