Format Magic Now Connects to ChatGPT

Format Magic now connects to ChatGPT. Once you've added Format Magic as a connector, you can ask ChatGPT to create or reshape a document - a proposal, a research report, an executive briefing - and get a polished, professionally formatted PDF back, ready to download, without leaving the conversation. No copying text between tools, no fiddling with layout.

What you can do with it

A quick rule of thumb first: if you already have the finished text and just want it formatted, run it straight through the Format Magic web app - that's the fastest route, no need to involve ChatGPT. The connector is for when you want ChatGPT to do the thinking as well as the formatting. Two cases where it really shines:

1. Create new content, then format it. Ask ChatGPT to research or write something from scratch and hand it back as a finished PDF. For example:

"Research The Walt Disney Company and write a competitor analysis, then format it as a PDF with Format Magic."

2. Reshape existing content, then format it. Give ChatGPT a long or messy document and ask it to transform it before formatting. For example:

"Summarise the attached 40-page report into a two-page executive briefing and format it with Format Magic."

In both cases ChatGPT does the heavy lifting on the words, and Format Magic turns the result into a clean, professional PDF you can download and share - all in one step.

What you'll need

• A Format Magic account. The connector works on any plan. Your usual plan limits apply - document length, available templates, and monthly quota - so paid plans give you more room to work.
• A ChatGPT plan that supports custom connectors. Custom connectors are available on Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, and Education plans, on the web (they aren't in the ChatGPT mobile apps yet). Because Format Magic isn't in ChatGPT's built-in app directory yet, you add it yourself through Developer Mode - the steps below walk you through it.

How to connect Format Magic to ChatGPT

Connecting takes a minute the first time, through ChatGPT's Developer Mode (the beta feature for adding custom connectors). In ChatGPT on the web:

1. Click your name in the bottom-left, then open Settings > Apps.
2. Open Advanced settings and turn on Developer Mode. (While Developer Mode is on, ChatGPT's memory is disabled.) Then go back to the Apps screen.
3. Click Create app - it appears next to Advanced settings once Developer Mode is on. With Developer Mode on, Create app appears next to Advanced settings on the Apps screen.
4. In the New App dialog, enter Format Magic as the Name (icon and Description are optional). Leave Connection set to Server URL and paste the connector URL: https://formatmagic.ai/mcp.
5. Set Authentication to OAuth (you can leave the Advanced OAuth settings as they are).
6. ChatGPT shows a warning that custom MCP servers are unreviewed - this is standard for any connector that isn't in ChatGPT's directory. Tick "I understand and want to continue", then click Create. The completed New App dialog: name, connector URL, and OAuth all set, with the box ticked ready to Create.
7. Sign in to Format Magic and approve access. This uses secure OAuth, so you never share your password with ChatGPT. Approve it and you're connected. Click Sign in with Format Magic to start the secure OAuth sign-in. On the Format Magic page, click Allow to grant access. Your password is never shared with ChatGPT.

To use it in a chat, make sure Format Magic is enabled for the conversation via the apps menu.

Using it: format a PDF with ChatGPT

Once Format Magic is connected and enabled for your chat, you just direct ChatGPT in plain language. Two things to include: tell ChatGPT to use Format Magic, and tell it which template you want (plus any layout options). For example:

"Research the European electric vehicle market and write a three-page market overview, then format it with Format Magic using Document Template 30, with a cover page and a table of contents."

ChatGPT writes the content, sends it to Format Magic with your chosen options, and returns a link to your finished PDF - just click to download. A few pointers on what you can specify:

• Template - name the one you want (for example, "Document Template 30"). Leave it out and Format Magic uses your default. If you name one that doesn't exist, ChatGPT gets back the list of your templates and can try again.
• Cover page and table of contents - off unless you ask for them. The contents page is built automatically from your headings.
• Orientation - portrait by default; ask for landscape for wide, table-heavy documents.
• Page size - defaults to your region. Only mention it (Letter, A4, Legal, A3, or 6x9) if you need a specific size.

Tips and troubleshooting

• Don't see Format Magic in a chat? Make sure Developer Mode is still on and that Format Magic is enabled for the conversation.
• Using the mobile app? Custom connectors are web-only for now - add and use Format Magic from ChatGPT in a browser.
• Asked to sign in again? Sign-in sessions expire from time to time. Just re-approve access when ChatGPT prompts you.
• Want a specific length? Tell ChatGPT up front ("two pages", "around 500 words") so the document comes out the size you need.
• Already have the finished text? Skip the connector and use the Format Magic web app directly - it's quicker than routing it through ChatGPT.

Frequently asked questions

Why doesn't it work with Deep Research? Deep Research and other agent/research modes run as a separate process that doesn't use custom connectors. If you ask for a Format Magic document inside a Deep Research run, ChatGPT builds its own file instead - you'll get a broken or made-up link (often an internal /mnt/data/... path), not a real Format Magic PDF. Ask in a normal chat instead. You can still have ChatGPT research and write the document - just not via the Deep Research button. If you've already run Deep Research, start a fresh normal message and format the text there.

How long can my document be? Format Magic formats up to a set number of characters per document, based on your plan. Very long documents (roughly tens of pages) may be rejected - ask ChatGPT to shorten or split them, or upgrade for a higher limit.

Why is there a pause before my link appears? ChatGPT writes the whole document before sending it to Format Magic, and formatting then takes a few seconds - you may see "Calling tool" with no visible progress. That's normal; the link appears when it's done.

Do I need a paid plan? On the Format Magic side, any plan works, including free - your normal plan limits apply, so paid plans give you more capacity. On the ChatGPT side, custom connectors need a Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, or Education plan with Developer Mode enabled, on the web.

Why do I have to enable Developer Mode? Format Magic isn't in ChatGPT's built-in app directory yet, so Developer Mode is how ChatGPT lets you add a custom connector. The "unreviewed" warning is standard for any connector that isn't in the directory.

Does ChatGPT get my Format Magic password? No. Connecting uses OAuth, so you sign in to Format Magic directly and grant access without ever sharing your password with ChatGPT.

Does enabling Developer Mode change anything else? Yes - ChatGPT turns off its memory feature while Developer Mode is on. You can turn Developer Mode off again at any time.

What kinds of documents work best? Business documents - proposals, research reports, market overviews, and executive briefings are the sweet spot.