> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.depence.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.depence.com/depence-tips-and-tricks/connecting-the-ai-claude-desktop-and-chatgpt.md).

# Connecting the AI Claude Desktop and ChatGPT

## Whats possible today?&#x20;

&#x20;Depence R4.1 marks the first step into a new era of AI-powered show design.

With the introduction of our MCP interface, AI assistants can now interact directly with Depence, initially focusing on the creation of lighting scenes.

And this is just the beginning.

We're laying the foundation for something much bigger, with plans to expand AI capabilities far beyond lighting, opening up entirely new possibilities for creative workflows and show programming.

### **The future of AI-powered show design starts here.** <br>

## Connect Depence to Claude Desktop

This guide explains how to connect **Depence** to the AI application **Claude Desktop**. Once set up, you can simply tell Claude in plain language what your show should do – for example switch lights on, start scenes or play full sequences.

The setup takes about **5 minutes** and only has to be done **once**.

***

### Step 1 – Install Claude Desktop

1. In your browser, open <https://claude.ai/download>.
2. Download **Claude Desktop for Windows** and install it.
3. Launch Claude Desktop once and sign in with your Claude account.

***

### Step 2 - Claude Local MCP servers

1. Go to Claude settings
2. Navigate to "Desktop app" - "Developer"

Once you are in the developer settings, you'll see that you can add local MCP servers.

3. Click "Edit Config" - a folder will open
4. That folder should contain a file named `claude_desktop_config.json`.
5. Open the file with the Windows Notepad (right-click → *Open with* → *Notepad*).
6. Paste **exactly** the following content and save the file:

   ```json
   {
     "mcpServers": {
       "depence": {
         "command": "C:\\Program Files\\Syncronorm\\Depence\\DepenceMCP\\Depence.MCP.Connector.exe"
       }
     }
   }
   ```

   > Pay attention to the **double backslashes** (`\\`) in the path – that is required.

If the file already contains something (e.g. other connections), only add the `"depence": { … }` entry inside the existing `mcpServers` block.

***

### Step 3 – Check the Depence connection

The AI connection is installed together with Depence – there is nothing extra to download. It lives in a sub-folder of your Depence installation, by default:

```
C:\Program Files\Syncronorm\Depence\DepenceMCP\Depence.MCP.Connector.exe
```

Just check in Explorer that this file exists.

> If a message about **.NET** appears during the later test, simply follow the link shown there and install the **".NET Desktop Runtime 8"** from Microsoft.

***

### Step 4 – Test the connection

1. Start **Depence** and open your project as usual.
2. **Quit Claude Desktop completely**:
   * Right-click the Claude icon in the notification area (bottom right, next to the clock) → **Quit**.
3. Start Claude Desktop again.
4. Open a new chat and type:

   > *"Is the Depence MCP connected?"*
5. Claude should reply with something like *"Depence is reachable."* – done, the connection is working.

***

### Step 5 – Get started

From now on you can simply tell Claude what to do, for example:

* *"Set all pumps in the 'Front' group to 80 %."*
* *"Start the scene 'Intro Look' with a 3 second fade."*
* *"Play the sequence 'Main Show'."*
* *"Clear the programmer and switch all lights off."*

For the best results we recommend pasting the following **bootstrap text** at the beginning of every new chat:

```
You are controlling the lightshow software Depence.
Before doing anything else:
1. Fetch the system instruction and the command-script language guide
   from Depence.
2. Fetch the current project inventory, the scene list and the sequence
   list, so you know my project.
Only then act on my instructions.
```

***

### It doesn't work – what now?

| Problem                                    | Solution                                                                                                                                  |
| ------------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Claude says *"Depence not reachable"*.     | Is Depence running? Is a project loaded? Start both and retry.                                                                            |
| Claude shows no connection to Depence.     | `claude_desktop_config.json` contains a typo. Check the file (quotes, commas, double backslashes). Quit Claude completely and restart it. |
| A message about ".NET" appears at startup. | Install the **.NET Desktop Runtime 8** from <https://dotnet.microsoft.com/download/dotnet/8.0>.                                           |
| Changes don't take effect.                 | Always **quit Claude completely** (tray icon → *Quit*) and then start it again. Closing the window is not enough.                         |

If you run into a problem that none of these steps solves, please contact our support team.

