Frequently Asked Questions about the CData MCP Server for Stripe

Q: What is an MCP Server? A: MCP stands for Model Context Protocol. An MCP Server acts as a bridge, enabling AI models (like Claude) to access and interact with external data sources (like Stripe) and tools. It standardizes how applications provide context to LLMs.

Q: What is the CData MCP Server for Stripe? A: It’s a read-only MCP server that allows LLMs to query live Stripe data supported by the CData JDBC Driver for Stripe. It exposes Stripe data as relational SQL models, enabling natural language queries.

Q: What is the difference between the read-only and read/write versions? A: This project builds a read-only MCP server. The free beta version available at CData provides full read, write, update, delete, and action capabilities with a simplified setup.

Q: What is the CData JDBC Driver for Stripe? A: It’s a driver that connects to Stripe by exposing its data as relational SQL models, allowing you to interact with Stripe data using SQL queries.

Q: How do I set up the CData MCP Server for Stripe? A: The setup involves cloning the repository, building the server, downloading and licensing the CData JDBC Driver, configuring your Stripe connection, creating a .prp file, and configuring your LLM client (like Claude Desktop).

Q: Where can I find the CData JDBC Driver for Stripe? A: You can download it from the CData website: https://www.cdata.com/drivers/stripe/download/jdbc

Q: How do I license the CData JDBC Driver for Stripe? A: Navigate to the lib folder in the installation directory and run the command java -jar cdata.jdbc.stripe.jar --license. Then, enter your name, email, and “TRIAL” (or your license key).

Q: What is a .prp file, and how do I create one? A: A .prp file is a configuration file that contains the properties for your JDBC connection, such as the prefix, server name, driver path, driver class, JDBC URL, and tables.

Q: How do I configure Claude Desktop to use the MCP Server? A: Create or modify the claude_desktop_config.json file to add the new MCP server, specifying the path to the Java executable, the server’s JAR file, and the .prp file.

Q: What do I do if I cannot see my CData MCP Server in Claude Desktop? A: Ensure that you have fully quit Claude Desktop (using Task Manager on Windows or Activity Monitor on Mac) and restarted it.

Q: What if Claude Desktop is unable to retrieve data? A: Double-check that you have configured your connection properly using the Connection String builder and that the connection string is correctly entered in the .prp file.

Q: Where can I get help if I have trouble connecting to my data source? A: Contact the CData Support Team: https://www.cdata.com/support/submit.aspx

Q: Where can I get help if I have trouble using the MCP server? A: Join the CData Community: https://community.cdata.com

Q: What license is this MCP server under? A: This MCP server is licensed under the MIT License.

Q: Is UBOS required to use this CData MCP Server for Stripe? A: While this MCP Server can function independently, UBOS provides a comprehensive platform for managing and orchestrating AI Agents and their connections to data sources, making it a powerful complement to the CData MCP Server for Stripe.

Q: What other data sources are supported by CData MCP Servers? A: CData supports a wide range of data sources, including databases, CRM systems, marketing automation platforms, and more. A comprehensive list is provided in the documentation.