GroupDocs.Total.Mcp

# GroupDocs.Total MCP Server

Unified MCP server that exposes the full [GroupDocs.Total](https://products.groupdocs.com/total) document-processing toolset — annotation, comparison, conversion, markdown, merging, metadata, parsing, redaction, signing, watermarking, plus cross-product document inspection and page preview — as AI-callable tools for Claude, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, and other MCP agents. Designed to be used **standalone** — attaching the individual product MCPs (GroupDocs.Annotation.Mcp, GroupDocs.Signature.Mcp, …) alongside is unnecessary and would duplicate tools.

[![GHCR](https://img.shields.io/badge/GHCR-total--net--mcp-2496ED?logo=docker&logoColor=white)](https://github.com/orgs/groupdocs-total/packages/container/package/total-net-mcp)
[![MCP Registry](https://img.shields.io/badge/MCP_Registry-listed_(OCI)-6f42c1)](https://registry.modelcontextprotocol.io/v0/servers?search=io.github.groupdocs-total/groupdocs-total-mcp)
[![Integration tests](https://github.com/groupdocs-total/GroupDocs.Total.Mcp.Tests/actions/workflows/integration.yml/badge.svg)](https://github.com/groupdocs-total/GroupDocs.Total.Mcp.Tests/actions/workflows/integration.yml)
[![License: MIT](https://img.shields.io/badge/License-MIT-yellow.svg)](LICENSE)

<!-- TODO(manual): record 30s demo per improvement-plan M1 -->
<!-- ![Demo](assets/demo.gif) -->

## Installation

**This product ships via Docker (GHCR) only.** GroupDocs.Total bundles every engine (including Parser's embedded ONNX models), so the packed tool far exceeds NuGet.org's 250 MB limit - so `dnx` and
`dotnet tool install` are **not available** for it. When upstream ships a
slimmer engine that packs under the limit, the standard NuGet flow returns
(see the revert notes in `.github/workflows/publish_prod.yml`).

```bash
docker run --rm -i \
  -v $(pwd)/documents:/data \
  ghcr.io/groupdocs-total/total-net-mcp:latest
```

Images are multi-arch (`linux/amd64` + `linux/arm64`), tagged `latest` plus an
immutable version tag per release (e.g. `:26.7.2`). To pin, replace `:latest`
with the version tag - recommended for shared configs and CI.

<!-- install-buttons:start - generated by install/generate-install-links.ps1; do not edit by hand -->
[![Install in VS Code](https://img.shields.io/badge/VS_Code-Install-0098FF)](https://vscode.dev/redirect/mcp/install?name=groupdocs-total&inputs=%5B%7B%22type%22%3A%22promptString%22%2C%22id%22%3A%22storage_path%22%2C%22description%22%3A%22Base%20folder%20for%20input%20and%20output%20files%22%7D%5D&config=%7B%22command%22%3A%22docker%22%2C%22args%22%3A%5B%22run%22%2C%22--rm%22%2C%22-i%22%2C%22-v%22%2C%22%24%7Binput%3Astorage_path%7D%3A%2Fdata%22%2C%22ghcr.io%2Fgroupdocs-total%2Ftotal-net-mcp%3Alatest%22%5D%7D) [![Install in VS Code Insiders](https://img.shields.io/badge/VS_Code_Insiders-Install-24bfa5)](https://insiders.vscode.dev/redirect/mcp/install?name=groupdocs-total&inputs=%5B%7B%22type%22%3A%22promptString%22%2C%22id%22%3A%22storage_path%22%2C%22description%22%3A%22Base%20folder%20for%20input%20and%20output%20files%22%7D%5D&config=%7B%22command%22%3A%22docker%22%2C%22args%22%3A%5B%22run%22%2C%22--rm%22%2C%22-i%22%2C%22-v%22%2C%22%24%7Binput%3Astorage_path%7D%3A%2Fdata%22%2C%22ghcr.io%2Fgroupdocs-total%2Ftotal-net-mcp%3Alatest%22%5D%7D&quality=insiders) [![Add to Cursor](https://img.shields.io/badge/Cursor-Add_MCP-111111)](https://cursor.com/en/install-mcp?name=groupdocs-total&config=eyJjb21tYW5kIjoiZG9ja2VyIiwiYXJncyI6WyJydW4iLCItLXJtIiwiLWkiLCItdiIsIi9wYXRoL3RvL2RvY3VtZW50czovZGF0YSIsImdoY3IuaW8vZ3JvdXBkb2NzLXRvdGFsL3RvdGFsLW5ldC1tY3A6bGF0ZXN0Il19)

> One-click buttons prompt for your documents folder. Cursor's deeplink installs with a
> placeholder storage path - edit it after install.
<!-- install-buttons:end -->

> **More clients** - ready-made configs for Claude Code, Visual Studio 2022 (`.mcp.json`),
> Cursor, Windsurf, Cline, and JetBrains Rider live in [`install/generated/`](install/generated/).

## Available MCP Tools (38 total)

Tools follow `{Product}{Verb}{Noun}` PascalCase to disambiguate across domains. Cross-product tools stay short.

