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lazyq666

Illustrator MCP Unified

by lazyq666

Get Selection

get_selection
Read-onlyIdempotent

Retrieve detailed properties of currently selected Illustrator objects, including type, position, and coordinate system, to inspect or edit active selections.

Instructions

Get detailed information about the currently selected objects

Input Schema

TableJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
coordinate_systemNoCoordinate system. Auto-detected from document by default (CMYK/print → document, RGB/web → artboard-web). artboard-web: origin at active artboard top-left, Y-down. document: Illustrator native coords, origin at bottom-left, Y-up. Call get_document_info to check which system is active.

Schema Changelog

Changes observed during successful MCP inspections.

  1. First observedv1.8.0-local.1

TDQS

B3.2/5.0
Behavior3/5

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

Annotations already declare readOnlyHint, idempotentHint, and destructiveHint=false, so the safety profile is covered. The description adds one genuinely behavioral fact: the result depends on external live selection state (the 'currently selected' objects), but says nothing about return shape or behavior when nothing is selected.

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?

A single front-loaded sentence with zero filler. It is efficient, though 'detailed information' is vague enough that the brevity shades into under-specification.

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

Completeness3/5

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

There is no output schema, so the description is the only place return values could be characterized, and 'detailed information' leaves the agent guessing what fields come back. For a one-parameter read tool this is passable but leaves a real gap.

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%, and the coordinate_system parameter is documented in the schema far beyond anything in the description (enum values, auto-detection rules, Y-axis conventions). Baseline 3 applies; the description contributes nothing additional.

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?

Clear specific verb+resource: 'Get detailed information about the currently selected objects'. It is the only sibling concerned with the live selection (versus select_objects, find_objects, get_document_structure), but it never names or contrasts those siblings explicitly.

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?

No when-to-use, prerequisites, or alternatives are stated. An agent must infer that this reads the active Illustrator selection rather than querying objects by criteria; nothing routes it away from find_objects or select_objects.

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