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Update calendar event

update_event
Destructive

Update existing calendar events or recurring series, identified by resource ID or calendar ID/UID. Omitted fields are preserved, null clears values, and an ETag prevents overwriting stale data.

Instructions

Modify an existing event or entire recurring series; individual expanded occurrences are not supported. Target it by resource_id or by calendar_id with uid. Omitted patch fields are preserved, null clears nullable fields, an empty alarms array removes alarms, and expected_etag can prevent a stale write.

Input Schema

TableJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
uidNoiCalendar UID of the event. Provide it together with calendar_id when resource_id is unavailable.
patchYesFields to replace. Omitted fields are preserved; null clears nullable values and an empty alarms array removes all alarms.
calendar_idNoOpaque calendar ID returned by list_calendars. Provide it together with uid when resource_id is unavailable.
resource_idNoOpaque event resource ID returned by list_events or get_event. Provide it alone instead of calendar_id and uid.
expected_etagNoETag previously returned for the event. When supplied, the update fails if the event changed since it was read.

Output Schema

TableJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
endYesNormalized event end.
uidYesStored iCalendar UID.
etagYesCurrent ETag for optimistic concurrency, when available.
hrefYesRedacted fingerprint of the CalDAV resource URL.
rruleYesStored RFC 5545 recurrence rule without the RRULE: prefix.
startYesNormalized event start.
alarmsYesNormalized alarms attached to the event.
summaryYesStored event title.
locationYesStored event location.
raw_icalNoRaw iCalendar resource, included only when explicitly requested.
recurringYesWhether this event belongs to a recurring series.
calendar_idYesOpaque ID of the containing calendar.
descriptionYesStored event notes.
resource_idYesOpaque event ID accepted by get_event, update_event, and delete_event.
recurrence_idYesOccurrence identifier for an expanded recurring event.
recurrence_exceptionYesWhether this result is an overridden recurrence instance.

Schema Changelog

Changes observed during successful MCP inspections. Dates show when Glama detected each change.

