Build SAP-Powered Applications in Claude Code with CData Code Assist MCP
Claude Code is an AI-powered command line tool that enables agentic coding workflows. With support for MCP, Claude Code can connect to local tools and enterprise data sources directly from your terminal, 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.
The following steps cover installing the CData Code Assist MCP for SAP ERP, configuring the connection to SAP, connecting the Code Assist MCP add-on to Claude Code, and querying live SAP data from within the terminal.
About SAP Data Integration
CData provides the easiest way to access and integrate live data from SAP. Customers use CData connectivity to:
- Access every edition of SAP, including SAP R/3, SAP NetWeaver, SAP ERP / ECC 6.0, and SAP S/4 HANA on premises data that is exposed by the RFC.
- Perform actions like sending IDoc or IDoc XML files to the server and creating schemas for functions or queries through SQL stored procedures.
-
Connect optimally depending on where a customer's SAP instance is hosted.
- Customers using SAP S/4HANA cloud public edition will use SAP NetWeaver Gateway connectivity
- Customers using SAP S/4HANA private edition will use either SAP ERP or SAP NetWeaver Gateway connectivity.
While most users leverage our tools to replicate SAP data to databases or data warehouses, many also integrate live SAP data with analytics tools such as Tableau, Power BI, and Excel.
Getting Started
Step 1: Download and install the CData Code Assist MCP for SAP ERP
- To begin, download the CData Code Assist MCP for SAP ERP
- Find and double-click the installer to begin the installation
- Run the installer and follow the prompts to complete the installation
When the installation is complete, you are ready to configure your Code Assist MCP add-on by connecting to SAP.
Step 2: Configure the connection to SAP
- After installation, open the CData Code Assist MCP for SAP ERP configuration wizard
NOTE: If the wizard does not open automatically, search for "CData Code Assist MCP for SAP ERP" in the Windows search bar and open the application.
- In MCP Configuration > Configuration Name, either select an existing configuration or choose
to create a new one
- Name the configuration (e.g. "cdata_saperp") and click OK
-
Enter the appropriate connection properties in the configuration wizard
You can connect to SAP systems using either librfc32.dll, librfc32u.dll, NetWeaver, or Web Services (SOAP). Set the ConnectionType connection property to CLASSIC (librfc32.dll), CLASSIC_UNICODE (librfc32u.dll), NETWEAVER, or SOAP.
If you are using the SOAP interface, set the Client, RFCUrl, SystemNumber, User, and Password properties, under the Authentication section.
Otherwise, set Host, User, Password, Client, and SystemNumber.
Note: We do not distribute the librfc32.dll or other SAP assemblies. You must find them from your SAP installation and install them on your machine.
For more information, see this guide on obtaining the connection properties needed to connect to any SAP system.
- Click Connect to authenticate with SAP
- Then, click Save Configuration to save the Code Assist MCP add-on
This process creates a .mcp configuration file that Claude Code will reference when launching the Code Assist MCP add-on. Now with your Code Assist MCP add-on configured, you are ready to connect it to Claude Code.
Step 3: Connect the Code Assist MCP add-on to Claude Code
- Install the Claude Code CLI using the terminal
- Open the Claude Code configuration file at ~/.config/claude-code/config.json (or the location shown after initialization)
Option 1: Manually add the MCP configuration
- Open the mcp.json file in your preferred editor
- Add the code shown below
{
"mcpServers" : {
"cdata_saperp" : {
"type" : "stdio",
"command" : "C:\Program Files\CData\CData Code Assist MCP for SAP ERP\jre\bin\java.exe",
"args" : [ "-Dfile.encoding=UTF-8", "-jar", "C:\Program Files\CData\CData Code Assist MCP for SAP ERP/lib/cdata.mcp.saperp.jar", "cdata_saperp" ],
"env" : {}
}
}
}
NOTE: The command value should point to your Java 17+ java.exe executable, and the JAR path should point to the installed CData Code Assist MCP add-on .jar file. The final argument must match the MCP configuration name you saved in the CData configuration wizard (e.g. "cdata_saperp").
Option 2: Copy the MCP configuration from the CData Code Assist MCP for SAP ERP UI
- After saving and testing your connection in the configuration wizard, click Next
- Select Claude Code from the AI MCP Tool dropdown
- Click Copy JSON to copy the generated MCP configuration to your clipboard
- Paste the copied JSON into the mcp.json file
Step 4: Verify connection in Claude Code
Claude Code provides tools to verify the connection is active before building.
- Open a terminal and navigate to your project directory. Run the command claude mcp list
- Check that your configuration name appears with a Connected status
- Start Claude Code by running claude
- Inside the Claude Code session, type /mcp to view active servers
Step 5: Query live SAP data in Claude Code
With the connection verified, you can now use natural language prompts to query and work with live SAP data.
- Prompt Claude Code to review the instructions for your MCP connection to ensure it has all the appropriate context when writing code
- Start building with natural language prompts! For example:
For my project, data from the MARA is very important. Pull data from the most important columns like MANDT and MBRSH.
Claude Code will use the MCP add-on to connect to SAP, retrieve the requested data, and provide results directly in your terminal
Build with Code Assist MCP. Deploy with CData Drivers.
Download Code Assist MCP for free and give your AI tools schema-aware access to live SAP data during development. When you're ready to move to production, CData SAP 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.