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How to Use the Blueink MCP Server

This guide demonstrates how to set up and use the Blueink Model Context Protocol (MCP) server with Claude Desktop to retrieve and manage envelope information through natural language interactions. You'll learn how to configure the MCP server and leverage its capabilities for envelope management workflows.

Overview​

The Blueink MCP server enables AI assistants like Claude to interact with your Blueink account through natural language commands:

  1. Retrieve envelope information - Get details about existing envelopes
  2. Query envelope status - Check signing progress and completion status
  3. Access envelope data - View signer information, documents, and metadata
Development Status

The Blueink MCP server is currently in active development. While it works well for retrieving and querying existing envelopes, it has known limitations when creating new envelopes. We recommend using direct API calls for envelope creation workflows.

Known Limitations

Envelope Creation: The MCP server has known issues when creating new envelopes. For reliable envelope creation, use the direct API endpoints as shown in our other guides:

Prerequisites​

Before you begin, ensure you have:

  • A Blueink account with API access
  • Claude Desktop application installed
  • Node.js and npm installed on your system
  • Your Blueink API key (available in the Blueink Dashboard under Apps)
  • Basic understanding of JSON configuration files
tip

If you don't have an API key yet, visit the Authentication guide to learn how to obtain one.

Step 1: Install Required Dependencies​

The Blueink MCP server requires the mcp-remote package to function properly.

Install mcp-remote​

npm install -g mcp-remote

Verify Installation​

which mcp-remote
# Should output the path to the mcp-remote binary
# Example: /Users/username/.nvm/versions/node/v20.19.4/bin/mcp-remote

Make note of the full path to mcp-remote as you'll need it for the configuration.

Step 2: Configure Claude Desktop​

Configure Claude Desktop to use the Blueink MCP server by editing the MCP configuration file.

Locate Configuration File​

The Claude Desktop MCP configuration file is located at:

  • macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
  • Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json

Add Blueink MCP Server Configuration​

Add the following configuration to your claude_desktop_config.json file:

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "blueink": {
            "command": "/Users/blueink/.nvm/versions/node/v20.19.4/bin/mcp-remote",
            "args": [
                "https://mcp.blueink.com/sse"
            ],
            "env": {
                "NODE_PATH": "/Users/blueink/.nvm/versions/node/v20.19.4/lib/node_modules",
                "PATH": "/Users/blueink/.nvm/versions/node/v20.19.4/bin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/bin"
            }
        }
    }
}
Path Configuration

Update the paths in the configuration to match your system:

  • Replace /Users/blueink/.nvm/versions/node/v20.19.4/bin/mcp-remote with your actual mcp-remote path
  • Update NODE_PATH to match your Node.js installation
  • Adjust PATH to include your Node.js binary directory

Restart Claude Desktop​

After saving the configuration file, restart Claude Desktop for the changes to take effect.

Step 3: Authenticate with Blueink​

Once Claude Desktop is configured, you'll need to provide your Blueink API key during your first interaction.

Initial Setup Conversation​

Start a new conversation in Claude Desktop and provide your API key:

Hi Claude! I'd like to use the Blueink MCP server to check my envelopes. 
My API key is: your_api_key_here

Claude will securely store your API key for the session and confirm the connection to your Blueink account.

Step 4: Using the MCP Server​

Retrieving Envelope Information​

Ask Claude to retrieve information about your envelopes using natural language:

Example Queries:

"Show me my recent envelopes"
"What's the status of envelope ID abc123?"
"List all pending envelopes"
"Find envelopes sent to [email protected]"
"Show me completed envelopes from this week"

Sample Response:

I found 5 recent envelopes in your account:

1. **Contract Review** (ID: lL7g5Hn2Ni)
   - Status: Completed
   - Signer: John Doe (john.doe@example.com)
   - Completed: 2025-09-04 at 3:45 PM

2. **NDA Agreement** (ID: mM8h6Jo3Pk)
   - Status: Pending
   - Signer: Jane Smith (jane.smith@example.com)
   - Sent: 2025-09-04 at 2:30 PM

[Additional envelopes...]

