Outlook Calendar Automation

1---
2name: outlook-calendar-automation
3description: "Automate Outlook Calendar tasks via Rube MCP (Composio): create events, manage attendees, find meeting times, and handle invitations. Always search tools first for current schemas."
4requires:
5  mcp: [rube]
6---
7 
8# Outlook Calendar Automation via Rube MCP
9 
10Automate Outlook Calendar operations through Composio's Outlook toolkit via Rube MCP.
11 
12## Prerequisites
13 
14- Rube MCP must be connected (RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS available)
15- Active Outlook connection via `RUBE_MANAGE_CONNECTIONS` with toolkit `outlook`
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 `outlook`
253. If connection is not ACTIVE, follow the returned auth link to complete Microsoft OAuth
264. Confirm connection status shows ACTIVE before running any workflows
27 
28## Core Workflows
29 
30### 1. Create Calendar Events
31 
32**When to use**: User wants to schedule a new event on their Outlook calendar
33 
34**Tool sequence**:
351. `OUTLOOK_LIST_CALENDARS` - List available calendars [Optional]
362. `OUTLOOK_CALENDAR_CREATE_EVENT` - Create the event [Required]
37 
38**Key parameters**:
39- `subject`: Event title
40- `start_datetime`: ISO 8601 start time (e.g., '2025-01-03T10:00:00')
41- `end_datetime`: ISO 8601 end time (must be after start)
42- `time_zone`: IANA or Windows timezone (e.g., 'America/New_York', 'Pacific Standard Time')
43- `attendees_info`: Array of email strings or attendee objects
44- `body`: Event description (plain text or HTML)
45- `is_html`: Set true if body contains HTML
46- `location`: Physical location string
47- `is_online_meeting`: Set true for Teams meeting link
48- `online_meeting_provider`: 'teamsForBusiness' for Teams integration
49- `show_as`: 'free', 'tentative', 'busy', 'oof'
50 
51**Pitfalls**:
52- start_datetime must be chronologically before end_datetime
53- time_zone is required and must be a valid IANA or Windows timezone name
54- Adding attendees can trigger invitation emails immediately
55- To generate a Teams meeting link, set BOTH is_online_meeting=true AND online_meeting_provider='teamsForBusiness'
56- user_id defaults to 'me'; use email or UUID for other users' calendars
57 
58### 2. List and Search Events
59 
60**When to use**: User wants to find events on their calendar
61 
62**Tool sequence**:
631. `OUTLOOK_GET_MAILBOX_SETTINGS` - Get user timezone for accurate queries [Prerequisite]
642. `OUTLOOK_LIST_EVENTS` - Search events with filters [Required]
653. `OUTLOOK_GET_EVENT` - Get full details for a specific event [Optional]
664. `OUTLOOK_GET_CALENDAR_VIEW` - Get events active during a time window [Alternative]
67 
68**Key parameters**:
69- `filter`: OData filter string (e.g., "start/dateTime ge '2024-07-01T00:00:00Z'")
70- `select`: Array of properties to return
71- `orderby`: Sort criteria (e.g., ['start/dateTime desc'])
72- `top`: Results per page (1-999)
73- `timezone`: Display timezone for results
74- `start_datetime`/`end_datetime`: For CALENDAR_VIEW time window (UTC with Z suffix)
75 
76**Pitfalls**:
77- OData filter datetime values require single quotes and Z suffix
78- Use 'start/dateTime' for event start filtering, NOT 'receivedDateTime' (that is for emails)
79- 'createdDateTime' supports orderby/select but NOT filtering
80- Pagination: follow @odata.nextLink until all pages are collected
81- CALENDAR_VIEW is better for "what's on my calendar today" queries (includes spanning events)
82- LIST_EVENTS is better for keyword/category filtering
83- Response events have start/end nested as start.dateTime and end.dateTime
84 
85### 3. Update Events
86 
87**When to use**: User wants to modify an existing calendar event
88 
89**Tool sequence**:
901. `OUTLOOK_LIST_EVENTS` - Find the event to update [Prerequisite]
912. `OUTLOOK_UPDATE_CALENDAR_EVENT` - Update the event [Required]
92 
93**Key parameters**:
94- `event_id`: Unique event identifier (from LIST_EVENTS)
95- `subject`: New event title (optional)
96- `start_datetime`/`end_datetime`: New times (optional)
97- `time_zone`: Timezone for new times
98- `attendees`: Updated attendee list (replaces existing if provided)
99- `body`: Updated description with contentType and content
100- `location`: Updated location
101 
102**Pitfalls**:
103- UPDATE merges provided fields with existing event; unspecified fields are preserved
104- Providing attendees replaces the ENTIRE attendee list; include all desired attendees
105- Providing categories replaces the ENTIRE category list
106- Updating times may trigger re-sends to attendees
107- event_id is required; obtain from LIST_EVENTS first
108 
109### 4. Delete Events and Decline Invitations
110 
111**When to use**: User wants to remove an event or decline a meeting invitation
112 
113**Tool sequence**:
1141. `OUTLOOK_DELETE_EVENT` - Delete an event [Optional]
1152. `OUTLOOK_DECLINE_EVENT` - Decline a meeting invitation [Optional]
116 
117**Key parameters**:
118- `event_id`: Event to delete or decline