### Cross-product (2)

| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| `GetDocumentInfo` | File type, page count, size as JSON for any document (170+ formats via Parser engine) |
| `GetDocumentPageImage` | Render up to 5 pages as inline PNG images (Viewer engine, 170+ formats) |

### Annotation (8)

| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| `AnnotationAddAnnotation` | Add textfield / area / point / arrow / highlight / underline / strikeout annotation |
| `AnnotationGetAnnotations` | List all annotations as JSON (id, type, message, page, box, user, replies) |
| `AnnotationUpdateAnnotation` | Modify an existing annotation's message and/or bounding box by id |
| `AnnotationRemoveAnnotations` | Remove annotations by id list, or all |
| `AnnotationAddReply` | Add a reply / comment thread to an existing annotation |
| `AnnotationRemoveReplies` | Remove replies by id, by user name, or all |
| `AnnotationImportAnnotations` | Import annotations from XML or another annotated document |
| `AnnotationExportAnnotations` | Extract annotations to XML (re-importable via Import) |

### Signature (7)

| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| `SignatureSign` | Sign with text / qrcode / barcode / digital certificate signature |
| `SignatureVerify` | Verify signatures, return JSON validity report |
| `SignatureSearchTextSignatures` | Find embedded text signatures with optional substring filter |
| `SignatureSearchBarcodes` | Find barcode signatures with optional decoded-text filter |
| `SignatureSearchQrCodes` | Find QR code signatures with optional decoded-text filter |
| `SignatureSearchDigitalSignatures` | Find digital certificate signatures (signer, issuer, validity) |
| `SignatureSearchImageSignatures` | Find embedded image signatures, return as base64 PNGs |

### Comparison (1) · Conversion (2) · Markdown (2)

| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| `ComparisonCompare` | Compare two documents, produce annotated diff document |
| `ConversionConvert` | Convert between PDF, Office, image, HTML, and 50+ more formats |
| `ConversionGetSupportedFormats` | List every output format the document can be converted TO |
| `MarkdownConvertToMarkdown` | Convert PDF / Office / EPUB / MOBI to clean Markdown |
| `MarkdownComposeFromMarkdown` | Compose DOCX / PDF / HTML from Markdown source |

### Merger (2) · Metadata (2)

| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| `MergerMerge` | Combine up to 4 documents into one (PDF / Office / HTML / images) |
| `MergerSplit` | Split a document into separate files by page numbers |
| `MetadataReadMetadata` | Read all metadata properties (author, title, EXIF, XMP, IPTC, custom) as JSON |
| `MetadataRemoveMetadata` | Strip all metadata and save a clean copy |

### Parser (5) · Redaction (4) · Watermark (3)

| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| `ParserExtractText` | Extract plain text (page-by-page or whole document) |
| `ParserExtractImages` | Extract embedded images and save them to storage |
| `ParserExtractTables` | Extract tables as Markdown or JSON |
| `ParserExtractMetadata` | Extract metadata fields (separate from MetadataReadMetadata; Parser-format-aware) |
| `ParserExtractBarcodes` | Find and decode embedded barcodes in document pages |
| `RedactionRedactText` | Redact text matching a regex with a replacement string |
| `RedactionRedactImageArea` | Black out a rectangular region of a document page |
| `RedactionRedactAnnotations` | Redact or delete annotations matching a regex |
| `RedactionEraseMetadata` | Strip metadata via the Redaction engine (handles formats Metadata can't) |
| `WatermarkAddWatermark` | Add a text watermark with configurable font, rotation, opacity |
| `WatermarkSearchWatermarks` | List existing watermarks (type, text, position, page) as JSON |
| `WatermarkRemoveWatermarks` | Remove watermarks by text filter or all |

## Example prompts

- "Convert contract.docx to PDF, then sign it with a QR code containing 'Signed by Alice', then watermark every page with 'CONFIDENTIAL'"
- "Compare old.pdf and new.pdf, list every annotation in the result, and preview page 1"
- "Extract all tables from report.xlsx as Markdown and redact every email address"
- "Read the metadata of every PDF in /uploads, then strip it, then preview the cleaned page 1 of each"
- "Find every barcode in invoice.pdf, then merge invoice.pdf + receipt.pdf into combined.pdf"

## Licensing

**The MCP server itself is MIT; the underlying GroupDocs engines require a license
for production use.** Without one the server runs in **evaluation mode**:

- Each bundled engine applies its own evaluation limits: output watermarks / evaluation notices, page limits, and per-process document-open caps (1-15 documents depending on the engine).

To lift the limits, mount your `GroupDocs.Total.lic` into the container and point
`GROUPDOCS_LICENSE_PATH` at it (see the Claude Desktop example above):

- [Get a free 30-day temporary license](https://purchase.groupdocs.com/temporary-license/)
- [Purchase a license](https://purchase.groupdocs.com/pricing/total/net) | [Product page](https://products.groupdocs.com/total/net/)

## Configuration

| Variable | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
| `GROUPDOCS_MCP_STORAGE_PATH` | Base folder for input and output files | current directory |
| `GROUPDOCS_MCP_OUTPUT_PATH` | *(Optional)* separate folder for output files | `GROUPDOCS_MCP_STORAGE_PATH` |
| `GROUPDOCS_LICENSE_PATH` | Path to GroupDocs license file | (evaluation mode) |

## Usage with Claude Desktop

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "groupdocs-total": {
      "command": "docker",
      "args": ["run", "--rm", "-i", "-v", "/path/to/documents:/data", "ghcr.io/groupdocs-total/total-net-mcp:latest"]
    }
  }
}
```

> To use a license, add `"-v", "/path/to/license-folder:/license", "-e",
> "GROUPDOCS_LICENSE_PATH=/license/GroupDocs.Total.lic"` before the image name.
> To pin a version, replace `:latest` with the release tag.

## Usage with VS Code / GitHub