Cursor openalex mcp server openalex_describe_fields
How to: Cursor openalex mcp server openalex_describe_fields
Add openalex mcp server to Cursor
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01
Open ~/.cursor/mcp.json and merge this in. Keep any servers already there.
{
"mcpServers": {
"openalex-mcp-server": {
"url": "https://openalex.caseyjhand.com/mcp"
}
}
}-
02
Save the file and restart Cursor.
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03
Ask for something openalex_describe_fields does. Cursor lists the server's tools on connect and calls openalex_describe_fields itself — you do not invoke it by name.
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04
If nothing happens, check the server is running and that openalex mcp server's identifier in your config matches the one above exactly.
Use .cursor/mcp.json in a project root instead to scope it to that project. Cursor merges both. Cursor docs
Set these first
openalex mcp server will not start until these are set, so openalex_describe_fields never becomes available.
-
OPENALEX_API_KEY -
OPENALEX_MAILTO -
OPENALEX_BASE_URL -
MCP_LOG_LEVEL
Same tool, other clients
This list was read from the server itself, by connecting to it and calling tools/list on 24 September 2026. It is what
the server actually exposes, not what its listing claims.
Mutating and Read-only are read off each tool's name, not its schema — a hint, not a guarantee. The registry stores tool names only; connect the server for its live schemas.