delete_file_content

Instructions

Delete content at specific row(s) from a file

Args:
    path: Path to the file
    row: Row number to delete (0-based, optional)
    rows: List of row numbers to delete (0-based, optional)
    substring: If provided, only delete this substring within the specified row(s), not the entire row (optional)

Returns:
    Operation result information

Implementation Reference

• terminal_controller.py:505-506 (registration)

  Tool registration via @mcp.tool() decorator on the delete_file_content function

  @mcp.tool()
  async def delete_file_content(path: str, row: int = None, rows: list = None, substring: str = None) -> str:

• terminal_controller.py:506-637 (handler)

  Main handler function that deletes content from a file. Supports: deleting a single row, multiple rows, substring removal within rows, or clearing entire file when no params specified.

  async def delete_file_content(path: str, row: int = None, rows: list = None, substring: str = None) -> str:
      """
      Delete content at specific row(s) from a file
      
      Args:
          path: Path to the file
          row: Row number to delete (0-based, optional)
          rows: List of row numbers to delete (0-based, optional)
          substring: If provided, only delete this substring within the specified row(s), not the entire row (optional)
      
      Returns:
          Operation result information
      """
      try:
          if not os.path.exists(path):
              return f"Error: File '{path}' does not exist."
              
          if not os.path.isfile(path):
              return f"Error: '{path}' is not a file."
              
          with open(path, 'r', encoding='utf-8', errors='replace') as file:
              lines = file.readlines()
          
          total_lines = len(lines)
          deleted_rows = []
          modified_rows = []
          
          # Handle substring deletion (doesn't delete entire rows)
          if substring is not None:
              # For multiple rows
              if rows is not None:
                  if not isinstance(rows, list):
                      return "Error: 'rows' parameter must be a list of integers."
                  
                  for r in rows:
                      if not isinstance(r, int) or r < 0:
                          return "Error: Row numbers must be non-negative integers."
                          
                      if r < total_lines and substring in lines[r]:
                          original_line = lines[r]
                          lines[r] = lines[r].replace(substring, '')
                          # Ensure line ends with newline if original did
                          if original_line.endswith('\n') and not lines[r].endswith('\n'):
                              lines[r] += '\n'
                          modified_rows.append(r)
              
              # For single row
              elif row is not None:
                  if not isinstance(row, int) or row < 0:
                      return "Error: Row number must be a non-negative integer."
                      
                  if row >= total_lines:
                      return f"Error: Row {row} is out of range (file has {total_lines} lines)."
                      
                  if substring in lines[row]:
                      original_line = lines[row]
                      lines[row] = lines[row].replace(substring, '')
                      # Ensure line ends with newline if original did
                      if original_line.endswith('\n') and not lines[row].endswith('\n'):
                          lines[row] += '\n'
                      modified_rows.append(row)
              
              # For entire file
              else:
                  for i in range(len(lines)):
                      if substring in lines[i]:
                          original_line = lines[i]
                          lines[i] = lines[i].replace(substring, '')
                          # Ensure line ends with newline if original did
                          if original_line.endswith('\n') and not lines[i].endswith('\n'):
                              lines[i] += '\n'
                          modified_rows.append(i)
              
              # Write back to the file
              with open(path, 'w', encoding='utf-8') as file:
                  file.writelines(lines)
                  
              if not modified_rows:
                  return f"No occurrences of '{substring}' found in the specified rows."
              return f"Successfully removed '{substring}' from {len(modified_rows)} rows ({modified_rows}) in '{path}'."
          
          # Handle deleting multiple rows
          elif rows is not None:
              if not isinstance(rows, list):
                  return "Error: 'rows' parameter must be a list of integers."
                  
              # Sort rows in descending order to avoid changing indices during deletion
              rows = sorted(rows, reverse=True)
              
              for r in rows:
                  if not isinstance(r, int) or r < 0:
                      return "Error: Row numbers must be non-negative integers."
                      
                  if r < total_lines:
                      lines.pop(r)
                      deleted_rows.append(r)
              
              # Write back to the file
              with open(path, 'w', encoding='utf-8') as file:
                  file.writelines(lines)
                  
              if not deleted_rows:
                  return f"No rows were within range to delete (file has {total_lines} lines)."
              return f"Successfully deleted {len(deleted_rows)} rows ({deleted_rows}) from '{path}'."
              
          # Handle deleting a single row
          elif row is not None:
              if not isinstance(row, int) or row < 0:
                  return "Error: Row number must be a non-negative integer."
                  
              if row >= total_lines:
                  return f"Error: Row {row} is out of range (file has {total_lines} lines)."
                  
              # Delete the specified row
              lines.pop(row)
              
              # Write back to the file
              with open(path, 'w', encoding='utf-8') as file:
                  file.writelines(lines)
                  
              return f"Successfully deleted row {row} from '{path}'."
          
          # If neither row nor rows specified, clear the file
          else:
              with open(path, 'w', encoding='utf-8') as file:
                  pass
              return f"Successfully cleared all content from '{path}'."
              
      except PermissionError:
          return f"Error: No permission to modify file '{path}'."
      except Exception as e:
          return f"Error deleting content: {str(e)}"