  1. Changed14 schema fields changedv0.1.7
    • removedOutput schema / properties / alarms / items / properties / description / anyOf
      Removed value: -[
      -  {
      -    "type": "string"
      -  },
      -  {
      -    "type": "null"
      -  }
      -]
    • addedOutput schema / properties / alarms / items / properties / description / type
      Added value: +[
      +  "string",
      +  "null"
      +]
    • removedOutput schema / properties / alarms / items / properties / uid / anyOf
      Removed value: -[
      -  {
      -    "type": "string"
      -  },
      -  {
      -    "type": "null"
      -  }
      -]
    • addedOutput schema / properties / alarms / items / properties / uid / type
      Added value: +[
      +  "string",
      +  "null"
      +]
    • removedOutput schema / properties / description / anyOf
      Removed value: -[
      -  {
      -    "type": "string"
      -  },
      -  {
      -    "type": "null"
      -  }
      -]
    • addedOutput schema / properties / description / type
      Added value: +[
      +  "string",
      +  "null"
      +]
    • removedOutput schema / properties / etag / anyOf
      Removed value: -[
      -  {
      -    "type": "string"
      -  },
      -  {
      -    "type": "null"
      -  }
      -]
    • addedOutput schema / properties / etag / type
      Added value: +[
      +  "string",
      +  "null"
      +]
    • removedOutput schema / properties / location / anyOf
      Removed value: -[
      -  {
      -    "type": "string"
      -  },
      -  {
      -    "type": "null"
      -  }
      -]
    • addedOutput schema / properties / location / type
      Added value: +[
      +  "string",
      +  "null"
      +]
    • removedOutput schema / properties / recurrence_id / anyOf
      Removed value: -[
      -  {
      -    "type": "string"
      -  },
      -  {
      -    "type": "null"
      -  }
      -]
    • addedOutput schema / properties / recurrence_id / type
      Added value: +[
      +  "string",
      +  "null"
      +]
    • removedOutput schema / properties / rrule / anyOf
      Removed value: -[
      -  {
      -    "type": "string"
      -  },
      -  {
      -    "type": "null"
      -  }
      -]
    • addedOutput schema / properties / rrule / type
      Added value: +[
      +  "string",
      +  "null"
      +]
  2. Changed41 schema fields changedv0.1.1
    • addedInput schema / properties / calendar_id / description
      Added value: +"Opaque calendar ID returned by list_calendars. Provide it together with uid when resource_id is unavailable."
    • addedInput schema / properties / expected_etag / description
      Added value: +"ETag previously returned for the event. When supplied, the update fails if the event changed since it was read."
    • addedInput schema / properties / patch / description
      Added value: +"Fields to replace. Omitted fields are preserved; null clears nullable values and an empty alarms array removes all alarms."
    • addedInput schema / properties / patch / properties / alarms / description
      Added value: +"Replacement alarm set; use an empty array to remove all alarms."
    • addedInput schema / properties / patch / properties / alarms / items / description
      Added value: +"A display reminder attached to an event."
    • addedInput schema / properties / patch / properties / alarms / items / properties / action / description
      Added value: +"Alarm action; only DISPLAY is supported."
    • addedInput schema / properties / patch / properties / alarms / items / properties / description / description
      Added value: +"Optional notification text for this alarm."
    • addedInput schema / properties / patch / properties / alarms / items / properties / minutes_before / description
      Added value: +"Whole minutes before the event start; use 0 for an alarm at start time."
    • addedInput schema / properties / patch / properties / description / description
      Added value: +"Replacement notes; use null to clear the description."
    • changedInput schema / properties / patch / properties / end / anyOf
      Previous value: -[
      -  {
      -    "additionalProperties": false,
      -    "properties": {
      -      "date_time": {
      -        "pattern": "^\\d{4}-\\d{2}-\\d{2}T\\d{2}:\\d{2}:\\d{2}(?:Z|[+-]\\d{2}:\\d{2})$",
      -        "type": "string"
      -      },
      -      "timezone": {
      -        "type": "string"
      -      }
      -    },
      -    "required": [
      -      "date_time",
      -      "timezone"
      -    ],
      -    "type": "object"
      -  },
      -  {
      -    "additionalProperties": false,
      -    "properties": {
      -      "date": {
      -        "pattern": "^\\d{4}-\\d{2}-\\d{2}$",
      -        "type": "string"
      -      }
      -    },
      -    "required": [
      -      "date"
      -    ],
      -    "type": "object"
      -  }
      -]New value: +[
      +  {
      +    "additionalProperties": false,
      +    "description": "A timed calendar value with an explicit offset and IANA timezone.",
      +    "properties": {
      +      "date_time": {
      +        "description": "ISO 8601 date-time with seconds and an explicit UTC offset or Z.",
      +        "pattern": "^\\d{4}-\\d{2}-\\d{2}T\\d{2}:\\d{2}:\\d{2}(?:Z|[+-]\\d{2}:\\d{2})$",
      +        "type": "string"
      +      },
      +      "timezone": {
      +        "description": "IANA timezone for the local event time; its offset must match date_time.",
      +        "type": "string"
      +      }
      +    },
      +    "required": [
      +      "date_time",
      +      "timezone"
      +    ],
      +    "type": "object"
      +  },
      +  {
      +    "additionalProperties": false,
      +    "description": "An all-day calendar value.",
      +    "properties": {
      +      "date": {
      +        "description": "Calendar date in YYYY-MM-DD format.",
      +        "pattern": "^\\d{4}-\\d{2}-\\d{2}$",
      +        "type": "string"
      +      }
      +    },
      +    "required": [
      +      "date"
      +    ],
      +    "type": "object"
      +  }
      +]
    • addedInput schema / properties / patch / properties / end / description
      Added value: +"Replacement end; provide together with start. An all-day end date is exclusive."
    • addedInput schema / properties / patch / properties / location / description
      Added value: +"Replacement location; use null to clear it."
    • addedInput schema / properties / patch / properties / rrule / description
      Added value: +"Replacement RFC 5545 recurrence rule without RRULE:, or null to make the event non-recurring."
    • changedInput schema / properties / patch / properties / start / anyOf
      Previous value: -[
      -  {
      -    "additionalProperties": false,
      -    "properties": {
      -      "date_time": {
      -        "pattern": "^\\d{4}-\\d{2}-\\d{2}T\\d{2}:\\d{2}:\\d{2}(?:Z|[+-]\\d{2}:\\d{2})$",
      -        "type": "string"
      -      },
      -      "timezone": {
      -        "type": "string"
      -      }
      -    },
      -    "required": [
      -      "date_time",
      -      "timezone"
      -    ],
      -    "type": "object"
      -  },
      -  {
      -    "additionalProperties": false,
      -    "properties": {
      -      "date": {
      -        "pattern": "^\\d{4}-\\d{2}-\\d{2}$",
      -        "type": "string"
      -      }
      -    },
      -    "required": [
      -      "date"
      -    ],
      -    "type": "object"
      -  }
      -]New value: +[
      +  {
      +    "additionalProperties": false,
      +    "description": "A timed calendar value with an explicit offset and IANA timezone.",
      +    "properties": {
      +      "date_time": {
      +        "description": "ISO 8601 date-time with seconds and an explicit UTC offset or Z.",
      +        "pattern": "^\\d{4}-\\d{2}-\\d{2}T\\d{2}:\\d{2}:\\d{2}(?:Z|[+-]\\d{2}:\\d{2})$",
      +        "type": "string"
      +      },
      +      "timezone": {
      +        "description": "IANA timezone for the local event time; its offset must match date_time.",
      +        "type": "string"
      +      }
      +    },
      +    "required": [
      +      "date_time",
      +      "timezone"
      +    ],
