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Requirements

Before you begin, you must have the following:

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Install the Transform MCP server

You should be able to instruct Codex Desktop to install the Transform MCP server by asking Codex Desktop the following:
Install the Unstructured Transform MCP server by using these instructions: 
https://docs.unstructured.io/transform/install/codex-desktop.mdx
If this does not work, to install the Transform MCP server manually, complete the following steps.If you are able to successfully connect, skip ahead to parse your source files.
  1. Start Codex Desktop.
  2. In Codex Desktop, on the sidebar, click your user icon, and then click Settings.
  3. On the sidebar, under Integrations, click MCP servers.
  4. Click Add server.
  5. For Name, enter transform
  6. Leave STDIO selected.
  7. For Command to launch, enter npx
  8. For Arguments, enter the following arguments, one at a time, clicking Add argument to add the next argument in sequence: a. -y
    b. mcp-remote
    c. https://mcp.transform.unstructured.io
  9. Leave all of the other settings untouched, and then click Save.
  10. Stop Codex Desktop.
  11. In your terminal, authenticate with the Transform MCP server: 
    npx -y mcp-remote https://mcp.transform.unstructured.io
    A web browser tab will appear, prompting you to authenticate with Transform. Follow the on-screen directions to finish authenticating.
  12. After you authenticate, back in your terminal, press Ctrl + C to exit and return to your terminal prompt.
  13. Restart Codex Desktop.
  14. The Transform MCP server is ready for you to start using.

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Parse your source files

Parsing requests have the following limits:
  • Each file must be of a supported file type.
  • Each file must be 50 MB or less in size.
  • Each request must have 10 files or fewer.
  • Only 5 requests can be running at a time.
The Transform MCP server is designed to notify Codex Desktop about these limits. Because of this, Codex Desktop should notify you whenever it encounters a file that exceeds 50 MB in size. Also, Codex Desktop should formulate strategies to send requests that are 10 files or fewer and not cause more than 5 requests to be running at a time.
  1. After you install the Transform MCP server and restart Codex Desktop, select the project containing the folder on your local machine that stores the files you want Transform to parse.
  2. In the Do anything box, enter the following prompt: 
    Use the Unstructured Transform MCP server to parse the files in this project.

Provide the results as JSON files, one JSON file per source file.
    As needed, adapt the phrase in this project in the preceding prompt to indicate a more specific project folder. Also, as needed, guide Codex Desktop as to where to write Transform’s output into the project. Transform parses your input files and delivers its results to you as a set of output files, one output file per input file.

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Next steps

  • Control Transform file parsing output: Control how the Unstructured Transform MCP server instructs Transform to partition, enrich, chunk, and embed the data based on your files.
  • Control Transform generated sample code: Control how the Unstructured Transform MCP server generates sample curl or Python code that demonstrates how to use Transform to partition, enrich, chunk, and embed the data based on your files.

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Questions? Need help?