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create_draft

Create draft emails in Gmail by specifying recipients, subject, and body content, or use raw RFC 2822 format for complete message control.

Instructions

Create a draft email in Gmail. Note the mechanics of the raw parameter.

Input Schema

TableJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
rawNoThe entire email message in base64url encoded RFC 2822 format, ignores params.to, cc, bcc, subject, body, includeBodyHtml if provided
threadIdNoThe thread ID to associate this draft with
toNoList of recipient email addresses
ccNoList of CC recipient email addresses
bccNoList of BCC recipient email addresses
subjectNoThe subject of the email
bodyNoThe body of the email
includeBodyHtmlNoWhether to include the parsed HTML in the return for each body, excluded by default because they can be excessively large

Implementation Reference

  • Handler function that executes the create_draft tool: constructs raw message if needed, creates draft via Gmail API, processes payload, and formats response.
    async (params) => {
      return handleTool(config, async (gmail: gmail_v1.Gmail) => {
        let raw = params.raw
        if (!raw) raw = await constructRawMessage(gmail, params)
    
        const draftCreateParams: DraftCreateParams = { userId: 'me', requestBody: { message: { raw } } }
        if (params.threadId && draftCreateParams.requestBody?.message) {
          draftCreateParams.requestBody.message.threadId = params.threadId
        }
    
        const { data } = await gmail.users.drafts.create(draftCreateParams)
    
        if (data.message?.payload) {
          data.message.payload = processMessagePart(
            data.message.payload,
            params.includeBodyHtml
          )
        }
    
        return formatResponse(data)
      })
    }
  • Zod schema defining input parameters for the create_draft tool.
    {
      raw: z.string().optional().describe("The entire email message in base64url encoded RFC 2822 format, ignores params.to, cc, bcc, subject, body, includeBodyHtml if provided"),
      threadId: z.string().optional().describe("The thread ID to associate this draft with"),
      to: z.array(z.string()).optional().describe("List of recipient email addresses"),
      cc: z.array(z.string()).optional().describe("List of CC recipient email addresses"),
      bcc: z.array(z.string()).optional().describe("List of BCC recipient email addresses"),
      subject: z.string().optional().describe("The subject of the email"),
      body: z.string().optional().describe("The body of the email"),
      includeBodyHtml: z.boolean().optional().describe("Whether to include the parsed HTML in the return for each body, excluded by default because they can be excessively large")
    },
  • src/index.ts:248-282 (registration)
    MCP server registration of the create_draft tool, including name, description, schema, and handler.
    server.tool("create_draft",
      "Create a draft email in Gmail. Note the mechanics of the raw parameter.",
      {
        raw: z.string().optional().describe("The entire email message in base64url encoded RFC 2822 format, ignores params.to, cc, bcc, subject, body, includeBodyHtml if provided"),
        threadId: z.string().optional().describe("The thread ID to associate this draft with"),
        to: z.array(z.string()).optional().describe("List of recipient email addresses"),
        cc: z.array(z.string()).optional().describe("List of CC recipient email addresses"),
        bcc: z.array(z.string()).optional().describe("List of BCC recipient email addresses"),
        subject: z.string().optional().describe("The subject of the email"),
        body: z.string().optional().describe("The body of the email"),
        includeBodyHtml: z.boolean().optional().describe("Whether to include the parsed HTML in the return for each body, excluded by default because they can be excessively large")
      },
      async (params) => {
        return handleTool(config, async (gmail: gmail_v1.Gmail) => {
          let raw = params.raw
          if (!raw) raw = await constructRawMessage(gmail, params)
    
          const draftCreateParams: DraftCreateParams = { userId: 'me', requestBody: { message: { raw } } }
          if (params.threadId && draftCreateParams.requestBody?.message) {
            draftCreateParams.requestBody.message.threadId = params.threadId
          }
    
          const { data } = await gmail.users.drafts.create(draftCreateParams)
    
          if (data.message?.payload) {
            data.message.payload = processMessagePart(
              data.message.payload,
              params.includeBodyHtml
            )
          }
    
