Hey @netmstr Great questions on this thread. Connecting to external services like Google Sheets using the custom MCP option can be an annoying task, especially when it comes to generating the right credentials_config JSON.
There’s a much easier way to get this done that gives you more power and flexibility: using Make.com to create your tool (MCP Server).
Instead of wrestling with JSON credentials in Pickaxe, you can build a simple Make.com scenario that connects to your Google Sheet. Make handles all the complicated authentication for you with a few clicks.
Here’s a high-level overview of how you can set this up:
Step 1: Generate Your MCP Token in Make.com
First, you need to get the security token that allows your Pickaxe tool to call your Make scenarios.
- Log into your Make.com account.
- In the bottom-left corner, click your user icon and select “Profile” from the menu.
- On the main dashboard, find and click on the “API / MCP Tokens” section.
- Click “Add token,” give it a clear name (e.g., “Pickaxe Google Sheets Connection”), and click “Save.”
- Make will generate a unique token. Copy this token immediately and store it somewhere safe.
Step 2: Build Your Automation Scenario in Make.com
Next, build the automation workflow in Make. This scenario will run whenever your Pickaxe tool calls it.
- Create a new scenario in Make.
- The trigger should be the default “On demand” setting.
- Add your modules, such as the “Google Sheets” > “Add a Row” module, and configure them.
- Define the data your scenario will receive from Pickaxe. Go to “Scenario settings” (the gear icon) and click “Scenario inputs.” Add an input for each piece of data you need (e.g., an input named
new_row_data). - Map the Scenario input(s) you just created to the fields in your Google Sheets module.
Step 3: Connect Your Scenario to Your Pickaxe Tool
Finally, configure the Action in your Pickaxe tool to use this scenario.
- In your Pickaxe tool’s “Actions” tab, add a new action.
- In the URL field, construct a special URL using your Make server zone and the MCP Token you generated in Step 1. The format is:
https://<MAKE_ZONE>/mcp/api/v1/u/<MCP_TOKEN>/sse
- Replace
<MAKE_ZONE>with your organization’s server (e.g.,eu2.make.comorus1.make.com). - Replace
<MCP_TOKEN>with the token you copied from your profile.
- Define the inputs in the Pickaxe UI to exactly match the names of the “Scenario inputs” you created in Make.
And you’re done! Your Pickaxe agent can now send data directly to your Google Sheet through Make.com without any complex configuration. This method is not only simpler but also more secure and easier to debug.
Hope this helps clear things up!
For getting the code right when connecting your MCP server, you can check out my post on this thread here: