Using API Spreadsheets with an MCP Inside Cursor

API Spreadsheets Team · Oct 14, 2025

What is the MCP?

The MCP (Model Context Protocol) lets chat apps securely connect to your spreadsheets. Paste a single URL and the chat app gains scoped read/write abilities based on your keys.

API Spreadsheets provides two MCP URL types: Account MCP (search/operate across your files) and File MCP (focus on one file for precise CRUD).

Get your MCP URLs

Click on the AI link in the navbar.
Copy your Account MCP URL (search/operate across your files).

Optionally open a file, then copy its File MCP URL (single-file scope).

Account MCP (example)
https://mcp.apispreadsheets.com/account/54435dcd8305fabe577bb3931ff462aa/889010ee0e37c0809a5b7f223e75cba7

File MCP (example)
https://mcp.apispreadsheets.com/file/zBTprFo94C4esuUo/99fca71f79e3af8f83e4a2a07b875933/13f075445b78e971b37afd625f208d0f

Account vs File MCP — when to use which?

Use Account MCP when…

You want to search or operate across many spreadsheets.
You’re not sure which file contains the data; let MCP auto-select.
You need a quick overview of what files exist.

Use File MCP when…

You want precise CRUD on a known file.
You need to limit scope to one dataset.
You want deterministic updates (always the same file).

MCP tools available

list_files — Account mode only. Returns a compact catalog of your files (name, file hash, input type, available sheets/columns, and whether file keys are present).
read_or_delete — Runs read or delete operations on your files In file mode, operates on the fixed file. In account mode, auto-selects a best-match file and runs the read or delete
create_or_update — Runs create or update. Behaves like above: fixed file in file mode, auto-selection in account mode.

Tip: In account mode, include clear identifiers (file name, column names) in your prompt for best file selection.

Use MCP in Cursor

Download Cursor Desktop and sign up for an account (if you don't have this already)

Open Cursor Desktop go to Settings click on Tools & MCP and click on Add Custom MCP

This will open an mcp.json file.

Add one or more of your API Spreadsheets MCP URLs in this file as follows

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "API Spreadsheets Account MCP": 
      { "url": "YOUR_MCP_URL" }
  }
}

Save your mcp.json file

Ensure your API Spreadsheets MCP is toggled on in settings and is displaying 3 or more tools enabled

NOTE if you have any trouble turning on the MCP (enabling it) then re-start your Cursor Desktop app and you should be able to activate it

Create apps right from your editor

You can ask Cursor things like I want to use my restaurants file in API Spreadsheets to create an HTML file that creates a visualization of the data there

Cursor will show you that the MCP tool is being used. Make sure to Allow cursor to run the tool

Allow the MCP tool to be run when cursor asks

Enjoy your LIVE dashboards, apps, documentation powered by your spreadsheets

Troubleshooting

Cannot connect? Check your MCP URL and re-start the Cursor app.
Still cannot connect? Be explicit in asking for the API Spreadsheets MCP to be used.
Wrong file selected (account mode)? Mention file name/hash and key columns in your prompt.
Slow replies on huge files? Prefer a File MCP for focused tasks OR Contact Us for a custom chat solution