# Connect your own agent

> Use Tidy from Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini or another assistant in five minutes, and set it up to work safely.

Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/connect-your-own-agent
Section: How to use Tidy

Connecting your own assistant is free on every plan. It signs in as you and can only see and do what you can.

## Connect

1. In Tidy, open **Integrations** (sidebar, under **System**) and copy the server URL: `https://services.automatedconstruction.io/mcp`.
2. In your assistant, add a custom connector (Claude: **Settings > Connectors > Add custom connector**) with that URL. Leave Client ID and Secret empty.
3. Sign in on Tidy's page and click **Allow**.
4. Ask: "Which of my Tidy bids are due this week?"

Steps for each assistant are on [Use Tidy from Claude, ChatGPT and other agents](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/mcp-server).

## Set it up well

- **Keep per-tool approval on** in your assistant until you trust it. Its approval prompt counts as your OK for Tidy actions set to Ask.
- **Block what it should never do.** In Tidy, open Agent mode, **Skills & Plugins > Permissions**, and set those actions to **Block**. Blocks apply to connected agents too.
- **Give it context with tokens.** Paste a **Copy agent token** code into the chat and the assistant opens that exact bid or drawing page.
- **Point it at these docs.** Your assistant can call `search_tidy_docs` and `read_tidy_doc`, or read [llms.txt](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/llms.txt).

## Ideas for your own agent

- **A morning brief**: a scheduled run that lists what is due, overdue tasks and open notifications.
- **Inbox to pipeline**: forward an invite to your assistant and have it create the opportunity and tasks.
- **Records as a work queue**: have it work through a record's To do rows and fill the results. See [Use records](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/use-records).
- **Takeoff without a tab**: when your admin turns on headless takeoff in **Admin > Settings > Agent access**, ask for a takeoff and accept the results later in the workspace.

## What stays in Tidy

Billing always happens in Tidy, by a person. So do proposal sends, RFI sends, follow-ups and declines. The one exception is the **Run a Tidy automation** action, which can send a bid submission or vendor quote request after your assistant approves it. Set it to **Block** in **Permissions** if you want a person to send every email.

## Related

- [Use Tidy from Claude, ChatGPT and other agents](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/mcp-server)
- [Agent permissions](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/agent-permissions)