PinkDocs includes a built-in MCP server. Connect it to Claude or another AI tool and you can manage your help centre by chatting: find docs, write new ones, fix outdated content, add changelog releases and review analytics, all without opening WordPress.
What is MCP?
MCP (Model Context Protocol) is an open standard that lets AI tools connect to other apps. Your PinkDocs site acts as an MCP server. Claude, Cursor and other MCP-compatible tools act as clients that call PinkDocs tools on your behalf.
| Term | In PinkDocs |
|---|---|
| MCP server | Your WordPress site running PinkDocs |
| MCP client | The AI tool you connect, such as Claude |
| Tools | Actions the AI can take, such as search docs or create a doc |
| Server URL | The address the AI tool connects to |
What you can do with MCP
Before you start
You need:
- PinkDocs installed and activated with a valid licence
- An Administrator or Editor account on your WordPress site
- Your site served over HTTPS
- An MCP-compatible AI tool, such as Claude
Step 1: Turn on the MCP server
Open the MCP settings
In WordPress, go to PinkDocs → Settings and open the MCP tab.
📷 Image placeholder: the PinkDocs MCP settings tab.
Enable MCP
Turn on MCP server.
Choose an access mode
Choose Drafts or Full access. See the table below.
Copy your server URL
Copy the Server URL. It uses this format:
Save
Click Save Changes.
| Access mode | What AI tools can do | Recommended for |
|---|---|---|
| Drafts | Read everything. Create docs as drafts. Changes to published docs are saved as suggested revisions for you to review. | Most teams |
| Full access | Everything in Drafts, plus publish docs and change live docs directly | Trusted, supervised workflows |
Step 2: Connect your AI tool
- In Claude, open Settings → Connectors.
- Click Add custom connector.
- Enter a name, such as PinkDocs, and paste your server URL.
- Click Add, then click Connect.
- Sign in to your WordPress site when prompted and approve access.
- In a new chat, open the tools menu and check that PinkDocs is turned on.
📷 Image placeholder: the Add custom connector dialog in Claude with the PinkDocs URL entered.
Run this command in your terminal, replacing the URL with yours:
Then start Claude Code and run /mcp to sign in and check the connection.
Add PinkDocs as a remote HTTP server in your tool’s MCP configuration file:
Restart the tool and sign in when prompted.
Step 3: Test the connection
Ask a read-only question
In a new chat, ask: List my PinkDocs knowledge bases and categories.
Check the answer
The AI should list your knowledge bases and categories with doc counts. If it does, you’re connected.
📷 Image placeholder: Claude listing PinkDocs categories in a chat.
Try a small change
Ask: Create a draft doc called MCP test in Get Started. Check it appears in PinkDocs → Docs, then delete it.
Available tools
The AI tool chooses these tools automatically based on what you ask.
Reading content
| Tool | What it does |
|---|---|
list_knowledge_bases | Lists knowledge bases with their IDs, URLs and doc counts |
list_categories | Lists categories with their parent structure and doc counts |
list_docs | Lists docs, filtered by knowledge base, category, status, text or date |
get_doc | Reads one doc’s content, status, categories, tags and feedback |
search_docs | Searches published docs by meaning and keywords, the same index the AI assistant uses |
list_blocks | Lists every PinkDocs block and how to write it |
get_changelog | Reads releases from a changelog |
Writing content
| Tool | What it does |
|---|---|
create_doc | Creates a new doc from Markdown and PinkDocs blocks |
update_doc | Changes a doc’s content, title, excerpt, categories, tags or order |
publish_doc | Publishes a draft or pending doc (Full access mode only) |
create_category | Creates a category in a knowledge base |
update_category | Renames, describes or moves a category |
add_changelog_entry | Adds a release to the top of a changelog |
Analytics and feedback
| Tool | What it does |
|---|---|
get_analytics | Reads overview, traffic, search, engagement, feedback, category and AI reports |
find_content_gaps | Lists failed searches, unanswered AI questions and other gaps |
list_feedback | Reads Was this helpful? ratings, reasons and comments |
How AI tools write PinkDocs blocks
AI tools write docs in Markdown with PinkDocs blocks written as directives. PinkDocs converts them into real blocks when it saves the doc. For example, this text becomes a Steps block and an Alert block:
list_blocks.Write good requests
| Instead of | Ask |
|---|---|
| Write a doc about search. | Write a doc in Features called Live search. Explain how search works, add steps for adding search to the homepage, and end with an FAQ. Use PinkDocs blocks. |
| Fix my docs. | Find docs in Get Started that mention the old menu name and update them. Show me the list before changing anything. |
| What should I write? | Check my content gaps and feedback for the last 30 days and suggest five new docs, ordered by impact. |
Example requests to try
Keep your site secure
Connect with the right account
Connect using an account with only the permissions the AI needs. An Editor account is enough for most docs work.
Use Drafts mode
Keep Drafts mode on so every change to a live doc is reviewed by a person.
Review before publishing
Read AI-written docs before you publish them. Check settings, menu paths and links.
Disconnect when you're done
Remove the connector in your AI tool, or turn off the MCP server in PinkDocs, when you no longer need it.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| The AI tool can’t connect | Check MCP server is turned on, the URL is correct and your site uses HTTPS. |
| Sign-in fails | Make sure you’re signing in with an Administrator or Editor account. |
| 404 error on the server URL | Go to Settings → Permalinks and click Save Changes. |
| Publishing doesn’t work | Publishing needs Full access mode and a category on the doc. |
| Changes don’t appear on live docs | In Drafts mode, changes to published docs wait for review. See Reviewing AI-suggested changes to docs. |
| Blocks show as plain text | Ask the AI to call list_blocks and rewrite the doc using the exact directive syntax. |
| A security plugin blocks requests | Allow requests to /wp-json/pinkdocs/v1/ in your security or firewall plugin. |
Common questions
Any tool that supports remote MCP servers over HTTP, including Claude, Claude Code and many code editors.
No. The PinkDocs tools can create and update docs but not delete them.
Yes. Every change is saved in the doc's Revisions, so you can compare versions and restore earlier ones.
No. Your AI tool does the thinking with its own account. PinkDocs only provides the tools and your content.
Yes. Connect as many tools as you like with the same server URL. Each one signs in separately.