LABSCO SUMMARY

Building the document is treated as seriously as reading it.

Validating a schema before creating it, creating tables, columns and relations in a single pass, and resolving a reference column's visible column automatically are the parts that make constructing a Grist document from a conversation actually work — reference columns are where hand-rolled attempts usually break. Two notes: the SQL tool means analysis questions do not have to be assembled from record listings, and the tool descriptions the model reads are in French, which is worth knowing but does not change the arguments.

What it is

A full administrative surface over the Grist API, covering the whole hierarchy: organizations, workspaces, documents, tables, columns and records, plus access control, exports, attachments and webhooks. Tool descriptions are written in French.

What you get

Navigation down the hierarchy — list_organizations, list_workspaces, list_documents, list_tables, list_columns — each with a describe_ counterpart for details
list_records with sorting and a limit, get_table_schema for the structure behind them
Records added, updated and deleted; add_grist_records_safe validates the table and column structure before writing, rather than failing halfway
execute_sql_query runs a full SQL query against a document, with filter_sql_query as the simpler form for ordinary filters
Tables and columns created, modified and deleted; create_reference_column builds a reference and resolves its visible column itself
Schema tooling that reads like a migration path: validate_schema checks a schema without creating anything, create_schema builds tables, columns and relations in one pass, and export_schema dumps an existing document's schema
Organizations, workspaces and documents created, modified, moved and deleted, with force_reload_document for synchronisation problems and delete_document_history for trimming a document's action history
Access listed and modified at all three levels — organization, workspace and document
Exports: a document as SQLite or Excel, a table as CSV
Attachments listed, inspected, downloaded and uploaded
Webhooks created, listed, modified and deleted, with clear_webhook_queue for a backlog of undelivered notifications

Requirements

A Grist API key in GRIST_API_KEY, with GRIST_API_HOST pointing at the API — https://docs.getgrist.com/api for the hosted service, or your own instance. Python 3.8+; it runs as uvx mcp-server-grist, with a Docker image as the alternative. Whatever the API key's account can reach in Grist is what the tools can reach. MIT.

Setup effort

One command plus a key — uvx mcp-server-grist, then supply credentials

See installation options

USE CASES

01

Answering a question about data held in Grist

Find the document and table, then run the SQL directly rather than pulling records and filtering afterwards.

list_documentslist_tablesexecute_sql_query

02

Building a new document with related tables

Validate the schema first, create tables, columns and relations in one pass, and add the reference columns with their visible column resolved.

validate_schemacreate_schemacreate_reference_column

03

Loading data in without corrupting the table

Use the checked write, which confirms the table and columns exist before inserting, then update or delete the rows that need it.

add_grist_records_safeupdate_grist_recordsdelete_grist_records

04

Getting the data out for someone who does not use Grist

Export the table as CSV, or the whole document as Excel or SQLite.

download_table_csvdownload_document_exceldownload_document_sqlite

05

Reviewing who can see what

List access at the organization, workspace and document level, and change the entries that are wrong.

list_organization_accesslist_workspace_accesslist_document_accessmodify_document_access

06

Wiring a document into something downstream

Create the webhook, check the ones already registered, and clear the queue when undelivered notifications pile up.

create_webhooklist_webhooksclear_webhook_queue

07

Copying a document's structure to a new one

Export the schema from the existing document, validate it, and create it in the new workspace.

export_schemavalidate_schemacreate_documentcreate_schema

54 tools

Counted once with only startup setup. Other versions, modes or optional credentials may expose a different list.

`add_grist_records`

Ajoute des enregistrements à une table Grist.

BEFORE YOU INSTALL

What to know first

Tools you get

54 tools when we connected. The documented formula-validation tools, including validate_formula and get_formula_helpers, are not on the running server, while create_schema, validate_schema and export_schema are available but undocumented.

Requires

uvx on PATH
Python 3.8+
GRIST_API_KEY in your environment

Where it runs

Both documented clients run the server on your machine.

