Skip to main content
Glama

Create Draft

create_draft

Saves an email to the Mail.app Drafts folder for the user to review and send manually — it never sends. Compose a new draft with to/subject and body or html_body, or save a reply draft with reply_to_message_id, reply_all, and body or html_body; the response names the Drafts mailbox and subject. A reply draft holds your text followed by a plain-text quote of the original ("On , wrote:" and the original's lines prefixed with > ), not Mail's styled quote, and in a reply draft html_body is converted to plain text. quoted_original in the response is true when the quote is there; it is false, with a note, when the original has no readable text. A reply draft's response includes threaded: true means the saved draft was read back and its headers reference the source message (it will appear inside the conversation); false means it saved WITHOUT threading headers (relay the warning to the user); "unconfirmed" means it could not be read back in time (e.g. Exchange sync lag). On a multi-account Mac, pass account (an account name from list_email_accounts) or from (a sender address) to place the draft in that account's Drafts; otherwise it lands in the default account. Attach files by passing attachments (comma-separated absolute file paths, e.g. a PDF quote) — they are attached to the saved draft. Use this for the cautious user who wants AI-composed mail but insists on sending it themselves. Requires confirm=true to actually save it — without it, returns a preview without touching Mail.app.

Input Schema

TableJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
ccNoCC address(es), comma-separated.
toNoRecipient address(es) for a new draft, comma-separated. May be left empty: the draft is saved without a recipient, to be added in Mail. Omit for a reply draft (uses reply_to_message_id).
bccNoBCC address(es), comma-separated.
bodyNoPlain-text body of the draft.
fromNoSender address — on a multi-account Mac, selects which account's Drafts to use. Alternative to `account`.
accountNoAccount name (from list_email_accounts) whose Drafts folder receives the draft. Alternative to `from`.
confirmNoMust be true to actually save the draft. Without it, returns a preview of the recipient/sender, subject, and that the body will be saved.false
subjectNoSubject line for a new draft. Ignored for reply drafts (they inherit the original subject).
html_bodyNoHTML body of the draft. Takes precedence over `body` when both are given.
reply_allNoFor a reply draft, include all original recipients (reply-all) instead of just the sender.false
attachmentsNoFiles to attach, as comma-separated absolute paths (e.g. a PDF).
reply_to_message_idNoMessage id (from list_emails/search_emails) to draft a reply to, instead of a new message.

Output Schema

TableJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
toNo
fromNo
kindNo
accountNo
mailboxNo
subjectNo
attachmentsNo
saved_draftNo
quoted_originalNoReply drafts only: true when the draft holds your text followed by a plain-text quote of the original.
attachments_failedNo
reply_to_message_idNo

Schema Changelog

Changes observed during successful MCP inspections.

  1. Changed2 schema fields changed
    • changedInput schema / properties / to / description
      Previous value: -"Recipient address(es) for a new draft, comma-separated. Omit for a reply draft (uses reply_to_message_id)."New value: +"Recipient address(es) for a new draft, comma-separated. May be left empty: the draft is saved without a recipient, to be added in Mail. Omit for a reply draft (uses reply_to_message_id)."
    • addedOutput schema / properties / quoted_original
      Added value: +{
      +  "description": "Reply drafts only: true when the draft holds your text followed by a plain-text quote of the original.",
      +  "type": "boolean"
      +}
  2. Changed1 schema field changed
    • addedOutput schema / properties / mailbox
      Added value: +{
      +  "type": "string"
      +}
  3. Changed1 schema field changed
    • addedInput schema / properties / confirm
      Added value: +{
      +  "default": "false",
      +  "description": "Must be true to actually save the draft. Without it, returns a preview of the recipient/sender, subject, and that the body will be saved.",
      +  "type": "boolean"
      +}
  4. Changed11 schema fields changed
    • addedInput schema / properties / account / description
      Added value: +"Account name (from list_email_accounts) whose Drafts folder receives the draft. Alternative to `from`."
    • addedInput schema / properties / attachments / description
      Added value: +"Files to attach, as comma-separated absolute paths (e.g. a PDF)."
    • addedInput schema / properties / bcc / description
      Added value: +"BCC address(es), comma-separated."
    • addedInput schema / properties / body / description
      Added value: +"Plain-text body of the draft."
    • addedInput schema / properties / cc / description
      Added value: +"CC address(es), comma-separated."
    • addedInput schema / properties / from / description
      Added value: +"Sender address — on a multi-account Mac, selects which account's Drafts to use. Alternative to `account`."
    • addedInput schema / properties / html_body / description
      Added value: +"HTML body of the draft. Takes precedence over `body` when both are given."
    • addedInput schema / properties / reply_all / description
      Added value: +"For a reply draft, include all original recipients (reply-all) instead of just the sender."
    • addedInput schema / properties / reply_to_message_id / description
      Added value: +"Message id (from list_emails/search_emails) to draft a reply to, instead of a new message."
    • addedInput schema / properties / subject / description
      Added value: +"Subject line for a new draft. Ignored for reply drafts (they inherit the original subject)."
    • addedInput schema / properties / to / description
      Added value: +"Recipient address(es) for a new draft, comma-separated. Omit for a reply draft (uses reply_to_message_id)."
  5. Changed3 schema fields changed
    • addedInput schema / properties / attachments
      Added value: +{
      +  "type": "string"
      +}
    • addedOutput schema / properties / attachments
      Added value: +{
      +  "items": {
      +    "type": "string"
      +  },
      +  "type": "array"
      +}
    • addedOutput schema / properties / attachments_failed
      Added value: +{
      +  "items": {
      +    "type": "string"
      +  },
      +  "type": "array"
      +}
  6. First observed

TDQS

A4.6/5.0
Behavior5/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

Goes well beyond the annotations: discloses the plain-text quote format ('On <date>, <sender> wrote:' with '> ' prefixes), that html_body is downgraded to plain text in replies, the meaning of quoted_original, and the three-state threaded value including a relay-the-warning instruction. The confirm=true gate (preview without it) is a genuinely important behavioral disclosure for a mutation tool.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness4/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

Front-loaded with the key constraint ('never sends') and organized around new vs reply flows, but it is a dense multi-sentence block and some response-field detail could be trimmed given an output schema exists. Every sentence still carries substantive information.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness5/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

For a 12-parameter tool with an output schema, the description covers the decision paths (new vs reply), the confirm gate, account targeting, attachments, and the threading caveats. Nothing an agent needs to invoke it correctly is missing.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters4/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema coverage is 100%, so baseline is 3, but the description adds real meaning: it groups parameters into new-draft vs reply-draft usage, clarifies account-vs-from as alternatives, notes subject is ignored in replies, and specifies the attachments path format. Only minor syntax detail is left to the schema.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

States a specific verb (saves a draft) and resource (Mail.app Drafts folder), and immediately differentiates from send_email/reply_email by asserting 'it never sends.' An agent can tell it apart from the send siblings without opening either schema.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines4/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

Gives clear context: new draft via to/subject/body vs reply draft via reply_to_message_id/reply_all, plus the cautious-user scenario. It does not name send_email or reply_email as the explicit alternatives for when the user actually wants to send, so the routing is implied rather than stated.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

Try in Browser

Glama MCP Gateway

Add one secure layer between your agents and this server.

Resources