# Quickstart with the MCP server

Here you'll connect to Claude Code and use the MCP server as your coding companion to explore sheet structure, understand your data, and prepare for writing API code. (These connection principles work across MCP-compatible AI clients.)

Note
These connection principles work across MCP-compatible AI clients. For client-specific setup, see [Install the Smartsheet MCP server](/ai-mcp/smartsheet/install-the-smartsheet-mcp-server).

## Step 1: Set an API token environment variable

If you don't already have a Smartsheet API token, generate one following the instructions here.

Then set an environment variable to hold your token value, for referencing in your configuration.


```bash
export SMARTSHEET_API_TOKEN="token value"
```

The command may vary depending on your operating system and/or shell environment.

## Step 2: Configure your MCP server connection

Use Claude Code's CLI, to configure your connection.


```bash
claude mcp add --transport http smartsheet-mcp \
    https://mcp.smartsheet.com \
    -H "Authorization:Bearer ${SMARTSHEET_API_TOKEN}"
```

If you're using a regional server outside of the US, replace the MCP server URL with one for your region:

- For Europe, use `https://mcp.smartsheet.eu`
- For Australia, use `https://mcp.smartsheet.au`


## Step 3: Test your connection

In your agent chat, test your connection.

**Prompt:**

> List the Smartsheet MCP server tools.


The response includes Smartsheet tools such as `get_sheet_summary` and more.

You've connected to the Smartsheet MCP server; you're ready to start coding.

## Step 4: Start coding with help from AI

Connected to the MCP server, AI is your Smartsheet coding companion.

Note
You can also leverage the MCP server in developing agent workflows.

The following example conversation demonstrates getting sheet's column structure, so you can code sheet updates.

**Prompt:**

> Get the columns for my sheet called "ABC Task Intake".


**Response:**

> I'll search for the "ABC Task Intake" sheet first to get its ID, then run get_columns on it.
*Search Smartsheet Assets >*
Perfect! Found it. Now let me get the columns for that sheet:
*Get Columns >*
Perfect! Here's the complete column schema for the "ABC Task Intake" sheet (ID: 1234567890) with **5 columns**:
| # | Column Name | Type | Primary | System Type | ID | Options | Validation | Width |
|  --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | ID | TEXT_NUMBER | **Yes** | - | 7851536014413700 | - | No | 150 |
| 2 | Task Name | TEXT_NUMBER | No | - | 2222036480200580 | - | No | 150 |
| 3 | Status | PICKLIST | No | - | 6725636107571076 | Not started, In progress, Complete | Yes | 150 |
| 4 | Assignee | CONTACT_LIST | No | - | 4473836293885828 | - | No | 150 |
| 5 | Created date | DATETIME | No | CREATED_DATE | 18168501538692 | - | No | 150 |

**Key observations:**
- **Primary column**: "ID" (TEXT_NUMBER)
- **System column**: "Created date" (automatically populated system column)
- **Status tracking**: Picklist with 3 predefined options (Not started, In progress, Complete) with validation enabled
- **Contact assignment**: "Assignee" column for tracking task owners
- **Simple structure**: This is a straightforward task intake sheet with 5 essential columns for tracking basic task information



Now you know the sheet structure and can add and update rows in your sheet!

## What's next?

Explore the [Smartsheet MCP server tools](/ai-mcp/smartsheet/mcp-server-tools) to learn the latest capabilities and get work done faster.