***

## Connect Depence to ChatGPT

This guide explains how to connect Depence to the ChatGPT desktop app using the local MCP connector. Once set up, you can simply tell ChatGPT in plain language what your show should do—for example, switch lights on, start scenes, or play full sequences.

The setup takes about **5 minutes** and only has to be done once.

> **Before you start**
>
> This guide assumes that the latest ChatGPT app for Windows is already installed and that you are signed in with a paid account. Depence and ChatGPT must run on the same computer.

### Step 1 – Check the Depence connector

The MCP connector is installed together with Depence—there is nothing extra to download.

Open Windows Explorer and check that this file exists:

```
C:\Program Files\Syncronorm\Depence\DepenceMCP\Depence.MCP.Connector.exe
```

> **Different installation folder?**
>
> If you installed Depence somewhere else, use the corresponding path in the configuration below.

### Step 2 – Open the configuration file

1. Press **Windows + R**.
2. Enter the following path and press **Enter**:

   ```
   %USERPROFILE%\.codex
   ```
3. Find the file named **config.toml**.
4. Open it with **Windows Notepad**: right-click → **Open with** → **Notepad**.

If the file does not exist, create it.

> **Important**
>
> Make sure the filename is **config.toml**, not **config.toml.txt**. When saving a new file in Notepad, select **All files** as the file type.

### Step 3 – Add the Depence connection

Add the following section at the end of the file:

```
[mcp_servers.depence]
command = 'C:\Program Files\Syncronorm\Depence\DepenceMCP\Depence.MCP.Connector.exe'
default_tools_approval_mode = "approve"
```

Save the file with **Ctrl + S**.

| Setting                                   | Purpose                                                                                                                                                 |
| ----------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `command`                                 | Specifies the location of the Depence MCP connector.                                                                                                    |
| `default_tools_approval_mode = "approve"` | Approves the connector’s tools by default, avoiding individual tool approval prompts. Explicit tool overrides or higher-level policies may still apply. |

> **Already have a Depence entry?**
>
> Update the existing `[mcp_servers.depence]` section instead of adding it twice. Keep all other connections and settings unchanged.
>
> Place `default_tools_approval_mode = "approve"` directly in the Depence section, before any `[mcp_servers.depence.tools.…]` sections.

> **Keep the single quotation marks**
>
> The single quotation marks around the Windows path allow normal backslashes. Unlike the Claude JSON configuration, this TOML entry does **not** require double backslashes.

### Step 4 – Test the connection

1. Start **Depence** and open your project as usual.
2. Quit the **ChatGPT app completely** and start it again.
3. Open a new chat and type:

   > Is the Depence MCP connected? Tell me which project is currently open.

ChatGPT should check the connection and reply with information from your project—the connection is working.

> **Local connection**
>
> No tunnel or additional API key is required for this local MCP connection.

### Step 5 – Get started

From now on, you can simply tell ChatGPT what to do.

| Task                 | Example instruction                                |
| -------------------- | -------------------------------------------------- |
| Control pumps        | Set all pumps in the “Front” group to 80%.         |
| Start a scene        | Start the scene “Intro Look” with a 3-second fade. |
| Play a sequence      | Play the sequence “Main Show”.                     |
| Clear the programmer | Clear the programmer and switch all lights off.    |
| Explore your project | Show me all available scenes and sequences.        |

Use the actual group, scene, and sequence names from your project.

For the best results, we recommend pasting the following text at the beginning of every new chat:

```
You are controlling the lightshow software Depence.

Before doing anything else:
1. Fetch the system instructions and the command-script language guide
   from Depence.
2. Fetch the current project inventory, the scene list, and the sequence
   list, so you know my project.

Only then act on my instructions.
```

### It doesn’t work – what now?

| Problem                                 | What to check                                                                                         |
| --------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| ChatGPT cannot find the Depence tools.  | Check that the configuration was saved and restart ChatGPT completely.                                |
| The connector cannot start.             | Check that the executable exists at the path specified in `command`.                                  |
| Depence cannot be reached.              | Make sure Depence is running and a project is open.                                                   |
| A configuration error appears.          | Check the quotation marks and make sure `[mcp_servers.depence]` appears only once.                    |
| Individual tool approvals still appear. | Check the placement of `default_tools_approval_mode = "approve"` and any existing per-tool overrides. |
| A missing .NET runtime is reported.     | Follow the installation link or instructions shown in the error message.                              |

If you run into a problem that none of these steps solves, please contact our support team and include the displayed error message.


---

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