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list-mail-folder-messages

list-mail-folder-messages
Read-only

Retrieve messages from a specified Outlook folder, using search, filters, and field selection to get only what you need.

Instructions

Get all the messages in the specified user's mailbox, or those messages in a specified folder in the mailbox.

💡 TIP: List read search Outlook emails within a specific mail folder. CRITICAL: When searching emails, the $search parameter value MUST be wrapped in double quotes. Format: $search="your search query here". Use KQL (Keyword Query Language) syntax to search specific properties: 'from:', 'subject:', 'body:', 'to:', 'cc:', 'bcc:', 'attachment:', 'hasAttachments:', 'importance:', 'received:', 'sent:'. Examples: $search="from:john@example.com" | $search="subject:meeting AND hasAttachments:true" | $search="body:urgent AND received>=2024-01-01" | $search="from:alice AND importance:high". Remember: ALWAYS wrap the entire search expression in double quotes! Reference: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/graph/search-query-parameter IMPORTANT: Always use $select to limit returned fields and reduce response size. Recommended default: $select=id,subject,from,toRecipients,receivedDateTime,bodyPreview,isRead,hasAttachments. Use bodyPreview instead of body for listings. To read the full email body, use get-mail-message with the specific message id.

Input Schema

TableJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
topNoPage size (Graph $top). Start small (e.g. 5–15) so responses fit the model context; raise only if needed. Use $select to return fewer fields per item. For more rows, use @odata.nextLink from the response instead of a very large $top.
skipNoItems to skip for pagination. Not supported with $search.
countNoSet true to enable advanced query mode (ConsistencyLevel: eventual). Required for complex $filter on flag/flagStatus or contains().
expandNoNavigation properties to inline, e.g. attachments on a message or event. Only navigation properties can be expanded: expanding a non-navigation property such as a message body fails with "Parsing OData Select and Expand failed", and an unsupported value may be ignored rather than reported. Request ordinary fields with $select instead.
filterNoOData filter expression. Add $count=true for advanced filters (flag/flagStatus, contains()). Cannot combine with $search.
searchNoKQL search query — wrap value in double quotes. Cannot combine with $filter.
selectNoComma-separated fields to return, e.g. id,subject,from,receivedDateTime
orderbyNoSort expression, e.g. receivedDateTime desc
mailFolderIdYesValue for the 'mailFolderId' path segment. Pass it under the name 'mailFolderId', not as 'id'. Use the 'id' field of the mail folder object as returned by Microsoft Graph.
fetchAllPagesNoFollow @odata.nextLink and merge up to 100 pages into one response. Can return enormous payloads—only when the user explicitly needs a full export. Prefer a small $top first, then paginate or narrow with $filter/$search.
includeHeadersNoInclude response headers (including ETag) in the response metadata
excludeResponseNoExclude the full response body and only return success or failure indication
Behavior4/5

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

Annotations already declare readOnlyHint=true and destructiveHint=false, covering the safety profile. The description adds genuine behavioral context beyond that: the critical double-quote requirement for $search, KQL property syntax, pagination behavior via @odata.nextLink, and the advanced-query mode tied to $count. No contradiction with annotations.

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

Conciseness2/5

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

The description is a dense wall of text with an emoji, ALL-CAPS warnings, five KQL examples, and an external reference URL all packed into one paragraph. While the purpose is front-loaded, the high-concern formatting warnings and example overload make it hard to scan and exceed what is needed for correct invocation.

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

Completeness4/5

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

Given the tool's complexity (12 params, KQL search syntax, pagination) and the absence of an output schema, the description covers the non-obvious essentials: search quoting rules, prop-tagged KQL fields, pagination via @odata.nextLink, and a pointer to get-mail-message for full bodies. It only omits an explicit statement of the default return shape when no folder is specified.

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

Parameters3/5

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

Schema coverage is 100%, so the schema already documents all 12 parameters thoroughly, setting a baseline of 3. The description adds some complementary value — the recommended default $select field list and the reminder to use bodyPreview over body — but most parameter meaning lives in the schema's own rich descriptions rather than the tool description.

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

Purpose4/5

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

The description states the verb and resource clearly: 'Get all the messages in the specified user's mailbox, or those messages in a specified folder in the mailbox.' This conveys the scope distinction, though it does not explicitly differentiate from the closely-related sibling list-mail-messages, leaving the agent to infer which is for the whole mailbox versus a folder.

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

Usage Guidelines3/5

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

There is useful routing guidance: 'To read the full email body, use get-mail-message with the specific message id' and a tip framing the tool as a way to 'List read search Outlook emails within a specific mail folder.' However, it never contrasts this tool with list-mail-messages (whole mailbox) or list-mail-folder-messages-delta (delta changes), so an agent could pick the wrong sibling when the folder scope is ambiguous.

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

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