      +    "type": "object"
      +  },
      +  {
      +    "additionalProperties": false,
      +    "description": "An all-day calendar value.",
      +    "properties": {
      +      "date": {
      +        "description": "Calendar date in YYYY-MM-DD format.",
      +        "pattern": "^\\d{4}-\\d{2}-\\d{2}$",
      +        "type": "string"
      +      }
      +    },
      +    "required": [
      +      "date"
      +    ],
      +    "type": "object"
      +  }
      +]
    • addedInput schema / properties / patch / properties / start / description
      Added value: +"Replacement start; provide together with end."
    • addedInput schema / properties / patch / properties / summary / description
      Added value: +"Replacement event title."
    • addedInput schema / properties / resource_id / description
      Added value: +"Opaque event resource ID returned by list_events or get_event. Provide it alone instead of calendar_id and uid."
    • addedInput schema / properties / uid / description
      Added value: +"iCalendar UID of the event. Provide it together with calendar_id when resource_id is unavailable."
    • addedOutput schema / properties / alarms / description
      Added value: +"Normalized alarms attached to the event."
    • addedOutput schema / properties / alarms / items / description
      Added value: +"A normalized alarm returned by iCloud Calendar."
    • addedOutput schema / properties / alarms / items / properties / action / description
      Added value: +"Stored iCalendar alarm action."
    • addedOutput schema / properties / alarms / items / properties / description / description
      Added value: +"Stored alarm notification text, when available."
    • addedOutput schema / properties / alarms / items / properties / minutes_before / description
      Added value: +"Whole minutes before event start, when representable."
    • addedOutput schema / properties / alarms / items / properties / uid / description
      Added value: +"Stored alarm UID, when available."
    • addedOutput schema / properties / calendar_id / description
      Added value: +"Opaque ID of the containing calendar."
    • addedOutput schema / properties / description / description
      Added value: +"Stored event notes."
    • changedOutput schema / properties / end / anyOf
      Previous value: -[
      -  {
      -    "additionalProperties": false,
      -    "properties": {
      -      "date_time": {
      -        "pattern": "^\\d{4}-\\d{2}-\\d{2}T\\d{2}:\\d{2}:\\d{2}(?:Z|[+-]\\d{2}:\\d{2})$",
      -        "type": "string"
      -      },
      -      "timezone": {
      -        "maxLength": 4096,
      -        "minLength": 1,
      -        "type": "string"
      -      }
      -    },
      -    "required": [
      -      "date_time",
      -      "timezone"
      -    ],
      -    "type": "object"
      -  },
      -  {
      -    "additionalProperties": false,
      -    "properties": {
      -      "date": {
      -        "pattern": "^\\d{4}-\\d{2}-\\d{2}$",
      -        "type": "string"
      -      }
      -    },
      -    "required": [
      -      "date"
      -    ],
      -    "type": "object"
      -  }
      -]New value: +[
      +  {
      +    "additionalProperties": false,
      +    "description": "A stored timed calendar value.",
      +    "properties": {
      +      "date_time": {
      +        "description": "Stored ISO 8601 date-time with seconds and an explicit UTC offset or Z.",
      +        "pattern": "^\\d{4}-\\d{2}-\\d{2}T\\d{2}:\\d{2}:\\d{2}(?:Z|[+-]\\d{2}:\\d{2})$",
      +        "type": "string"
      +      },
      +      "timezone": {
      +        "description": "IANA timezone associated with the stored date-time.",
      +        "maxLength": 4096,
      +        "minLength": 1,
      +        "type": "string"
      +      }
      +    },
      +    "required": [
      +      "date_time",
      +      "timezone"
      +    ],
      +    "type": "object"
      +  },
      +  {
      +    "additionalProperties": false,
      +    "description": "An all-day calendar value.",
      +    "properties": {
      +      "date": {
      +        "description": "Calendar date in YYYY-MM-DD format.",
      +        "pattern": "^\\d{4}-\\d{2}-\\d{2}$",
      +        "type": "string"
      +      }
      +    },
      +    "required": [
      +      "date"
      +    ],
      +    "type": "object"
      +  }
      +]
    • addedOutput schema / properties / end / description
      Added value: +"Normalized event end."
    • addedOutput schema / properties / etag / description
      Added value: +"Current ETag for optimistic concurrency, when available."
    • addedOutput schema / properties / href / description
      Added value: +"Redacted fingerprint of the CalDAV resource URL."
    • addedOutput schema / properties / location / description
      Added value: +"Stored event location."
    • addedOutput schema / properties / raw_ical / description
      Added value: +"Raw iCalendar resource, included only when explicitly requested."
    • addedOutput schema / properties / recurrence_exception / description
      Added value: +"Whether this result is an overridden recurrence instance."
    • addedOutput schema / properties / recurrence_id / description
      Added value: +"Occurrence identifier for an expanded recurring event."
    • addedOutput schema / properties / recurring / description
      Added value: +"Whether this event belongs to a recurring series."
    • addedOutput schema / properties / resource_id / description
      Added value: +"Opaque event ID accepted by get_event, update_event, and delete_event."
    • addedOutput schema / properties / rrule / description
      Added value: +"Stored RFC 5545 recurrence rule without the RRULE: prefix."
    • changedOutput schema / properties / start / anyOf
      Previous value: -[
      -  {
      -    "additionalProperties": false,
      -    "properties": {
      -      "date_time": {
      -        "pattern": "^\\d{4}-\\d{2}-\\d{2}T\\d{2}:\\d{2}:\\d{2}(?:Z|[+-]\\d{2}:\\d{2})$",
      -        "type": "string"
      -      },
      -      "timezone": {
      -        "maxLength": 4096,
      -        "minLength": 1,
      -        "type": "string"
      -      }
      -    },
      -    "required": [
      -      "date_time",
      -      "timezone"
      -    ],
      -    "type": "object"
      -  },
      -  {
      -    "additionalProperties": false,
      -    "properties": {
      -      "date": {
      -        "pattern": "^\\d{4}-\\d{2}-\\d{2}$",
      -        "type": "string"
      -      }
      -    },
      -    "required": [
      -      "date"
      -    ],
      -    "type": "object"
      -  }
      -]New value: +[
      +  {
      +    "additionalProperties": false,
      +    "description": "A stored timed calendar value.",
      +    "properties": {
      +      "date_time": {
      +        "description": "Stored ISO 8601 date-time with seconds and an explicit UTC offset or Z.",
      +        "pattern": "^\\d{4}-\\d{2}-\\d{2}T\\d{2}:\\d{2}:\\d{2}(?:Z|[+-]\\d{2}:\\d{2})$",
      +        "type": "string"
      +      },
      +      "timezone": {
      +        "description": "IANA timezone associated with the stored date-time.",
      +        "maxLength": 4096,
      +        "minLength": 1,
      +        "type": "string"
      +      }
      +    },
      +    "required": [
      +      "date_time",
      +      "timezone"
      +    ],
      +    "type": "object"
      +  },
      +  {
      +    "additionalProperties": false,
      +    "description": "An all-day calendar value.",
      +    "properties": {
      +      "date": {
      +        "description": "Calendar date in YYYY-MM-DD format.",
      +        "pattern": "^\\d{4}-\\d{2}-\\d{2}$",
      +        "type": "string"
      +      }
      +    },
      +    "required": [
      +      "date"
      +    ],
      +    "type": "object"
      +  }
      +]
    • addedOutput schema / properties / start / description
      Added value: +"Normalized event start."
    • addedOutput schema / properties / summary / description
      Added value: +"Stored event title."
    • addedOutput schema / properties / uid / description
      Added value: +"Stored iCalendar UID."
  3. First observedv0.1.0