CONTEXT COST

Moderate Standing cost

Rated by the size of the 54 tool definitions that ride along on every turn, not by how many there are

INSTALLATION

Connect your client

Server setup

TERMINAL

uvx mcp-server-grist

MCP Clients

Any MCP client — uvx

ANY MCP CLIENT — UVX · JSON

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "grist-server": {
      "disabled": false,
      "timeout": 60,
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "mcp-server-grist"
      ],
      "env": {
        "GRIST_API_KEY": "<YOUR_GRIST_API_KEY>"
      }
    }
  }
}

<YOUR_GRIST_API_KEY> is French for "your Grist API key". It is the key from your Grist account settings. Add "GRIST_API_HOST" to env: https://docs.getgrist.com/api for Grist's hosted service, or your own instance's /api address.

Claude Desktop — Docker

CLAUDE DESKTOP — DOCKER · JSON

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "grist-mcp": {
      "command": "docker",
      "args": [
        "run",
        "--rm",
        "-i",
        "-e",
        "GRIST_API_KEY=<YOUR_GRIST_API_KEY>",
        "-e",
        "GRIST_API_HOST=https://docs.getgrist.com/api",
        "mcp/grist-mcp-server"
      ]
    }
  }
}

<YOUR_GRIST_API_KEY> is French for "your API key". It is your Grist API key. GRIST_API_HOST is Grist's hosted service; for your own Grist instance, it is that instance's /api address.

Grist

Building the document is treated as seriously as reading it.

What it is

What you get

Requirements

Setup effort

Answering a question about data held in Grist

Building a new document with related tables

Loading data in without corrupting the table

Getting the data out for someone who does not use Grist

Reviewing who can see what

Wiring a document into something downstream

Copying a document's structure to a new one

54 tools

add_grist_records

add_grist_records_safe

clear_webhook_queue

create_column

create_document

create_reference_column

create_schema

create_table

create_webhook

create_workspace

delete_column

delete_document

delete_document_history

delete_grist_records

delete_organization

delete_webhook

delete_workspace

describe_document

describe_organization

describe_workspace

download_attachment

download_document_excel

download_document_sqlite

download_table_csv

execute_sql_query

export_schema

filter_sql_query

force_reload_document

get_attachment_info

get_table_schema

list_attachments

list_columns

list_document_access

list_documents

list_organization_access

list_organizations

list_records

list_tables

list_webhooks

list_workspace_access

list_workspaces

modify_column

modify_document

modify_document_access

modify_organization

modify_organization_access

modify_table

modify_webhook

modify_workspace

modify_workspace_access

move_document

update_grist_records

upload_attachment

validate_schema

What to know first

Tools you get

Requires

Where it runs

Moderate Standing cost

Connect your client

Server setup

MCP Clients

Any MCP client — uvx

Claude Desktop — Docker

Same category

Google Sheets MCP by freema

`add_grist_records`

`add_grist_records_safe`

`clear_webhook_queue`

`create_column`

`create_document`

`create_reference_column`

`create_schema`

`create_table`

`create_webhook`

`create_workspace`

`delete_column`

`delete_document`

`delete_document_history`

`delete_grist_records`

`delete_organization`

`delete_webhook`

`delete_workspace`

`describe_document`

`describe_organization`

`describe_workspace`

`download_attachment`

`download_document_excel`

`download_document_sqlite`

`download_table_csv`

`execute_sql_query`

`export_schema`

`filter_sql_query`

`force_reload_document`

`get_attachment_info`

`get_table_schema`

`list_attachments`

`list_columns`

`list_document_access`

`list_documents`

`list_organization_access`

`list_organizations`

`list_records`

`list_tables`

`list_webhooks`

`list_workspace_access`

`list_workspaces`

`modify_column`

`modify_document`

`modify_document_access`

`modify_organization`

`modify_organization_access`

`modify_table`

`modify_webhook`

`modify_workspace`

`modify_workspace_access`

`move_document`

`update_grist_records`

`upload_attachment`

`validate_schema`