How to Query Live BambooHR Data in Perplexity MacOS Desktop

Perplexity is an AI-powered research and answer engine that allows users to combine web search, structured data, and connected tools through a unified conversational interface. With Perplexity Desktop for macOS, users can bring local tools and data sources directly into their workflow using MCP, enabling fast, context-aware insights powered by live data.

Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an emerging, open-source standard for connecting LLMs with external services and enterprise data sources. Using MCP Servers, AI clients such as Perplexity Desktop can securely interact with applications and data, performing actions, retrieving live information, and enabling natural language access to data.

CData MCP Server provides schema-aware context to AI tools — whether you're using it for AI-assisted code generation in IDEs like Cursor, or for querying live data through chat interfaces like Perplexity Desktop.

In this article, we guide you through installing CData API Driver for MCP Server, configuring the connection to BambooHR, and interacting with your live BambooHR data from Perplexity Desktop.

Step 1: Download and install CData API Driver for MCP Server

1. To begin, download CData API Driver for MCP Server 👁 Downloading the CData MCP Server installer
   
2. Find and double-click the installer to begin the installation
3. Drag the MCP Server app into the Applications folder 👁 Completing the MCP Server installation
   

When the installation is complete, you are ready to configure MCP Server by connecting to BambooHR.

NOTE: Since you downloaded the application from the internet and not the Apple App Store, you may see a warning that the application was not opened because Apple could not verify its security. You may continue with the installation.

Installing a trusted, unverified App

CData's solutions are trusted across the globe by some of the largest software vendors in the world. That said, if you have any concerns about continuing, please consult with your IT and/or security team.

1. In the warning message that pops up, click "Done"
2. Open "System Settings" on your machine and navigate to the "Privacy & Security" page
👁 Dismissing the notification

3. Scroll down to the "Security" section and click "Open Anyway" 👁 Installing a trusted, unverified App
   
4. Authorize the installation (passkey or password) 👁 Authorizing the installation
   

Step 2: Configure the Connection to BambooHR

1. After installation, you can open CData API Driver for MCP Server from the Applications folder on your mac 👁 The MCP Server configuration wizard
   
2. Click the dropdown menu in MCP Configuration > Configuration Name and select "new configuration" 👁 Creating a new configuration
   
3. Name the configuration (e.g. "cdata_api") and click "OK" 👁 Naming the configuration
   

4. Enter the appropriate connection properties in the configuration wizard.

   Start by setting the Profile connection property to the location of the BambooHR Profile on disk (e.g. C:\profiles\bamboohr.apip). Next, set the ProfileSettings connection property to the connection string for BambooHR (see below).

   BambooHR API Profile Settings

   In order to authenticate to BambooHR, you'll need to provide your API Key. To generate an API key, log in and click your name in the upper right-hand corner of any page to get to the user context menu. If you have sufficient permissions, there will be an "API Keys" option in that menu to go to the page, where you can create a new API Key. Additionally, set the Domain, found in the domain name of your BambooHR account. For example if your BambooHR account is acmeinc.bamboohr.com, then the Domain should be 'acmeinc'. Set both the API Key and Domain in the ProfileSettings property to connect.

   👁 Configuring the Server connection.
   
5. Click "Connect" to authenticate with BambooHR.
6. Click "Save Configuration" to save the configuration 👁 Saving the MCP Server configuration
   

With MCP Server configured, you are ready to connect it to Perplexity Desktop.

Step 3: Connect MCP Server to Perplexity Desktop

1. Download the Perplexity Desktop application for macOS and sign in with your Pro or Premium account
2. Open Settings > Connectors. If the Perplexity Helper App is not installed, you will be prompted to download it. Install the Helper App, then restart Perplexity Desktop 👁 Downloading Perplexity Helper App
   
3. After restarting, return to Settings > Connectors and click Add Connector
4. Select the Simple tab and assign a name for the connector (e.g., "CData BambooHR"). In the Command box, enter the absolute path to the MCP Server executable.

   For example:

   	/Applications/CData API Driver for MCP Server.app/Contents/Payload/jre/Contents/Home/bin/java \
   	-jar /Applications/CData API Driver for MCP Server.app/Contents/Payload/lib/cdata.mcp.api.jar \
   	cdata_api
   

   👁 Providing the MCP server command
   
5. Click Save. MCP Server should now appear in the connector list with a "Running" status 👁 Connector successfully running
   

Step 4: Query Your Live BambooHR data in Perplexity Desktop

1. Open a new chat in Perplexity Desktop. Click the Sources toggle and enable MCP Server 👁 Selecting MCP Server as a source
   
2. Start asking questions about your BambooHR data. For example:

   "List all the tables available in my BambooHR data connection."

   👁 Querying live data through MCP
   

Build with MCP Server. Deploy with CData Drivers.

Download CData API Driver for MCP Server for free and give your AI tools schema-aware access to live BambooHR data during development. When you're ready to move to production, CData API Drivers deliver the same SQL-based access with enterprise-grade performance, security, and reliability.

Visit the CData Community to share insights, ask questions, and explore what's possible with MCP-powered AI workflows.