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textedit_get_documents

Retrieve a list of currently open TextEdit documents to manage and access your text files on macOS.

Instructions

Get list of open TextEdit documents

Input Schema

TableJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault

No arguments

Implementation Reference

  • The main handler for the 'textedit_get_documents' tool. It runs an AppleScript command using osascript to list all open TextEdit documents, including whether they are modified, and returns the formatted list or appropriate error messages.
    case 'textedit_get_documents':
      try {
        const command = `osascript -e 'tell application "TextEdit"
          set docInfo to {}
          repeat with aDoc in documents
            set docName to name of aDoc
            set docModified to modified of aDoc
            set modifiedText to ""
            if docModified then set modifiedText to " (modified)"
            set end of docInfo to (docName & modifiedText)
          end repeat
          return docInfo as string
        end tell'`;
        
        const { stdout, stderr } = await execAsync(command);
        
        if (stderr.trim()) {
          return {
            content: [
              {
                type: 'text',
                text: `Error getting TextEdit documents: ${stderr.trim()}`,
              },
            ],
          };
        }
        
        const output = stdout.trim();
        if (!output || output === '') {
          return {
            content: [
              {
                type: 'text',
                text: 'No TextEdit documents are currently open',
              },
            ],
          };
        }
        
        return {
          content: [
            {
              type: 'text',
              text: `Open TextEdit Documents:\n${output}`,
            },
          ],
        };
      } catch (error: any) {
        return {
          content: [
            {
              type: 'text',
              text: `Error executing TextEdit documents command: ${error.message}`,
            },
          ],
        };
      }
  • The tool schema definition, including name, description, and empty input schema (no parameters required), listed in the ListTools response.
    {
      name: 'textedit_get_documents',
      description: 'Get list of open TextEdit documents',
      inputSchema: {
        type: 'object',
        properties: {},
      },
    },
  • src/index.ts:27-358 (registration)
    The tool is registered by being included in the static list of tools returned by the ListToolsRequestHandler.
    server.setRequestHandler(ListToolsRequestSchema, async () => {
      return {
        tools: [
          {
            name: 'discover_apps',
            description: 'Discover AppleScript capabilities of a macOS application',
            inputSchema: {
              type: 'object',
              properties: {
                app_name: {
                  type: 'string',
                  description: 'Name of the macOS application to discover',
                },
                method: {
                  type: 'string',
                  description: 'Discovery method: basic, dictionary, properties, system_events, comprehensive',
                },
                destination: {
                  type: 'string',
                  description: 'Directory path to save discovery results',
                },
              },
              required: ['app_name', 'method', 'destination'],
            },
          },
          {
            name: 'finder_get_selection',
            description: 'Get currently selected files/folders in Finder',
            inputSchema: {
              type: 'object',
              properties: {},
            },
          },
          {
            name: 'finder_get_current_folder',
            description: 'Get path of currently viewed folder in frontmost Finder window',
            inputSchema: {
              type: 'object',
              properties: {},
            },
          },
          {
            name: 'mail_get_accounts',
            description: 'Get list of all Mail account names',
            inputSchema: {
              type: 'object',
              properties: {},
            },
          },
          {
            name: 'mail_get_inbox_count',
            description: 'Get unread message count in inbox',
            inputSchema: {
              type: 'object',
              properties: {},
            },
          },
          {
            name: 'mail_get_total_inbox_count',
            description: 'Get total message count in inbox',
            inputSchema: {
              type: 'object',
              properties: {},
            },
          },
          {
            name: 'contacts_search_people',
            description: 'Search for people by name in Contacts',
            inputSchema: {
              type: 'object',
              properties: {
                search_term: {
                  type: 'string',
                  description: 'Name or part of name to search for',
                },
              },
              required: ['search_term'],
            },
          },
          {
            name: 'contacts_get_person_info',
            description: 'Get detailed information for a specific person',
            inputSchema: {
              type: 'object',
              properties: {
                person_name: {
                  type: 'string',
                  description: 'Full name of the person to get info for',
                },
              },
              required: ['person_name'],
            },
          },
          {
            name: 'reminders_get_lists',
            description: 'Get all reminder lists with reminder counts',
            inputSchema: {
              type: 'object',
              properties: {},
            },
          },
          {
            name: 'reminders_get_incomplete_reminders',
            description: 'Get incomplete reminders across all lists',
            inputSchema: {
              type: 'object',
              properties: {
                limit: {
                  type: 'number',
                  description: 'Maximum number of reminders to return (default: 10)',
                },
              },
            },
          },
          {
            name: 'notes_get_folders',
            description: 'Get all note folders with note counts',
            inputSchema: {
              type: 'object',
              properties: {},
            },
          },
          {
            name: 'notes_get_recent_notes',
            description: 'Get recently modified notes',
            inputSchema: {
              type: 'object',
              properties: {
                limit: {
                  type: 'number',
                  description: 'Maximum number of notes to return (default: 10)',
                },
              },
            },
          },
          {
            name: 'notes_search_notes',
            description: 'Search notes by title or content',
            inputSchema: {
              type: 'object',
              properties: {
                query: {
                  type: 'string',
                  description: 'Search query for note title or content',
                },
              },
              required: ['query'],
            },
          },
          {
            name: 'notes_create_note',
            description: 'Create new note with title and content',
            inputSchema: {
              type: 'object',
              properties: {
                title: {
                  type: 'string',
                  description: 'Note title',
                },
                content: {
                  type: 'string',
                  description: 'Note content/body',
                },
                folder: {
                  type: 'string',
                  description: 'Target folder name (optional, defaults to "Notes")',
                },
              },
              required: ['title', 'content'],
            },
          },
          {
            name: 'textedit_get_documents',
            description: 'Get list of open TextEdit documents',
            inputSchema: {
              type: 'object',
              properties: {},
            },
          },
          {
            name: 'textedit_create_document',
            description: 'Create new TextEdit document with optional content',
            inputSchema: {
              type: 'object',
              properties: {
                content: {
                  type: 'string',
                  description: 'Optional initial content for the document',
                },
              },
            },
          },
          {
            name: 'calendar_get_calendars',
            description: 'Get all calendars with event counts',
            inputSchema: {
              type: 'object',
              properties: {},
            },
          },
          {
            name: 'calendar_create_event',
            description: 'Create new calendar event',
            inputSchema: {
              type: 'object',
              properties: {
                title: {
                  type: 'string',
                  description: 'Event title/summary',
                },
                start_datetime: {
                  type: 'string',
                  description: 'Start date and time (YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM format)',
                },
                end_datetime: {
                  type: 'string',
                  description: 'End date and time (YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM format)',
                },
                calendar: {
                  type: 'string',
                  description: 'Target calendar name (optional, defaults to "Calendar")',
                },
                notes: {
                  type: 'string',
                  description: 'Event notes/description (optional)',
                },
              },
              required: ['title', 'start_datetime', 'end_datetime'],
            },
          },
          {
            name: 'calendar_get_today_events',
            description: 'Get today\'s events across all calendars',
            inputSchema: {
              type: 'object',
              properties: {},
            },
          },
          {
            name: 'calendar_get_upcoming_events',
            description: 'Get upcoming events in date range',
            inputSchema: {
              type: 'object',
              properties: {
                days: {
                  type: 'number',
                  description: 'Number of days ahead to look (default: 7)',
                },
              },
            },
          },
          {
            name: 'workflow_contact_to_textedit',
            description: 'Get contact information and create formatted TextEdit document',
            inputSchema: {
              type: 'object',
              properties: {
                name: {
                  type: 'string',
                  description: 'Person name to look up',
                },
                title: {
                  type: 'string',
                  description: 'Document title (optional)',
                },
              },
              required: ['name'],
            },
          },
          {
            name: 'mail_create_message',
            description: 'Create new email message with recipients, subject, and body',
            inputSchema: {
              type: 'object',
              properties: {
                to: {
                  type: 'string',
                  description: 'Recipient email address',
                },
                subject: {
                  type: 'string',
                  description: 'Email subject',
                },
                body: {
                  type: 'string',
                  description: 'Email body content',
                },
                cc: {
                  type: 'string',
                  description: 'CC recipient email address (optional)',
                },
              },
              required: ['to', 'subject', 'body'],
            },
          },
          {
            name: 'mail_send_message',
            description: 'Send the most recently created message',
            inputSchema: {
              type: 'object',
              properties: {},
            },
          },
          {
            name: 'reminders_create_reminder',
            description: 'Create new reminder with title, optional due date and list',
            inputSchema: {
              type: 'object',
              properties: {
                title: {
                  type: 'string',
                  description: 'Reminder title',
                },
                due_date: {
                  type: 'string',
                  description: 'Due date in format YYYY-MM-DD (optional)',
                },
                list: {
                  type: 'string',
                  description: 'Target reminder list name (optional, defaults to "Reminders")',
                },
                notes: {
                  type: 'string',
                  description: 'Reminder notes/body (optional)',
                },
              },
              required: ['title'],
            },
          },
        ],
      };
    });
Behavior2/5

