aliabbaschadhar/outlook-automation

Outlook Automation via Rube MCP

Automate Microsoft Outlook operations through Composio's Outlook toolkit via Rube MCP.

Prerequisites

• Rube MCP must be connected (RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS available)
• Active Outlook connection via RUBE_MANAGE_CONNECTIONS with toolkit outlook
• Always call RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS first to get current tool schemas

Setup

Get Rube MCP: Add https://rube.app/mcp as an MCP server in your client configuration. No API keys needed — just add the endpoint and it works.

1. Verify Rube MCP is available by confirming RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS responds
2. Call RUBE_MANAGE_CONNECTIONS with toolkit outlook
3. If connection is not ACTIVE, follow the returned auth link to complete Microsoft OAuth
4. Confirm connection status shows ACTIVE before running any workflows

Core Workflows

1. Search and Filter Emails

When to use: User wants to find specific emails across their mailbox

Tool sequence:

1. OUTLOOK_SEARCH_MESSAGES - Search with KQL syntax across all folders [Required]
2. OUTLOOK_GET_MESSAGE - Get full message details [Optional]
3. OUTLOOK_LIST_OUTLOOK_ATTACHMENTS - List message attachments [Optional]
4. OUTLOOK_DOWNLOAD_OUTLOOK_ATTACHMENT - Download attachment [Optional]

Key parameters:

• query: KQL search string (from:, to:, subject:, received:, hasattachment:)
• from_index: Pagination start (0-based)
• size: Results per page (max 25)
• message_id: Message ID (use hitId from search results)

Pitfalls:

• Only works with Microsoft 365/Enterprise accounts (not @hotmail.com/@outlook.com)
• Pagination relies on hitsContainers[0].moreResultsAvailable; stop only when false
• Use hitId from search results as message_id for downstream calls, not resource.id
• Index latency: very recent emails may not appear immediately
• Inline images appear as attachments; filter by mimetype for real documents

2. Query Emails in a Folder

When to use: User wants to list emails in a specific folder with OData filters

Tool sequence:

1. OUTLOOK_LIST_MAIL_FOLDERS - List mail folders to get folder IDs [Prerequisite]
2. OUTLOOK_QUERY_EMAILS - Query emails with structured filters [Required]

Key parameters:

• folder: Folder name ('inbox', 'sentitems', 'drafts') or folder ID
• filter: OData filter (e.g., isRead eq false and importance eq 'high')
• top: Max results (1-1000)
• orderby: Sort field and direction
• select: Array of fields to return

Pitfalls:

• QUERY_EMAILS searches a SINGLE folder only; use SEARCH_MESSAGES for cross-folder search
• Custom folders require folder IDs, not display names; use LIST_MAIL_FOLDERS
• Always check response['@odata.nextLink'] for pagination
• Cannot filter by recipient or body content; use SEARCH_MESSAGES for that

3. Manage Calendar Events

When to use: User wants to list, search, or inspect calendar events

Tool sequence:

1. OUTLOOK_LIST_EVENTS - List events with filters [Optional]
2. OUTLOOK_GET_CALENDAR_VIEW - Get events in a time window [Optional]
3. OUTLOOK_GET_EVENT - Get specific event details [Optional]
4. OUTLOOK_LIST_CALENDARS - List available calendars [Optional]
5. OUTLOOK_GET_SCHEDULE - Get free/busy info [Optional]

Key parameters:

• filter: OData filter (use start/dateTime, NOT receivedDateTime)
• start_datetime/end_datetime: ISO 8601 for calendar view
• timezone: IANA timezone (e.g., 'America/New_York')
• calendar_id: Optional non-primary calendar ID
• select: Fields to return

Pitfalls:

• Use calendar event properties only (start/dateTime, end/dateTime), NOT email properties (receivedDateTime)
• Calendar view requires start_datetime and end_datetime
• Recurring events need expand_recurring_events=true to see individual occurrences
• Decline status is per-attendee via attendees[].status.response