119- `send_notifications`: Send cancellation notices to attendees (default true)
120- `comment`: Reason for declining (for DECLINE_EVENT)
121- `proposedNewTime`: Suggest alternative time when declining
122 
123**Pitfalls**:
124- Deletion with send_notifications=true sends cancellation emails
125- Declining supports proposing a new time with start/end in ISO 8601 format
126- Deleting a recurring event master deletes all occurrences
127- sendResponse in DECLINE_EVENT controls whether the organizer is notified
128 
129### 5. Find Available Meeting Times
130 
131**When to use**: User wants to find optimal meeting slots across multiple people
132 
133**Tool sequence**:
1341. `OUTLOOK_FIND_MEETING_TIMES` - Get meeting time suggestions [Required]
1352. `OUTLOOK_GET_SCHEDULE` - Check free/busy for specific people [Alternative]
136 
137**Key parameters**:
138- `attendees`: Array of attendee objects with email and type
139- `meetingDuration`: ISO 8601 duration (e.g., 'PT1H' for 1 hour, 'PT30M' for 30 min)
140- `timeConstraint`: Time slots to search within
141- `minimumAttendeePercentage`: Minimum confidence threshold (0-100)
142- `Schedules`: Email array for GET_SCHEDULE
143- `StartTime`/`EndTime`: Time window for schedule lookup (max 62 days)
144 
145**Pitfalls**:
146- FIND_MEETING_TIMES searches within work hours by default; use activityDomain='unrestricted' for 24/7
147- Time constraint time slots require dateTime and timeZone for both start and end
148- GET_SCHEDULE period cannot exceed 62 days
149- Meeting suggestions respect attendee availability but may return suboptimal times for complex groups
150 
151## Common Patterns
152 
153### Event ID Resolution
154 
155```
1561. Call OUTLOOK_LIST_EVENTS with time-bound filter
1572. Find target event by subject or other criteria
1583. Extract event id (e.g., 'AAMkAGI2TAAA=')
1594. Use in UPDATE, DELETE, or GET_EVENT calls
160```
161 
162### OData Filter Syntax for Calendar
163 
164**Time range filter**:
165```
166filter: "start/dateTime ge '2024-07-01T00:00:00Z' and start/dateTime le '2024-07-31T23:59:59Z'"
167```
168 
169**Subject contains**:
170```
171filter: "contains(subject, 'Project Review')"
172```
173 
174**Combined**:
175```
176filter: "contains(subject, 'Review') and categories/any(c:c eq 'Work')"
177```
178 
179### Timezone Handling
180 
181- Get user timezone: `OUTLOOK_GET_MAILBOX_SETTINGS` with select=['timeZone']
182- Use consistent timezone in filter datetime values
183- Calendar View requires UTC timestamps with Z suffix
184- LIST_EVENTS filter accepts timezone in datetime values
185 
186### Online Meeting Creation
187 
188```
1891. Set is_online_meeting: true
1902. Set online_meeting_provider: 'teamsForBusiness'
1913. Create event with OUTLOOK_CALENDAR_CREATE_EVENT
1924. Teams join link available in response onlineMeeting field
1935. Or retrieve via OUTLOOK_GET_EVENT for the full join URL
194```
195 
196## Known Pitfalls
197 
198**DateTime Formats**:
199- ISO 8601 format required: '2025-01-03T10:00:00'
200- Calendar View requires UTC with Z: '2025-01-03T10:00:00Z'
201- Filter values need single quotes: "'2025-01-03T00:00:00Z'"
202- Timezone mismatches shift event boundaries; always resolve user timezone first
203 
204**OData Filter Errors**:
205- 400 Bad Request usually indicates filter syntax issues
206- Not all event properties support filtering (createdDateTime does not)
207- Retry with adjusted syntax/bounds on 400 errors
208- Valid filter fields: start/dateTime, end/dateTime, subject, categories, isAllDay
209 
210**Attendee Management**:
211- Adding attendees triggers invitation emails
212- Updating attendees replaces the full list; include all desired attendees
213- Attendee types: 'required', 'optional', 'resource'
214- Calendar delegation affects which calendars are accessible
215 
216**Response Structure**:
217- Events nested at response.data.value
218- Event times at event.start.dateTime and event.end.dateTime
219- Calendar View may nest at data.results[i].response.data.value
220- Parse defensively with fallbacks for different nesting levels
221 
222## Quick Reference
223 
224| Task | Tool Slug | Key Params |
225|------|-----------|------------|
226| Create event | OUTLOOK_CALENDAR_CREATE_EVENT | subject, start_datetime, end_datetime, time_zone |
227| List events | OUTLOOK_LIST_EVENTS | filter, select, top, timezone |
228| Get event details | OUTLOOK_GET_EVENT | event_id |
229| Calendar view | OUTLOOK_GET_CALENDAR_VIEW | start_datetime, end_datetime |
230| Update event | OUTLOOK_UPDATE_CALENDAR_EVENT | event_id, subject, start_datetime |
231| Delete event | OUTLOOK_DELETE_EVENT | event_id, send_notifications |
232| Decline event | OUTLOOK_DECLINE_EVENT | event_id, comment |
233| Find meeting times | OUTLOOK_FIND_MEETING_TIMES | attendees, meetingDuration |
234| Get schedule | OUTLOOK_GET_SCHEDULE | Schedules, StartTime, EndTime |
235| List calendars | OUTLOOK_LIST_CALENDARS | user_id |
236| Mailbox settings | OUTLOOK_GET_MAILBOX_SETTINGS | select |
237