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

With no annotations provided, the description carries the full burden of behavioral disclosure. It states the tool retrieves a list but doesn't specify what 'open' means (e.g., currently loaded in memory, recently accessed), the format of the returned list, or any limitations like rate constraints. This leaves significant gaps in understanding how the tool behaves.

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 a single, efficient sentence that directly states the tool's function without unnecessary words. It is front-loaded with the core action and resource, making it easy to parse quickly.

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?

Given the tool's simplicity (0 parameters, no output schema, no annotations), the description is minimally adequate but lacks depth. It doesn't explain what 'open' entails or the structure of the returned list, which could be important for an agent to use the tool effectively without additional context.

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?

The tool has 0 parameters with 100% schema description coverage, so the schema fully documents the lack of inputs. The description adds no parameter information, which is acceptable here since there are no parameters to explain, aligning with the baseline for zero parameters.

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 ('Get list') and resource ('open TextEdit documents'), making the purpose immediately understandable. It distinguishes this tool from siblings like 'textedit_create_document' by focusing on retrieval rather than creation. However, it doesn't specify if this includes all documents or just those in a particular state beyond 'open'.

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 guidance is provided on when to use this tool versus alternatives. It doesn't mention any prerequisites, such as needing TextEdit running, or compare it to other tools like 'notes_get_recent_notes' for similar functionality. The description lacks context for decision-making.

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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