4. Manage Contacts

When to use: User wants to list, create, or organize contacts

Tool sequence:

1. OUTLOOK_LIST_CONTACTS - List contacts [Optional]
2. OUTLOOK_CREATE_CONTACT - Create a new contact [Optional]
3. OUTLOOK_GET_CONTACT_FOLDERS - List contact folders [Optional]
4. OUTLOOK_CREATE_CONTACT_FOLDER - Create contact folder [Optional]

Key parameters:

• givenName/surname: Contact name
• emailAddresses: Array of email objects
• displayName: Full display name
• contact_folder_id: Optional folder for contacts

Pitfalls:

• Contact creation supports many fields but only givenName or surname is needed

5. Manage Mail Folders

When to use: User wants to organize mail folders

Tool sequence:

1. OUTLOOK_LIST_MAIL_FOLDERS - List top-level folders [Required]
2. OUTLOOK_LIST_CHILD_MAIL_FOLDERS - List subfolders [Optional]
3. OUTLOOK_CREATE_MAIL_FOLDER - Create a new folder [Optional]

Key parameters:

• parent_folder_id: Well-known name or folder ID
• displayName: New folder name
• include_hidden_folders: Show hidden folders

Pitfalls:

• Well-known folder names: 'inbox', 'sentitems', 'drafts', 'deleteditems', 'junkemail', 'archive'
• Custom folder operations require the folder ID, not display name

Common Patterns

KQL Search Syntax

Property filters:

• from:[email protected] - From sender
• to:[email protected] - To recipient
• subject:invoice - Subject contains
• received>=2025-01-01 - Date filter
• hasattachment:yes - Has attachments

Combinators:

• AND - Both conditions
• OR - Either condition
• Parentheses for grouping

OData Filter Syntax

Email filters:

• isRead eq false - Unread emails
• importance eq 'high' - High importance
• hasAttachments eq true - Has attachments
• receivedDateTime ge 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z - Date filter

Calendar filters:

• start/dateTime ge '2025-01-01T00:00:00Z' - Events after date
• contains(subject, 'Meeting') - Subject contains text

Known Pitfalls

Account Types:

• SEARCH_MESSAGES requires Microsoft 365/Enterprise accounts
• Personal accounts (@hotmail.com, @outlook.com) have limited API access

Field Confusion:

• Email properties (receivedDateTime) differ from calendar properties (start/dateTime)
• Do NOT use email fields in calendar queries or vice versa

Quick Reference

| Task | Tool Slug | Key Params | |------|-----------|------------| | Search emails | OUTLOOK_SEARCH_MESSAGES | query, from_index, size | | Query folder | OUTLOOK_QUERY_EMAILS | folder, filter, top | | Get message | OUTLOOK_GET_MESSAGE | message_id | | List attachments | OUTLOOK_LIST_OUTLOOK_ATTACHMENTS | message_id | | Download attachment | OUTLOOK_DOWNLOAD_OUTLOOK_ATTACHMENT | message_id, attachment_id | | List folders | OUTLOOK_LIST_MAIL_FOLDERS | (none) | | Child folders | OUTLOOK_LIST_CHILD_MAIL_FOLDERS | parent_folder_id | | List events | OUTLOOK_LIST_EVENTS | filter, timezone | | Calendar view | OUTLOOK_GET_CALENDAR_VIEW | start_datetime, end_datetime | | Get event | OUTLOOK_GET_EVENT | event_id | | List calendars | OUTLOOK_LIST_CALENDARS | (none) | | Free/busy | OUTLOOK_GET_SCHEDULE | schedules, times | | List contacts | OUTLOOK_LIST_CONTACTS | top, filter | | Create contact | OUTLOOK_CREATE_CONTACT | givenName, emailAddresses | | Contact folders | OUTLOOK_GET_CONTACT_FOLDERS | (none) |

When to Use

This skill is applicable to execute the workflow or actions described in the overview.