search_advanced

Instructions

Implementation Reference

• src/index.ts:53-57 (handler)

  The execute handler for the search_advanced tool. It ensures the browser is available, then calls searchWithSources with the query, timeout, and chosen sources, formatting the result.

  execute: async ({ query, sources }) => {
    await ensureBrowser();
    const result = await searchWithSources(query, TIMEOUT_MS, sources);
    return formatResult(result);
  },

• src/index.ts:46-52 (schema)

  The Zod schema for search_advanced's parameters: 'query' (string) and 'sources' (array of 'web', 'academic', or 'social' with at least 1 element).

  parameters: z.object({
    query: z.string().describe("The search query"),
    sources: z
      .array(z.enum(["web", "academic", "social"]))
      .min(1)
      .describe("Sources to search: 'web' (general web), 'academic' (scholarly articles), 'social' (Reddit & forums). Can combine multiple."),
  }),

• src/index.ts:42-58 (registration)

  Registration of the 'search_advanced' tool via mcp.addTool(), with its name, description, parameter schema, and execute handler.

  mcp.addTool({
    name: "search_advanced",
    description:
      "Search Perplexity.ai with specific source selection. Lets you combine multiple sources (e.g. web + academic). Use this when source control matters; prefer `search` for general queries.",
    parameters: z.object({
      query: z.string().describe("The search query"),
      sources: z
        .array(z.enum(["web", "academic", "social"]))
        .min(1)
        .describe("Sources to search: 'web' (general web), 'academic' (scholarly articles), 'social' (Reddit & forums). Can combine multiple."),
    }),
    execute: async ({ query, sources }) => {
      await ensureBrowser();
      const result = await searchWithSources(query, TIMEOUT_MS, sources);
      return formatResult(result);
    },
  });

• src/search.ts:31-34 (handler)

  The searchWithSources function that performs the actual advanced search by running runSearch(query, timeoutMs, sources).

  export async function searchWithSources(query: string, timeoutMs: number, sources: string[]): Promise<SearchResult> {
    log(`Search: "${query}" sources=[${sources.join(",")}] (timeout: ${timeoutMs}ms)`);
    return runSearch(query, timeoutMs, sources);
  }

• src/search.ts:88-140 (helper)

  The selectSources helper that opens the Perplexity source menu and checks/unchecks the requested source toggles (web, academic, social).

  async function selectSources(page: Page, sources: string[]): Promise<void> {
    const targetIcons = sources.map(s => SOURCE_ICON[s]).filter(Boolean);
    if (targetIcons.length === 0) return;
  
    // Open the "+" menu — located by its icon #pplx-icon-plus
    const addBtnLabel = await page.evaluate(() => {
      const btn = Array.from(document.querySelectorAll('button[aria-haspopup="menu"]')).find(b => {
        const use = b.querySelector('use');
        return use && (use.getAttribute('xlink:href') === '#pplx-icon-plus' || use.getAttribute('href') === '#pplx-icon-plus');
      });
      return btn?.getAttribute('aria-label') ?? null;
    });
    if (!addBtnLabel) throw new Error("Could not find the + (add) button on Perplexity");
    await page.locator(`button[aria-label="${addBtnLabel}"]`).click();
    await page.waitForTimeout(300);
  
    // Open "Connecteurs et sources" submenu — located by its icon #pplx-icon-plug
    const connLabel = await page.evaluate(() => {
      const item = Array.from(document.querySelectorAll('[role="menuitem"]')).find(el => {
        const use = el.querySelector('use');
        return use && (use.getAttribute('xlink:href') === '#pplx-icon-plug' || use.getAttribute('href') === '#pplx-icon-plug');
      });
      return item?.getAttribute('aria-label') ?? item?.textContent?.trim() ?? null;
    });
    if (!connLabel) throw new Error("Could not find 'Connecteurs et sources' menuitem");
    await page.locator('[role="menuitem"]').filter({ hasText: connLabel.slice(0, 10) }).click();
    await page.locator('[role="menuitemcheckbox"]').first().waitFor({ state: "visible", timeout: 3_000 });
  
    // Read current state of all checkboxes
    const getCheckboxInfo = (iconId: string) => page.evaluate((id) => {
      const item = Array.from(document.querySelectorAll('[role="menuitemcheckbox"]')).find(el => {
        const use = el.querySelector('use');
        return use && (use.getAttribute('xlink:href') === id || use.getAttribute('href') === id);
      });
      return item ? { label: item.getAttribute('aria-label') ?? item.textContent?.trim() ?? "", checked: item.getAttribute('aria-checked') === 'true' } : null;
    }, iconId);
  
    // Build the desired state: check targets, uncheck everything else
    const allIcons = Object.values(SOURCE_ICON);
    for (const icon of allIcons) {
      const info = await getCheckboxInfo(icon);
      if (!info || !info.label) continue;
      const shouldBeChecked = targetIcons.includes(icon);
      if (info.checked !== shouldBeChecked) {
        await page.locator('[role="menuitemcheckbox"]').filter({ hasText: info.label }).click();
        await page.waitForTimeout(200);
      }
    }
  
    // Close menus
    await page.keyboard.press('Escape');
    await page.waitForTimeout(300);
  }