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Softeria

Microsoft 365 MCP Server

by Softeria

get-outlook-contact

get-outlook-contact
Read-only

Retrieve the properties and relationships of a contact object. There are two scenarios where an app can get a contact in another user's contact folder:

Instructions

Retrieve the properties and relationships of a contact object. There are two scenarios where an app can get a contact in another user's contact folder:

Input Schema

NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
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". Request ordinary fields with $select instead. Some APIs accept only one relationship per request, so prefer a single value. Some relationships support nested selection, e.g. children($select=id,name).
selectNoComma-separated fields to return, e.g. id,subject,from,receivedDateTime
contactIdYesValue for the 'contactId' path segment. Pass it under the name 'contactId', not as 'id'. Use the 'id' field of the contact 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

Schema Changelog

Changes observed during successful MCP inspections.

  1. Changed1 schema field changedv0.166.0
    • changedInput schema / properties / expand / description
      Previous value: -"Navigation 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."New value: +"Navigation 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\". Request ordinary fields with $select instead. Some APIs accept only one relationship per request, so prefer a single value. Some relationships support nested selection, e.g. children($select=id,name)."
  2. Changed5 schema fields changedv0.154.2
    • addedInput schema / properties / expand / anyOf
      Added value: +[
      +  {
      +    "type": "string"
      +  },
      +  {
      +    "items": {
      +      "type": "string"
      +    },
      +    "type": "array"
      +  }
      +]
    • removedInput schema / properties / expand / items
      Removed value: -{
      -  "type": "string"
      -}
    • removedInput schema / properties / expand / type
      Removed value: -"array"
    • addedInput schema / properties / select / anyOf
      Added value: +[
      +  {
      +    "type": "string"
      +  },
      +  {
      +    "items": {
      +      "type": "string"
      +    },
      +    "type": "array"
      +  }
      +]
    • removedInput schema / properties / select / type
      Removed value: -"string"
  3. Addedv0.134.4
  4. Removedv0.131.2
  5. Addedv0.114.0
  6. Removedv0.112.2
  7. Addedv0.110.0
  8. Removedv0.108.0
  9. Changed4 schema fields changedv0.96.0
    • changedInput schema / properties / fetchAllPages / description
      Previous value: -"Automatically fetch all pages of results"New value: +"Follow @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."
    • changedInput schema / properties / select / description
      Previous value: -"Select properties to be returned"New value: +"Comma-separated fields to return, e.g. id,subject,from,receivedDateTime"
    • removedInput schema / properties / select / items
      Removed value: -{
      -  "type": "string"
      -}
    • changedInput schema / properties / select / type
      Previous value: -"array"New value: +"string"
  10. First observedv0.31.0

TDQS

C2.7/5.0
Behavior2/5

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

Annotations already declare readOnlyHint=true, openWorldHint=true and destructiveHint=false, so the safety profile is covered. The description adds no meaningful behavioral context beyond that—no auth/permission requirements for cross-user folder access (which the truncated sentence hints at but never explains), no return-shape or pagination notes despite fetchAllPages being present.

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 short but ends with a colon and an unfinished clause, leaving a dangling, non-functional sentence. This is under-specification rather than conciseness—the second sentence consumes space without delivering information.

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

Completeness2/5

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

With no output schema and a non-trivial 6-parameter read tool, the description should clarify what is returned and the cross-user access caveat it hints at. It instead truncates mid-thought, so an agent lacks necessary context on the 'other user's contact folder' scenario.

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 description coverage is 100%, so all six parameters (including expand, select, contactId aliasing, fetchAllPages, includeHeaders, excludeResponse) are fully documented in the schema. The description adds no parameter detail of its own; baseline 3 applies when the schema carries the load.

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?

States a clear verb+resource: 'Retrieve the properties and relationships of a contact object.' An agent can tell this is a single-object read, distinguishing it from list-outlook-contacts. However, it does not name or contrast with siblings, so it falls short of a 5.

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

Usage Guidelines2/5

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

The description attempts usage guidance with 'There are two scenarios where an app can get a contact in another user's contact folder:' but the sentence is truncated and never delivers the scenarios. No when-to-use vs alternatives (e.g. list-outlook-contacts, get-mail-message-style retrieval) is provided.

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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