Coda Automation

1---
2name: coda-automation
3description: "Automate Coda tasks via Rube MCP (Composio): manage docs, pages, tables, rows, formulas, permissions, and publishing. Always search tools first for current schemas."
4requires:
5  mcp: [rube]
6---
7 
8# Coda Automation via Rube MCP
9 
10Automate Coda document and data operations through Composio's Coda toolkit via Rube MCP.
11 
12## Prerequisites
13 
14- Rube MCP must be connected (RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS available)
15- Active Coda connection via `RUBE_MANAGE_CONNECTIONS` with toolkit `coda`
16- Always call `RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS` first to get current tool schemas
17 
18## Setup
19 
20**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.
21 
22 
231. Verify Rube MCP is available by confirming `RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS` responds
242. Call `RUBE_MANAGE_CONNECTIONS` with toolkit `coda`
253. If connection is not ACTIVE, follow the returned auth link to complete Coda authentication
264. Confirm connection status shows ACTIVE before running any workflows
27 
28## Core Workflows
29 
30### 1. Search and Browse Documents
31 
32**When to use**: User wants to find, list, or inspect Coda documents
33 
34**Tool sequence**:
351. `CODA_SEARCH_DOCS` or `CODA_LIST_AVAILABLE_DOCS` - Find documents [Required]
362. `CODA_RESOLVE_BROWSER_LINK` - Resolve a Coda URL to doc/page/table IDs [Alternative]
373. `CODA_LIST_PAGES` - List pages within a document [Optional]
384. `CODA_GET_A_PAGE` - Get specific page details [Optional]
39 
40**Key parameters**:
41- `query`: Search term for finding documents
42- `isOwner`: Filter to docs owned by the user
43- `docId`: Document ID for page operations
44- `pageIdOrName`: Page identifier or name
45- `url`: Browser URL for resolve operations
46 
47**Pitfalls**:
48- Document IDs are alphanumeric strings (e.g., 'AbCdEfGhIj')
49- `CODA_RESOLVE_BROWSER_LINK` is the best way to convert a Coda URL to API IDs
50- Page names may not be unique within a doc; prefer page IDs
51- Search results include docs shared with the user, not just owned docs
52 
53### 2. Work with Tables and Data
54 
55**When to use**: User wants to read, write, or query table data
56 
57**Tool sequence**:
581. `CODA_LIST_TABLES` - List tables in a document [Prerequisite]
592. `CODA_LIST_COLUMNS` - Get column definitions for a table [Prerequisite]
603. `CODA_LIST_TABLE_ROWS` - List all rows with optional filters [Required]
614. `CODA_SEARCH_ROW` - Search for specific rows by query [Alternative]
625. `CODA_GET_A_ROW` - Get a specific row by ID [Optional]
636. `CODA_UPSERT_ROWS` - Insert or update rows in a table [Optional]
647. `CODA_GET_A_COLUMN` - Get details of a specific column [Optional]
65 
66**Key parameters**:
67- `docId`: Document ID containing the table
68- `tableIdOrName`: Table identifier or name
69- `query`: Filter query for searching rows
70- `rows`: Array of row objects for upsert operations
71- `keyColumns`: Column IDs used for matching during upsert
72- `sortBy`: Column to sort results by
73- `useColumnNames`: Use column names instead of IDs in row data
74 
75**Pitfalls**:
76- Table names may contain spaces; URL-encode if needed
77- `CODA_UPSERT_ROWS` does insert if no match on `keyColumns`, update if match found
78- `keyColumns` must reference columns that have unique values for reliable upserts
79- Column IDs are different from column names; list columns first to map names to IDs
80- `useColumnNames: true` allows using human-readable names in row data
81- Row data values must match the column type (text, number, date, etc.)
