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 Code Assist MCP 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 Code Assist MCP for Odoo, configuring the connection to Odoo, and interacting with your live Odoo data from Perplexity Desktop.
About Odoo Data Integration
Accessing and integrating live data from Odoo has never been easier with CData. Customers rely on CData connectivity to:
- Access live data from both Odoo API 8.0+ and Odoo.sh Cloud ERP.
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Extend the native Odoo features with intelligent handling of many-to-one, one-to-many, and many-to-many data properties. CData's connectivity solutions also intelligently handle complex data properties within Odoo. In addition to columns with simple values like text and dates, there are also columns that contain multiple values on each row. The driver decodes these kinds of values differently, depending upon the type of column the value comes from:
- Many-to-one columns are references to a single row within another model. Within CData solutions, many-to-one columns are represented as integers, whose value is the ID to which they refer in the other model.
- Many-to-many columns are references to many rows within another model. Within CData solutions, many-to-many columns are represented as text containing a comma-separated list of integers. Each value in that list is the ID of a row that is being referenced.
- One-to-many columns are references to many rows within another model - they are similar to many-to-many columns (comma-separated lists of integers), except that each row in the referenced model must belong to only one in the main model.
- Use SQL stored procedures to call server-side RFCs within Odoo.
Users frequently integrate Odoo with analytics tools such as Power BI and Qlik Sense, and leverage our tools to replicate Odoo data to databases or data warehouses.
Getting Started
Step 1: Download and install CData Code Assist MCP for Odoo
- To begin, download CData Code Assist MCP for Odoo
👁 Downloading the CData Code Assist MCP installer
- Find and double-click the installer to begin the installation
- Drag the Code Assist MCP app into the Applications folder
👁 Completing the Code Assist MCP installation
When the installation is complete, you are ready to configure Code Assist MCP by connecting to Odoo.
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.
- In the warning message that pops up, click "Done"
- Open "System Settings" on your machine and navigate to the "Privacy & Security" page
👁 Dismissing the notification
- Scroll down to the "Security" section and click "Open Anyway"
👁 Installing a trusted, unverified App
- Authorize the installation (passkey or password)
👁 Authorizing the installation
Step 2: Configure the Connection to Odoo
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After installation, you can open CData Code Assist MCP for Odoo from the Applications folder on your mac
👁 The Code Assist MCP configuration wizard
- Click the dropdown menu in MCP Configuration > Configuration Name and select "new configuration"
👁 Creating a new configuration
- Name the configuration (e.g. "cdata_odoo") and click "OK"
👁 Naming the configuration
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Enter the appropriate connection properties in the configuration wizard.
To connect, set the Url to a valid Odoo site, User and Password to the connection details of the user you are connecting with, and Database to the Odoo database.
👁 Configuring the Server connection.
- Click "Connect" to authenticate with Odoo.
- Click "Save Configuration" to save the configuration
👁 Saving the Code Assist MCP configuration
With Code Assist MCP configured, you are ready to connect it to Perplexity Desktop.
Step 3: Connect Code Assist MCP to Perplexity Desktop
- Download the Perplexity Desktop application for macOS and sign in with your Pro or Premium account
- 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
- After restarting, return to Settings > Connectors and click Add Connector
- Select the Simple tab and assign a name for the connector (e.g., "CData Odoo").
In the Command box, enter the absolute path to the Code Assist MCP executable.
For example:
/Applications/CData Code Assist MCP for Odoo.app/Contents/Payload/jre/Contents/Home/bin/java \
-jar /Applications/CData Code Assist MCP for Odoo.app/Contents/Payload/lib/cdata.mcp.odoo.jar \
cdata_odoo
👁 Providing the MCP server command
- Click Save.
Code Assist MCP should now appear in the connector list with a "Running" status
👁 Connector successfully running
Step 4: Query Your Live Odoo data in Perplexity Desktop
- Open a new chat in Perplexity Desktop.
Click the Sources toggle and enable Code Assist MCP
👁 Selecting Code Assist MCP as a source
- Start asking questions about your Odoo data.
For example:
"List all the tables available in my Odoo data connection."
👁 Querying live data through MCP
Build with Code Assist MCP. Deploy with CData Drivers.
Download Code Assist MCP for free and give your AI tools schema-aware access to live Odoo data during development. When you're ready to move to production, CData Odoo 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.
