Unstructured Transform MCP server installation for Visual Studio Code

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Requirements

• Visual Studio Code. Install Visual Studio Code.
• A GitHub Copilot account. To verify, start Visual Studio Code, click the Copilot icon in the Visual Studio Code status bar, and then:
  • If you already have a Copilot subscription for your account, Visual Studio Code will use that subscription.
  • If you do not have a Copilot subscription yet, you will be signed up for the Copilot Free plan and get a monthly allowance of inline suggestions and AI credits. Learn more about the different Copilot plans.
• Node.js installed on your local development machine. To see if it is, in your terminal, run node -v or node --version. Install Node.js.

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Install the Transform MCP server

Install the Unstructured Transform MCP server by using these instructions: 
https://docs.unstructured.io/transform/install/vs-code.md

1. Open Visual Studio Code’s mcp.json settings file in a text editor. This file is typically located at:
   • For macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Code/User/mcp.json
   • For Linux: ~/.config/Code/User/mcp.json
   • For Windows: %APPDATA%\Code\User\mcp.json
2. Add the following entry to the servers object:
   {
     "servers": {
       "unstructured-transform": {
         "command": "npx",
         "args": ["-y", "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.transform.unstructured.io"]
       }
     }
   }
   
3. Save and close the mcp.json file.
4. From 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.
5. After you authenticate, back in your terminal, press Ctrl + C to exit and return to your terminal prompt.
6. Start Visual Studio Code. If Visual Studio Code is already running, quit and then restart it.
7. The Transform MCP server is ready for you to start using.

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Parse your source files

• 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.

1. After you install the Transform MCP server and start or restart Visual Studio Code, use Visual Studio Code to open the folder that stores the files you want Transform to parse (from the main menu, click File > Open Folder).
2. If the Chat view is not visible, open it (from the main menu, click View > Open View > Chat.)
3. In the Chat view’s Describe what to build box, enter the following prompt:
   Use the Unstructured Transform MCP server to parse the files in this folder.
   
   Provide the results as JSON files, one JSON file per source file.
   
   As needed, adapt the phrase in this folder in the preceding prompt to indicate a more specific folder. Also, as needed, guide Visual Studio Code as to where to write Transform’s output into the folder. 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 structured data extraction: Control how the Unstructured Transform MCP server extracts and formats structured data from 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?

• For technical support, request support.