Querying Specific Envelope Details​

Get detailed information about specific envelopes:

Example Queries:

"Tell me more about envelope lL7g5Hn2Ni"
"What documents are in envelope mM8h6Jo3Pk?"
"Who are the signers for envelope xyz789?"
"When was envelope abc123 completed?"

Sample Response:

Here are the details for envelope lL7g5Hn2Ni:

**Envelope: Contract Review**
- Status: Completed ✅
- Created: September 4, 2025 at 2:18 PM
- Completed: September 4, 2025 at 3:45 PM

**Signers:**
- John Doe (john.doe@example.com) - Signed ✅

**Documents:**
- contract.pdf (3 pages)

**Signing Events:**
- Document opened: 3:42 PM
- Signature completed: 3:45 PM

Filtering and Searching Envelopes​

Use natural language to filter and search your envelopes:

Example Queries:

"Show me all envelopes from the last 30 days"
"Find incomplete envelopes older than 1 week"
"List envelopes with 'contract' in the name"
"Show me test envelopes only"
"Find envelopes that expired"

Supported Operations​

✅ Fully Supported Operations​

  1. Envelope Retrieval

    • List all envelopes with filtering
    • Get specific envelope details
    • Search envelopes by various criteria

  2. Status Monitoring

    • Check envelope completion status
    • View signing progress
    • Monitor pending envelopes

  3. Information Access

    • View signer details and status
    • Access document information
    • Review envelope metadata

⚠️ Limited Support Operations​

  1. Envelope Creation
    • Has known issues and may not work reliably
    • Recommend using direct API calls instead
    • May work for simple cases but not guaranteed

❌ Not Currently Supported​

  1. Document Upload

    • Cannot upload new documents through MCP
    • Use direct API endpoints for file uploads

  2. Template Management

    • Template creation and modification not supported
    • Use Blueink Dashboard for template management

Best Practices​

1. API Key Security​

  • Never share your API key in public channels
  • Use test mode for development and testing
  • Rotate API keys regularly for security

2. Effective Querying​

  • Use specific envelope IDs when possible for faster results
  • Be descriptive in your natural language queries
  • Combine multiple criteria for precise filtering

3. Error Handling​

  • If the MCP server doesn't respond, check your configuration
  • Verify your API key is valid and has proper permissions
  • Restart Claude Desktop if connection issues persist

4. Performance Optimization​

  • Limit large queries to avoid timeouts
  • Use date ranges for better performance
  • Cache frequently accessed envelope information

Troubleshooting​

Common Issues​

  1. MCP Server Not Connecting

    Error: Could not connect to Blueink MCP server

    Solution: Verify mcp-remote is installed and paths in configuration are correct

  2. Authentication Failures

    Error: Invalid API key

    Solution: Check your API key in the Blueink Dashboard and ensure it's entered correctly

  3. No Envelopes Found

    No envelopes match your criteria

    Solution: Verify you have envelopes in your account and adjust search criteria

Configuration Validation​

Verify your configuration is working:

"Claude, can you connect to my Blueink account and tell me how many envelopes I have?"

If successful, Claude will connect and provide envelope count information.

Alternative Approaches​

For Envelope Creation​

Since envelope creation through MCP has known limitations, use these alternatives:

  1. Direct API Calls: Use the guides for PDF Upload or Templates

  2. Blueink Dashboard: Create envelopes manually through the web interface

  3. SDK Integration: Use official Blueink SDKs for reliable envelope creation

For Advanced Operations​

For operations not supported by MCP:

  1. API Reference: Check the API documentation for direct endpoint usage
  2. Webhook Integration: Use webhooks for real-time notifications
  3. Custom Integration: Build custom solutions using the full API capabilities

Next Steps​

Now that you've learned how to use the Blueink MCP server, you might want to explore:

Need Help?​

If you encounter issues or have questions about the MCP server:

  • Check the API Reference for detailed endpoint documentation
  • Visit our Support Center for additional resources
  • Contact our support team through the Blueink Dashboard
  • Report MCP-specific issues through our feedback channels

The Blueink MCP server provides a powerful way to interact with your envelopes through natural language, making envelope management more intuitive and accessible. While envelope creation capabilities are still being refined, the current functionality for retrieving and monitoring envelopes offers significant value for workflow automation and information access.