Outlook Automation via Rube MCP

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

Toolkit docs: composio.dev/toolkits/outlook

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.

• Verify Rube MCP is available by confirming RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS responds

• Call RUBE_MANAGE_CONNECTIONS with toolkit outlook

• If connection is not ACTIVE, follow the returned auth link to complete Microsoft OAuth

• 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:

• OUTLOOK_SEARCH_MESSAGES

• Search with KQL syntax across all folders [Required]

• OUTLOOK_GET_MESSAGE

• Get full message details [Optional]

• OUTLOOK_LIST_OUTLOOK_ATTACHMENTS

• List message attachments [Optional]

• 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:

• OUTLOOK_LIST_MAIL_FOLDERS

• List mail folders to get folder IDs [Prerequisite]

• 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:

• OUTLOOK_LIST_EVENTS

• List events with filters [Optional]

• OUTLOOK_GET_CALENDAR_VIEW

• Get events in a time window [Optional]

• OUTLOOK_GET_EVENT

• Get specific event details [Optional]

• OUTLOOK_LIST_CALENDARS

• List available calendars [Optional]

• 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:

• OUTLOOK_LIST_CONTACTS

• List contacts [Optional]

• OUTLOOK_CREATE_CONTACT

• Create a new contact [Optional]

• OUTLOOK_GET_CONTACT_FOLDERS

• List contact folders [Optional]

• 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:

• OUTLOOK_LIST_MAIL_FOLDERS

• List top-level folders [Required]

• OUTLOOK_LIST_CHILD_MAIL_FOLDERS

• List subfolders [Optional]

• 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:user@example.com

• From sender

• to:recipient@example.com

• 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)

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