          return formatResponse(data)
        })
      }
    )
  • Helper function to construct the raw base64url encoded email message from parameters, including thread handling and quoting.
    const constructRawMessage = async (gmail: gmail_v1.Gmail, params: NewMessage) => {
      let thread: Thread | null = null
      if (params.threadId) {
        const threadParams = { userId: 'me', id: params.threadId, format: 'full' }
        const { data } = await gmail.users.threads.get(threadParams)
        thread = data
      }
    
      const message = []
      if (params.to?.length) message.push(`To: ${wrapTextBody(params.to.join(', '))}`)
      if (params.cc?.length) message.push(`Cc: ${wrapTextBody(params.cc.join(', '))}`)
      if (params.bcc?.length) message.push(`Bcc: ${wrapTextBody(params.bcc.join(', '))}`)
      if (thread) {
        message.push(...getThreadHeaders(thread).map(header => wrapTextBody(header)))
      } else if (params.subject) {
        message.push(`Subject: ${wrapTextBody(params.subject)}`)
      } else {
        message.push('Subject: (No Subject)')
      }
      message.push('Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"')
      message.push('Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable')
      message.push('MIME-Version: 1.0')
      message.push('')
    
      if (params.body) message.push(wrapTextBody(params.body))
    
      if (thread) {
        const quotedContent = getQuotedContent(thread)
        if (quotedContent) {
          message.push('')
          message.push(wrapTextBody(quotedContent))
        }
      }
    
      return Buffer.from(message.join('\r\n')).toString('base64url').replace(/\+/g, '-').replace(/\//g, '_').replace(/=+$/, '')
    }
  • Shared helper for all tools: handles OAuth2 client creation, validation, Gmail client setup, and error handling.
    const handleTool = async (queryConfig: Record<string, any> | undefined, apiCall: (gmail: gmail_v1.Gmail) => Promise<any>) => {
      try {
        const oauth2Client = queryConfig ? createOAuth2Client(queryConfig) : defaultOAuth2Client
        if (!oauth2Client) throw new Error('OAuth2 client could not be created, please check your credentials')
    
        const credentialsAreValid = await validateCredentials(oauth2Client)
        if (!credentialsAreValid) throw new Error('OAuth2 credentials are invalid, please re-authenticate')
    
        const gmailClient = queryConfig ? google.gmail({ version: 'v1', auth: oauth2Client }) : defaultGmailClient
        if (!gmailClient) throw new Error('Gmail client could not be created, please check your credentials')
    
        const result = await apiCall(gmailClient)
        return result
      } catch (error: any) {
        return `Tool execution failed: ${error.message}`
      }
    }
Behavior2/5

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

With no annotations provided, the description carries full burden for behavioral disclosure. It mentions the 'raw' parameter mechanics but fails to describe key behaviors: whether this requires Gmail authentication, if drafts are saved automatically, what happens on conflicts with threadId, or the return format. For a creation tool with mutation implications, this leaves significant gaps.

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?

The description is brief (two sentences) and front-loaded with the core purpose. The second sentence about 'raw' parameter mechanics is relevant but could be more integrated. There's no wasted text, though it could be more structured with usage guidance.

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?

Given 8 parameters, no annotations, and no output schema, the description is incomplete. It doesn't explain the tool's behavior upon creation (e.g., where drafts are stored, return values), parameter conflicts beyond 'raw', or authentication requirements. For a complex creation tool in Gmail, this leaves too much unspecified.

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 the schema fully documents all 8 parameters. The description adds minimal value by noting the 'raw' parameter mechanics (it overrides other fields), which is useful context not in the schema. However, it doesn't explain parameter interactions beyond this single note, maintaining the baseline score.

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 clearly states the action ('Create a draft email') and resource ('in Gmail'), making the purpose unambiguous. However, it doesn't differentiate this from sibling tools like 'send_draft' or 'send_message' that might also involve email creation, leaving room for improvement in distinguishing from alternatives.

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 provides no guidance on when to use this tool versus alternatives like 'send_message' or 'send_draft'. It mentions the 'raw' parameter mechanics but doesn't explain when to use raw versus structured parameters (to, cc, etc.), which is a critical usage consideration given the parameter conflict.

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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