/create-document

description: Create a new PandaDoc document from a template with recipients and content
argument-hint: "<template> <recipient_email> <recipient_name> [document_name] [variables]"
arguments: [template, recipient_email, recipient_name, document_name, variables]

Create PandaDoc Document

Create a new document from a PandaDoc template, populated with recipients and content tokens. This is the primary way MSPs create proposals, MSAs, SOWs, and quotes for clients.

Prerequisites

• PandaDoc MCP server connected with a valid API key
• MCP tools `pandadoc-list-templates`, `pandadoc-get-template`, and `pandadoc-create-document` available
• Template must exist in PandaDoc
• Recipient must have a valid email address

Steps

1. **Resolve template** - Find the template by name or use the provided ID

• If a name was provided, call `pandadoc-list-templates` with `q` set to the template name
• If an ID was provided, call `pandadoc-get-template` with `id`

2. **Review template details** - Get tokens, fields, and roles

Call `pandadoc-get-template` with the resolved template `id` to identify:

• Required content tokens
• Recipient roles defined in the template
• Pricing table structure (if any)

3. **Build the document** - Create with recipients and content

Call `pandadoc-create-document` with:

• `template_uuid` set to the resolved template ID
• `name` set to the document name (or auto-generate from template + recipient)
• `recipients` array with at least the primary recipient
• `tokens` array with content variables mapped from the user's input

4. **Verify document creation**

Call `pandadoc-get-document` with the returned `id` to confirm:

• Document was created successfully
• All tokens were populated
• Recipients are correct

5. **Present document summary** to the user

6. **Optionally send** - Ask if the user wants to send immediately or review first

Parameters

| Parameter | Type | Required | Default | Description | |-----------|------|----------|---------|-------------| | template | string | Yes | - | Template name or ID | | recipient_email | string | Yes | - | Primary recipient email address | | recipient_name | string | Yes | - | Primary recipient full name (first and last) | | document_name | string | No | auto | Document name (defaults to "Template Name - Recipient Name") | | variables | key-value | No | - | Content token values (e.g., Client.Company=Acme Corporation) |

Examples

Basic Document from Template

/create-document --template "Managed Services Agreement" --recipient_email "john@acme.com" --recipient_name "John Smith"

With Custom Document Name

/create-document --template "Managed Services Agreement" --recipient_email "john@acme.com" --recipient_name "John Smith" --document_name "Acme Corp - MSA 2026"

With Content Variables

/create-document --template "Managed Services Agreement" --recipient_email "john@acme.com" --recipient_name "John Smith" --variables "Client.Company=Acme Corporation, Contract.StartDate=March 1 2026, Contract.Term=36 months, Client.UserCount=50"

Hardware Quote

/create-document --template "Hardware Quote" --recipient_email "lisa@globalservices.com" --recipient_name "Lisa Chen" --document_name "Global Services - Workstation Refresh Q1 2026"

Statement of Work

/create-document --template "Statement of Work" --recipient_email "mike@riverside.com" --recipient_name "Mike Torres" --variables "Project.Name=Network Infrastructure Upgrade, Project.Timeline=8 weeks, Project.Budget=$45000"

Output

Document Created

Document Created Successfully
================================================================

Document ID:    msFYActMfJHqNTKH9tcPFa
Name:           Acme Corp - Managed Services Agreement
Status:         Draft
Template:       Managed Services Agreement (v5)
Created:        2026-02-24T10:30:00.000Z

Recipients:
  1. John Smith <john@acme.com> - Client (Signer, Order: 1)

Content Tokens:
  Client.Company:     Acme Corporation
  Contract.StartDate: March 1, 2026
  Contract.Term:      36 months
  Client.UserCount:   50

Next Steps:
  - Review the document in PandaDoc: https://app.pandadoc.com/a/#/documents/msFYActMfJHqNTKH9tcPFa
  - Add MSP countersigner if needed
  - Send for signature: /send-document --document_id "msFYActMfJHqNTKH9tcPFa"
================================================================

Template Not Found

Template not found: "Nonexistent Template"

Suggestions:
  - Check spelling of the template name
  - List available templates: /list-templates
  - Search by keyword: /list-templates --query "MSA"
  - Create the template in PandaDoc first at app.pandadoc.com

Missing Required Tokens

Warning: Template has tokens that were not provided

Template: Managed Services Agreement
Missing tokens:
  - Client.Address (no default value)
  - SLA.ResponseTime (no default value)
  - SLA.Uptime (no default value)

The document was created with empty values for these tokens.
Edit the document in PandaDoc or recreate with:

/create-document --template "Managed Services Agreement" \
  --recipient_email "john@acme.com" \
  --recipient_name "John Smith" \
  --variables "Client.Company=Acme, Client.Address=123 Main St, SLA.ResponseTime=15 minutes, SLA.Uptime=99.9%"

Invalid Recipient

Error: Invalid recipient email address

"john@" is not a valid email address.

Please provide a valid email:
  /create-document --template "MSA" --recipient_email "john@acme.com" --recipient_name "John Smith"

Error Handling

MCP Connection Error

Error: Unable to connect to PandaDoc MCP server

Possible causes:
  - API key is invalid or expired
  - MCP server is not configured
  - Network connectivity issue

Check your MCP configuration and regenerate the API key at app.pandadoc.com > Settings > API

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