Build Zoho Recruit-Powered Applications in Cursor with CData MCP Server

Cursor is an AI-powered code editor that integrates agentic AI into everyday development workflows. With support for MCP, Cursor can connect to local tools and enterprise data sources directly from the editor, enabling natural language interaction with live systems without switching context.

Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard for connecting LLM clients to external services through structured tool interfaces. MCP servers expose capabilities such as schema discovery and live querying, allowing AI agents to retrieve and reason over real-time data safely and consistently.

In this article, we guide you through installing the CData API Driver for MCP Server, configuring the connection to Zoho Recruit, connecting the MCP Server add-on to Cursor, and querying live Zoho Recruit data from within the editor.

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

1. To begin, download the CData API Driver for MCP Server 👁 Downloading the CData MCP Server add-on installer
   
2. Find and double-click the installer to begin the installation
3. Run the installer and follow the prompts to complete the installation 👁 Completing the CData MCP Server add-on installation
   

When the installation is complete, you are ready to configure your MCP Server add-on by connecting to Zoho Recruit.

Step 2: Configure the connection to Zoho Recruit

1. After installation, open the CData API Driver for MCP Server configuration wizard 👁 The CData MCP Server add-on configuration wizard
   

   NOTE: If the wizard does not open automatically, search for "CData API Driver for MCP Server" in the Windows search bar and open the application.

   👁 Opening the CData MCP Server add-on configuration wizard (Google Sheets is shown).
   
2. In MCP Configuration > Configuration Name, either select an existing configuration or choose to create a new one 👁 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

   To authenticate to ZohoRecruit, and connect to your own data or to allow other users to connect to their data, you can use the OAuth standard.

   Using OAuth Authentication

   First, you will need to register an OAuth application with ZohoRecruit. To do so, go to the Zoho Developer Console, add a new Client (Server-based application) and set a valid OAuth redirect URL. Your OAuth application will be assigned a client id and a client secret. Additionally, you will need to set the relevant Domain (.com, .eu, .in, .com.cn, or .jp), which defaults to .com.

   After setting the following connection properties, you are ready to connect:

   • AuthScheme: Set this to OAuth.
   • InitiateOAuth: Set this to GETANDREFRESH. You can use InitiateOAuth to manage the process to obtain the OAuthAccessToken.
   • OAuthClientId: Set this to the client_id that is specified in your app settings.
   • OAuthClientSecret: Set this to the client_secret that is specified in your app settings.
   • CallbackURL: Set this to the Redirect URI that is specified in your app settings.
   • Domain: Set this in ProfileSettings to your ZohoRecruit account domain (e.g. .com, .eu, .in, .com.cn, .jp).

   Example connection string:

   Profile=C:\profiles\ZohoRecruit.apip;ProfileSettings='Domain=.com';AuthScheme=OAuth;InitiateOAuth=GETANDREFRESH;OAuthClientId=your_client_id;OAuthClientSecret=your_client_secret;CallbackUrl=your_callback_url;
   

   👁 Configuring the MCP Server add-on connection
   
5. Click Connect to authenticate with Zoho Recruit through OAuth
6. Then, click Save Configuration to save the MCP Server add-on 👁 Saving the MCP Server add-on configuration
   

This process creates a .mcp configuration file that Cursor will reference when launching the MCP Server add-on. Now with your MCP Server add-on configured, you are ready to connect it to Cursor.

Step 3: Connect the MCP Server add-on to Cursor

1. Download the Cursor desktop application and complete the sign-up flow for your account
2. From the top menu, click Settings to open the settings panel 👁 Opening Cursor Settings
   
3. In the left navigation, open the Tools & MCP tab and click Add Custom MCP 👁 Tools & MCP tab with Add Custom MCP
   

Option 1: Manually add the MCP configuration

1. Cursor opens an mcp.json file in the editor
2. Add the code shown below and save the file

{
 "mcpServers": {
 "cdata-local": {
 "command": "C:/Program Files/Java/jdk-17/bin/java.exe",
 "args": [
 "-jar",
 "C:/Program Files/CData/CData API Driver for MCP Server/lib/cdata.mcp.api.jar",
 "cdata_api"
 ]
 }
 }
}

👁 Configuring the CData MCP Server add-on in Cursor


NOTE: The command value should point to your Java 17+ java.exe executable, and the JAR path should point to the installed CData MCP Server add-on .jar file. The final argument must match the MCP configuration name you saved in the CData configuration wizard (e.g. "cdata_api").

Option 2: Copy the MCP configuration from the CData API Driver for MCP Server UI

1. After saving and testing your connection in the configuration wizard, click Next
👁 Selecting 'Next'

2. Select Cursor from the AI MCP Tool dropdown
👁 Choosing the required AI MCP tool

3. Follow the MCP Client Instructions to create the required folders for the MCP config
👁 MCP configuration instructions

4. Copy the displayed JSON code and paste it into your configuration file
5. In Cursor, open the project folder you created with the mcp.json config
4. The MCP Server add-on should appear as Running under Installed MCP Servers 👁 CData MCP Server add-on running in Cursor
   

Step 4: Query live Zoho Recruit data in Cursor

1. From the top bar, click Toggle AI Pane to open the chat window
2. Ask questions about your Zoho Recruit data using natural language. For example:

   "List all tables available in my Zoho Recruit data connection."

   👁 Querying live data from Cursor
   

Cursor is now fully integrated with CData API Driver for MCP Server and can use the MCP tools exposed to explore schemas and execute live queries against Zoho Recruit.

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 Zoho Recruit 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.