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Claude Desktop

Overview​

Here's what you'll do to connect Claude Desktop to Holistics:

  • Turn on MCP Server: A one-time step in your Holistics workspace, done by an admin. If it's already on, skip ahead.
  • Get your connection URL: Choose the environment you want to work with:
    • Reporting: Published Holistics objects (those on the Reporting tab).
    • Development: Unpublished Holistics objects in your current AMQL project branch (those on the Development tab).
  • Choose your authentication method:
    • OAuth: Logs in with your Holistics account (no key to create or manage).
    • API key: Uses a static key instead, useful for headless or scripted setups.
    • Learn more: OAuth vs. API key - which should I use?
  • Install Holistics skills: add the Holistics plugins so Claude knows how to work with Holistics.

Step 1: Turn on MCP Server​

This is a one-time setup done by a workspace admin. Go to AI Settings and enable both Holistics AI and the MCP Server.

ai-mcp-setting

Step 2: Get your connection URL​

Your connection URL depends on your data center region and the Holistics environment you want your AI to work with.

Select your data region

Select your working environment

Let your AI work with published Holistics objects — those on the Reporting tab.

Get your connection url

https://mcp-apac.holistics.io/reporting/mcp


URL format
https://mcp-<REGION>.holistics.io/<ENV>/mcp
  • <REGION>: Choose based on your data center: apac, eu, or us
  • <ENV>:
    • reporting (default): Let your AI work with published Holistics objects (i.e. objects on your Holistics Reporting tab)
    • development: Let your AI work with unpublished Holistics objects in your current AMQL project branch (i.e. objects on your Holistics Development tab)

Step 3: Connect​

Claude Desktop uses a local command config and supports either OAuth or API key.

  1. Go to Settings > Developer > Edit Config.

    Claude Desktop developer settings screen highlighting the Edit Config button

  2. Add Holistics to your config:

OAuth​

  • Use your connection URL from Step 2 and replace <MCP_SERVER_ADDRESS>.
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "holistics": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "mcp-remote",
        "<MCP_SERVER_ADDRESS>"
      ]
    }
  }
}

API key​

  • Use your connection URL from Step 2 and replace <MCP_SERVER_ADDRESS>.
  • Obtain your API key:

Find your key under profile menu > User settings in Holistics.

Holistics profile menu with the User settings option highlighted
  • Replace <YOUR_HOLISTICS_API_KEY> below with it.
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "holistics": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "mcp-remote",
        "<MCP_SERVER_ADDRESS>",
        "--header", "X-Holistics-Key:<YOUR_HOLISTICS_API_KEY>"
      ]
    }
  }
}
  1. Save and restart Claude Desktop.

Step 4: Install Holistics skills​

Holistics skills teach Claude how to work with Holistics, such as exploring datasets and writing AQL. Plugins are available on paid Claude plans, and on Team and Enterprise plans your admin may limit which plugins you can install.

  1. In the left sidebar, go to Customize → Plugins.
  2. Click Add → Add marketplace.
  3. Enter holistics/skills and confirm.
  4. Find the Holistics plugins you need and click Add:
    • holistics-development: develop your AMQL project (models, datasets, and dashboards).
    • holistics-reporting: ask data questions on published datasets and dashboards.

For more details, see Anthropic's guide: Plugins.

Need more help?​

See the MCP FAQ for questions about permissions, data access, and security.

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