82 
83### 3. Manage Formulas
84 
85**When to use**: User wants to list or evaluate formulas in a document
86 
87**Tool sequence**:
881. `CODA_LIST_FORMULAS` - List all named formulas in a doc [Required]
892. `CODA_GET_A_FORMULA` - Get a specific formula's current value [Optional]
90 
91**Key parameters**:
92- `docId`: Document ID
93- `formulaIdOrName`: Formula identifier or name
94 
95**Pitfalls**:
96- Formulas are named calculations defined in the document
97- Formula values are computed server-side; results reflect the current state
98- Formula names are case-sensitive
99 
100### 4. Export Document Content
101 
102**When to use**: User wants to export a document or page to HTML or Markdown
103 
104**Tool sequence**:
1051. `CODA_BEGIN_CONTENT_EXPORT` - Start an export job [Required]
1062. `CODA_CONTENT_EXPORT_STATUS` - Poll export status until complete [Required]
107 
108**Key parameters**:
109- `docId`: Document ID to export
110- `outputFormat`: Export format ('html' or 'markdown')
111- `pageIdOrName`: Specific page to export (optional, omit for full doc)
112- `requestId`: Export request ID for status polling
113 
114**Pitfalls**:
115- Export is asynchronous; poll status until `status` is 'complete'
116- Large documents may take significant time to export
117- Export URL in the completed response is temporary; download promptly
118- Polling too frequently may hit rate limits; use 2-5 second intervals
119 
120### 5. Manage Permissions and Sharing
121 
122**When to use**: User wants to view or manage document access
123 
124**Tool sequence**:
1251. `CODA_GET_SHARING_METADATA` - View current sharing settings [Required]
1262. `CODA_GET_ACL_SETTINGS` - Get access control list settings [Optional]
1273. `CODA_ADD_PERMISSION` - Grant access to a user or email [Optional]
128 
129**Key parameters**:
130- `docId`: Document ID
131- `access`: Permission level ('readonly', 'write', 'comment')
132- `principal`: Object with email or user ID of the recipient
133- `suppressEmail`: Whether to skip the sharing notification email
134 
135**Pitfalls**:
136- Permission levels: 'readonly', 'write', 'comment'
137- Adding permission sends an email notification by default; use `suppressEmail` to prevent
138- Cannot remove permissions via API in all cases; check ACL settings
139 
140### 6. Publish and Customize Documents
141 
142**When to use**: User wants to publish a document or manage custom domains
143 
144**Tool sequence**:
1451. `CODA_PUBLISH_DOC` - Publish a document publicly [Required]
1462. `CODA_UNPUBLISH_DOC` - Unpublish a document [Optional]
1473. `CODA_ADD_CUSTOM_DOMAIN` - Add a custom domain for published doc [Optional]
1484. `CODA_GET_DOC_CATEGORIES` - Get doc categories for discovery [Optional]
149 
150**Key parameters**:
151- `docId`: Document ID
152- `slug`: Custom URL slug for the published doc
153- `categoryIds`: Category IDs for discoverability
154 
155**Pitfalls**:
156- Publishing makes the document accessible to anyone with the link
157- Custom domains require DNS configuration
158- Unpublishing removes public access but retains shared access
159 
160## Common Patterns
161 
162### ID Resolution
163 
164**Doc URL -> Doc ID**:
165```
1661. Call CODA_RESOLVE_BROWSER_LINK with the Coda URL
1672. Extract docId from the response
168```
169 
170**Table name -> Table ID**:
171```
1721. Call CODA_LIST_TABLES with docId
1732. Find table by name, extract id
174```
175 
176**Column name -> Column ID**:
177```
1781. Call CODA_LIST_COLUMNS with docId and tableIdOrName
1792. Find column by name, extract id
180```
181 
182### Pagination
183 
184- Coda uses cursor-based pagination with `pageToken`
185- Check response for `nextPageToken`
186- Pass as `pageToken` in next request until absent
187- Default page sizes vary by endpoint
188 
189### Row Upsert Pattern
190 
191```
1921. Call CODA_LIST_COLUMNS to get column IDs
1932. Build row objects with column ID keys and values
1943. Set keyColumns to unique identifier column(s)
1954. Call CODA_UPSERT_ROWS with rows and keyColumns
196```
197 
198## Known Pitfalls
199 
200**ID Formats**:
201- Document IDs: alphanumeric strings
202- Table/column/row IDs: prefixed strings (e.g., 'grid-abc', 'c-xyz')
203- Use RESOLVE_BROWSER_LINK to convert URLs to IDs
204 
205**Data Types**:
206- Row values must match column types
207- Date columns expect ISO 8601 format
208- Select/multi-select columns expect exact option values
209- People columns expect email addresses
210 
211**Rate Limits**:
212- Coda API has per-token rate limits
213- Implement backoff on 429 responses
214- Bulk row operations via UPSERT_ROWS are more efficient than individual updates
215 
216## Quick Reference
217 
218| Task | Tool Slug | Key Params |
219|------|-----------|------------|
220| Search docs | CODA_SEARCH_DOCS | query |
221| List docs | CODA_LIST_AVAILABLE_DOCS | isOwner |
222| Resolve URL | CODA_RESOLVE_BROWSER_LINK | url |
223| List pages | CODA_LIST_PAGES | docId |
224| Get page | CODA_GET_A_PAGE | docId, pageIdOrName |
225| List tables | CODA_LIST_TABLES | docId |
226| List columns | CODA_LIST_COLUMNS | docId, tableIdOrName |
227| List rows | CODA_LIST_TABLE_ROWS | docId, tableIdOrName |
228| Search rows | CODA_SEARCH_ROW | docId, tableIdOrName, query |
229| Get row | CODA_GET_A_ROW | docId, tableIdOrName, rowIdOrName |
230| Upsert rows | CODA_UPSERT_ROWS | docId, tableIdOrName, rows, keyColumns |
231| Get column | CODA_GET_A_COLUMN | docId, tableIdOrName, columnIdOrName |
232| Push button | CODA_PUSH_A_BUTTON | docId, tableIdOrName, rowIdOrName, columnIdOrName |
233| List formulas | CODA_LIST_FORMULAS | docId |
234| Get formula | CODA_GET_A_FORMULA | docId, formulaIdOrName |
235| Begin export | CODA_BEGIN_CONTENT_EXPORT | docId, outputFormat |
236| Export status | CODA_CONTENT_EXPORT_STATUS | docId, requestId |
237| Get sharing | CODA_GET_SHARING_METADATA | docId |
238| Add permission | CODA_ADD_PERMISSION | docId, access, principal |
239| Publish doc | CODA_PUBLISH_DOC | docId, slug |
240| Unpublish doc | CODA_UNPUBLISH_DOC | docId |
241| List packs | CODA_LIST_PACKS | (none) |
242