TDQS

A4.5/5.0
Behavior4/5

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

Annotations already declare destructiveHint=true and readOnlyHint=false, and the description adds valuable behavioral context: patch semantics ('Omitted patch fields are preserved'), null clearing, empty alarms array behavior, and expected_etag preventing stale writes. This goes beyond what annotations provide and helps an agent predict side effects.

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

Conciseness5/5

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

The description is two sentences with no filler. It front-loads the core action and limitations, then packs targeting and patch semantics into a dense but readable second sentence. Every clause adds useful 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?

Given the rich input schema, output schema, and annotations, this description covers the essential operational details: what can be modified, how to identify the target, how patches behave, and how to prevent stale writes. No critical calling context appears 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 the baseline is 3. The description earns a 4 by adding cross-parameter semantics not obvious from individual field descriptions: preservation of omitted fields, null clearing, empty alarms removal, and the optimistic concurrency role of expected_etag.

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?

The description clearly states the verb and resource: 'Modify an existing event or entire recurring series.' It also adds a critical scope limitation ('individual expanded occurrences are not supported') and distinguishes the tool from create/delete/list siblings by focusing on modification of existing entities.

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?

It gives concrete targeting guidance ('by resource_id or by calendar_id with uid') and a clear exclusion ('individual expanded occurrences are not supported'). It does not explicitly name alternatives like create_event or delete_event, but the context is clear enough for an agent to know when this tool applies.

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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