Current Support
COLA Cloud is published as an app-only ChatGPT plugin:Open COLA Cloud in ChatGPT
Connect the COLA Cloud plugin from the ChatGPT Plugin Directory.
OpenAI automatically converted existing published apps into plugins in July
2026. Existing authentication remains valid. The link above is the current
COLA Cloud Plugin Directory listing; its
/apps/ URL remains the published
direct link.Prerequisites
- A ChatGPT account with access to apps
- A COLA Cloud account at app.colacloud.us
- Permission from your ChatGPT workspace owner/admin if your workspace restricts apps
Connect in ChatGPT
Open the app listing
Open the COLA Cloud ChatGPT plugin.You can also open ChatGPT, go to Settings > Apps, and search for
COLA Cloud.
Sign in to COLA Cloud
Complete the COLA Cloud OAuth sign-in and approve the requested read-only
access.
Available Actions
The public ChatGPT app exposes these read-only actions:| Action | What it does |
|---|---|
search_colas | Search COLA approvals by text, brand, applicant, permit number, category, origin, approval date, and related filters. |
get_cola | Retrieve details for a specific COLA record. |
search_permittees | Search TTB permittees by company name, state, permit number, and active status. |
get_permittee | Retrieve details and recent COLA activity for a specific permittee. |
get_processing_times | Check current TTB label approval processing-time metadata. |
get_plan | Check your COLA Cloud plan and usage status. |
What to Select in Chats
Be explicit when you want ChatGPT to use COLA Cloud instead of built-in web search or another app. Useful prompts:- “Use COLA Cloud, not web search, to find bourbon approvals from Kentucky in 2025.”
- “Search COLA Cloud for recent California wine approvals and fetch two record details.”
- “Use COLA Cloud to find active New York permittees matching import.”
- “Check my COLA Cloud plan and usage before running a broad search.”
Direct MCP Clients
Claude Code, Cursor, and other MCP clients that support custom HTTP headers can connect directly to the same hosted MCP endpoint with a COLA Cloud API key:Troubleshooting
| Symptom | What to check |
|---|---|
| The direct link does not open the app | Sign in to ChatGPT, then search for COLA Cloud under Settings > Apps. |
| The Connect button is disabled | Your plan, region, or workspace app policy may block the app. Ask your workspace admin if you use Business, Enterprise, or Edu. |
OAuth succeeds but tool calls fail with oauth_connection_required | The OAuth connection is not linked to an active COLA Cloud account. Contact help@colacloud.us. |
| ChatGPT does not call COLA Cloud | Select the app in the chat composer or explicitly mention @COLA Cloud in your prompt. |
| ChatGPT asks for developer-mode MCP or OAuth client settings | Use the published COLA Cloud app listing instead. Developer-mode setup is for building or testing your own ChatGPT app, not for connecting the published COLA Cloud app. |
| A direct MCP client asks for OAuth | Confirm you are not using ChatGPT setup instructions. Direct clients should send Authorization: Bearer ${COLA_API_KEY} as shown in MCP / AI Assistants. |
| A request needs a saved search or billing change | Use the COLA Cloud web app. The public ChatGPT app is read-only. |