Outlook Automation Agent Skill

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:[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) |

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