Summary  
This chapter covers how to programmatically discover, inspect, and configure available functions on remote servers—enabling or disabling specific capabilities—and execute permission-based actions.

General domain of usage  
File management

After restarting **Claude Desktop**, return to the **Developer** tab. You'll see a list of **MCP servers** with their **status indicators**. If a server isn't running, it means there was a **setup issue**. Click on the server to view the **tools it provides**.

You can **enable or disable specific functions** based on your needs. It's best to keep only the functions you plan to use **active** to avoid unnecessary complexity.

You can now interact with **Claude Desktop** and use your installed **MCP server** to perform tasks like **file management**, **data access**, or other **server-specific actions**. Just ask Claude, and it will know **when and how** to use the right tools.

Don't worry, **Claude will ask for your permission** before doing anything. If there are any errors, it will **try a different approach** or **suggest a fix**.

Note

Découvrez comment exploiter la puissance du MCP (Model Context Protocol) pour connecter Claude IA à vos outils quotidiens, automatiser des tâches et simplifier des flux de travail complexes. Ce cours couvre les bases des serveurs MCP, leur configuration et l'interaction avec votre environnement local. Vous explorerez également des cas d'utilisation concrets, de l'intégration des services Google tels que Gmail et Calendar à l'automatisation de l'analyse Excel et à la génération de présentations PowerPoint à l'aide de Python et de l'IA. Conçu pour les utilisateurs techniques et non techniques, ce cours vous aidera à obtenir des gains de productivité réels avec un effort manuel minimal.

Learn how MCP (Model Context Protocol) connects AI agents to your tools, apps, and data. This section introduces the core ideas behind MCP servers, shows you how to get started, and walks you through practical ways to interact with your local environment using Claude Desktop.

Unlock the power of AI to streamline data analysis, automate Excel reports, and generate insightful summaries with minimal effort. Explore how MCP tools and Python scripts—combined with natural language prompts—can transform static files into dynamic dashboards and structured reports. From raw CSVs to well-organized deliverables, every step becomes faster, smarter, and hands-free thanks to AI-powered automation.

Explore how MCP can connect Claude AI to your Gmail and Google Calendar, enabling powerful task automation and communication workflows. Learn how to install and configure these servers, manage emails directly through AI, and discover the broader potential of MCP integrations beyond Google tools.

Interacting with MCP Servers

Interacting with MCP Servers