# Connect with MCP

Bring your ShowPost workspace into your AI conversations.

Use the Model Context Protocol (MCP) to find projects, check post-production progress, prepare a briefing, download a report, and manage Task Manager work from a connected assistant.

## Connect to ShowPost

ShowPost is a remote MCP server. You don’t need to install a local server or share an API key. Use this server URL when configuring a connection:

**MCP server URL**

```text
https://showpost.io/api/mcp
```

### ChatGPT

**ChatGPT**

Connect your ShowPost account and bring your workspace into ChatGPT.

[Open ChatGPT](https://chatgpt.com/plugins)

1. **Add ShowPost** Open ChatGPT on the web → Plugins → + → Add custom MCP server. Name it ShowPost and paste the server URL above.

2. **Choose automatic OAuth setup** Keep Authentication set to OAuth. If Advanced OAuth settings asks for a client setup method, choose dynamic registration (DCR). Leave the client ID and client secret empty. Review the custom-server notice and select Create as a plugin.

3. **Sign in and start a conversation** Complete browser sign-in on showpost.io and approve the requested access. Install the resulting ShowPost plugin if prompted, then select it with @ in your chat and ask your first question.

### Claude

**Claude**

Connect ShowPost to Claude with your own account and permissions.

[Open Claude](https://claude.ai/customize/connectors)

1. **Add a custom connector** Open Claude → Customize → Connectors → Add → Add custom connector. Name it ShowPost and paste the MCP server URL above.

2. **Let Claude set up the connection** Choose Sign in now. Under OAuth client, select Register automatically. Leave any client ID and client secret fields empty. Claude handles the setup for you.

3. **Connect and start a conversation** Complete ShowPost’s browser sign-in and review the requested permissions. Return to Claude and enable ShowPost using + → Connectors in your conversation.

[Claude’s custom connector setup guide](https://support.claude.com/en/articles/11175166-get-started-with-custom-connectors-using-remote-mcp)

> **Sign in with your own ShowPost account**
> Connection setup is automatic. You don’t need a CLI, API key or OAuth credentials from a ShowPost administrator. Your AI client’s plan and workspace policies still determine whether custom connections are available.

## Sign in and choose permissions

Sign in to ShowPost with your password and the one-time code sent to your email. Enter them only on ShowPost’s sign-in page. Your assistant does not need your password or email code in the conversation.

- Read access lets the assistant find accessible projects, department progress, tasks, schedules and reports.
- Task-editing access additionally lets it create tasks, assign a primary Line Producer, change deadlines, update notes and mark tasks complete.
- Task editing is off by default. Select Allow task editing on ShowPost’s connection screen to enable it. Leave it unchecked for read-only access.
- The connector cannot delete tasks, approve deliveries, send emails or messages, or manage accounts.

> **Shared studio registers**
> Task Manager and Schedule Tracker are shared studio registers, as they are in ShowPost. Project dashboards and department reports retain their project and department restrictions.

## Try your first requests

Ask in the same words you would use with your team. Include a project, department, technician or date when it helps narrow the result.

**Personal briefing**

```text
Give me my ShowPost briefing: overdue work, tasks due today, and delivery holds.
```

**Compare projects**

```text
Compare the department progress and outstanding tasks for these two projects.
```

**Export a report**

```text
Create a PDF progress report for this project’s main branch.
```

**Update a task**

```text
Move this task’s deadline to Friday and keep its notes and delivery hold unchanged.
```

## Work with projects and tasks

Your assistant can search for a project or task by name, then use the returned record to read more detail. Ask for source links when you want to open the original work in ShowPost.

- Personal briefings use your primary and additional Line Producer assignments. For technician work or bookings, specify the saved technician name.
- Task statuses are YTS (yet to start), WIP (work in progress) and DONE. A completed task can still have a separate delivery Hold.
- Dates and times use the studio’s Asia/Kolkata time zone. A missing deadline means unscheduled; it does not mean completed.
- Project comparisons use recorded progress and visible checklist counts. They do not forecast a delivery date or certify delivery readiness.
- For a task change, the assistant reads the latest revision first. If someone edits it in the meantime, it must refresh the task and review the change again.

## Download a report

Ask for a PDF or Excel report. ShowPost uses the same saved data and report builders as the webapp. Available reports include progress, project dashboards, animation dashboards, Series department summaries and the daily Post Report, where your permissions allow.

Your assistant receives the exported file and a protected browser download link. If your client cannot display the file, open the link and sign in to ShowPost. That browser link generates a fresh report from the saved data when you open it.

> **Choose a smaller report when needed**
> For a large project, select one branch or episode. Missing or inaccessible departments are not proof that their work is complete.

## Available tools

| Tool | Purpose |
| --- | --- |
| `showpost_search` | Find accessible projects and shared Task Manager work. |
| `showpost_list_projects` | Browse and filter accessible projects. |
| `showpost_get_project` | Read project, branch and episode summaries. |
| `showpost_get_progress` | Read detailed, permission-scoped department progress. |
| `showpost_get_project_brief` | Combine project progress, open work and delivery holds. |
| `showpost_get_my_brief` | Read your Line Producer priorities and deadlines. |
| `showpost_compare_projects` | Compare saved metrics across two to eight projects. |
| `showpost_list_tasks` | Filter tasks by project, owner, department, status or deadline. |
| `showpost_get_task` | Read one complete task and its saved history. |
| `showpost_get_task_options` | Find valid owners, projects and departments for a task. |
| `showpost_create_task` | Create a task with protection against duplicate retries. |
| `showpost_update_task` | Assign, reschedule, complete or edit a current task. |
| `showpost_get_department_report` | Read a Series department summary across episodes. |
| `showpost_get_post_report` | Read a day’s studio Post Report. |
| `showpost_get_report_options` | Find report types and valid project targets. |
| `showpost_export_report` | Generate a PDF or Excel report. |
| `showpost_list_schedule` | Read recorded studio bookings and technician schedules. |
| `showpost_get_profile` | Identify the ShowPost account used by the connection. |

## Troubleshooting

### I can’t find the custom connection option

Follow the ChatGPT or Claude connection steps above. If Add custom MCP server or Add custom connector is missing, check your AI client’s plan and workspace connection settings.

### My connection has expired

Your AI client can renew access automatically while the ShowPost session used to connect remains active. If you signed out or that session expired, select Reconnect and sign in again.

### The assistant can read tasks but can’t edit them

Reconnect and select Allow task editing on ShowPost’s connection screen. If an older connection only requests read access, remove it from your client and add it again to refresh the permissions offered. Your account must also retain Task Manager access in ShowPost.

### A task changed before my edit was saved

Ask the assistant to read the task again, show you the current details, and apply only the change you still want. It should not force an older revision over newer work.

### A project or report is missing

Check that you connected the correct ShowPost account and can open that project or report in the webapp. Your production administrator can help with membership, department and section access.

## Privacy and access

Your connected assistant receives the information it requests within your ShowPost access. Read the AI client’s privacy settings as well as ShowPost’s privacy policy before connecting. Workspace notes are source data, not instructions authorizing other actions.

You can disconnect the client in its settings. Signing out of the ShowPost session used to connect, losing workspace access, or an administrator retiring the client blocks later requests.