As of version 1.10.60, WS Form includes an MCP server that can be used to interact with WS Form from external applications, scripts, or services, including AI tools. This makes it possible to connect WS Form directly to AI-powered workflows, enabling intelligent form handling, automated decision-making, and seamless integration with next-generation assistants that speak the MCP protocol.

Prerequisites

In order to use the WS Form MCP Server, the following plugins must first be installed:

• Abilities API (WordPress version 6.9 introduced the Abilities API into core)
• MCP Adapter

Enabling the MCP Server

To enable the WS Form MCP Server:

1. Go to WS Form > Settings > AI from the WordPress admin menu.
2. Under MCP Server check Enable.
3. Click Save Changes.

Form editing is disabled by default for security reasons. If you would like to experiment with making form edits via the MCP server:

1. Go to WS Form > Settings > AI.
2. Under Abilities API, check Allow Updates.
3. Click Save Changes.

Due to AI still being in its infancy, we do not recommend making changes to forms in production.

Authentication

When connecting to the MCP server, we’re going to need a way of authenticating that the request is coming from an authorized user.

To do this, we can create a WordPress user application password as follows:

1. Click WP admin in WordPress studio to access the WordPress admin.
2. Click Users in the WordPress admin menu.
3. Edit the user you would like to use for accessing the MCP server (e.g. admin).
4. Scroll down Application Passwords.
5. In the New Application Password Name input, enter: My MCP Server
6. Click Add Application Password.
7. Copy the application password and keep it somewhere safe for now. It is only generated and shown once.

Testing the MCP Server

MCP Inspector

Here is how you can use MCP Inspector to test the MCP server:

1. Create an mcp-wsform.json file that contains the following:

   {
     "mcpServers": {
       "wsform": {
         "command": "npx",
         "args": ["-y", "@automattic/mcp-wordpress-remote"],
         "env": {
           "WP_API_URL": "https://yoursite.com/wp-json/ws-form/v1/mcp",
           "WP_API_USERNAME": "username",
           "WP_API_PASSWORD": "password"
         }
       }
     }
   }

2. In WP_API_URL enter the URL found under WS Form > Settings > AI > MCP Server > Server URL
3. In WP_API_USERNAME enter the username you used when creating the application password.
4. In WP_API_PASSWORD enter the password you were given when creating the application password.
5. Open MCP Inspector:
   npx @modelcontextprotocol/inspector --config mcp-wsform.json --server "wsform"
6. Ensure that Transport Type is set to STDIO.
7. Click Connect.
8. Click the Tools tab.
9. Click List Tools. The MCP Inspector will show the available tools registered with the WS Form MCP server.

Claude Desktop

Here is how you can use Claude Desktop to test the MCP server:

1. Download and install Claude Desktop.
2. Login. You will need at least a Pro level account.
3. Go to Settings > Desktop App > Developer
4. Click Edit Config and edit the claude_desktop_config.json file. Add this to the file:

   {
     "mcpServers": {
       "WS Form @ yoursite.com": {
         "command": "npx",
         "args": ["-y", "@automattic/mcp-wordpress-remote"],
         "env": {
           "WP_API_URL": "https://yoursite.com/wp-json/ws-form/v1/mcp",
           "WP_API_USERNAME": "username",
           "WP_API_PASSWORD": "password"
         }
       }
     }
   }

5. Restart Claude.

You should now see the MCP server listed when you start a new chat.

You can then try to chat with WS Form on your server by issuing a prompt.

Tips

• Start a new, fresh chat for each form you work with.
• If you create a new form, you don’t need to specify the form ID in subsequent prompts.
• If you are modifying an existing form, identify it initially in your prompt using the form ID
  e.g. Publish form ID 123.
• You can insert fields before another field by identifying it by ID or label
  e.g. Add a select field before the submit button for preferred method of communication.

Example Prompts

Scope

The MCP server can be used with both WS Form LITE and WS Form PRO and can create forms that include the following field types:

• Checkbox
• Email
• Note
• Number
• Phone
• Radio
• Select
• Text
• Text Area
• Text Editor
• URL

When using WS Form PRO, the following additional field types are available:

• Color
• Date/Time
• File Upload
• Hidden
• Next Tab Button
• « Prev
• Price
• Rating
• Validate

The following WS Form features can be used when creating forms:

• Tabs (multi-step forms)
• Calculations (for example, #calc(#field(1) + #field(2)))
• Field settings (such as Default Value, Required, Placeholder, Help, and Invalid Feedback)
• Select, Checkbox, and Radio population
• Field sizing

The WS Form features made available to the MCP server are intentionally simplified to minimize the data AI has to handle when interacting with forms. We hope to expose more features as AI technology progresses.

Current Limitations

• Updates to select, checkbox and radio data grid rows are limited a 2 column format of values and labels.
• Tabs and sections can only be added when initially creating a new form.
• Conditional logic cannot be added.

We hope to add additional functionality as AI technology evolves and becomes more reliable.

Security

All abilities exposed via the MCP server are protected by permission callbacks. User capabilities are checked against standard WS Form capabilities.