Canvas MCP Server

Instructions

    Args:
        course_identifier: The Canvas course code (e.g., badm_554_120251_246794) or ID
        topic_id: The Canvas discussion topic ID
        entry_id: The Canvas discussion entry ID
        include_replies: Whether to fetch and include replies (default: True)
    

Implementation Reference

• src/canvas_mcp/tools/discussions.py:370-533 (handler)

  The core handler function implementing the 'get_discussion_entry_details' tool. It fetches a specific discussion entry's details from Canvas API using multiple endpoints (view, entry_list, entries, replies), handles fallbacks, anonymizes data, and formats a comprehensive response including content and replies.

  @validate_params
  async def get_discussion_entry_details(course_identifier: str | int,
                                       topic_id: str | int,
                                       entry_id: str | int,
                                       include_replies: bool = True) -> str:
      """Get detailed information about a specific discussion entry including all its replies.
  
      Args:
          course_identifier: The Canvas course code (e.g., badm_554_120251_246794) or ID
          topic_id: The Canvas discussion topic ID
          entry_id: The Canvas discussion entry ID
          include_replies: Whether to fetch and include replies (default: True)
      """
      course_id = await get_course_id(course_identifier)
  
      # Method 1: Try to get entry details from the discussion view endpoint
      entry_response = None
      replies = []
  
      try:
          # First try the discussion view endpoint which includes all entries
          view_response = await make_canvas_request(
              "get", f"/courses/{course_id}/discussion_topics/{topic_id}/view"
          )
  
          if "error" not in view_response and "view" in view_response:
              # Find our specific entry in the view
              for entry in view_response.get("view", []):
                  if str(entry.get("id")) == str(entry_id):
                      entry_response = entry
                      if include_replies:
                          replies = entry.get("replies", [])
                      break
      except Exception as e:
          log_warning(
              "Failed to fetch discussion view for entry details",
              exc=e,
              course_id=course_id,
              topic_id=topic_id,
              entry_id=entry_id
          )
  
      # Method 2: If view method failed, try the entry_list endpoint
      if not entry_response:
          try:
              entry_list_response = await make_canvas_request(
                  "get", f"/courses/{course_id}/discussion_topics/{topic_id}/entry_list",
                  params={"ids[]": entry_id}
              )
  
              if "error" not in entry_list_response and isinstance(entry_list_response, list):
                  if entry_list_response:
                      entry_response = entry_list_response[0]
          except Exception as e:
              log_warning(
                  "Failed to fetch entry from entry_list",
                  exc=e,
                  course_id=course_id,
                  topic_id=topic_id,
                  entry_id=entry_id
              )
  
      # Method 3: Fallback to getting all entries and finding our target
      if not entry_response:
          try:
              all_entries = await fetch_all_paginated_results(
                  f"/courses/{course_id}/discussion_topics/{topic_id}/entries",
                  {"per_page": 100}
              )
  
              if not isinstance(all_entries, dict) or "error" not in all_entries:
                  for entry in all_entries:
                      if str(entry.get("id")) == str(entry_id):
                          entry_response = entry
                          # Get recent_replies from this method
                          if include_replies:
                              replies = entry.get("recent_replies", [])
                          break
          except Exception as e:
              log_warning(
                  "Failed to fetch all entries as fallback",
                  exc=e,
                  course_id=course_id,
                  topic_id=topic_id,
                  entry_id=entry_id
              )
  
      # If we still don't have the entry, return error
      if not entry_response:
          return f"Error: Could not find discussion entry {entry_id} in topic {topic_id}. The entry may not exist or you may not have permission to view it."
  
      # Method 4: If we have the entry but no replies yet, try the replies endpoint
      if include_replies and not replies:
          try:
              replies_response = await fetch_all_paginated_results(
                  f"/courses/{course_id}/discussion_topics/{topic_id}/entries/{entry_id}/replies",
                  {"per_page": 100}
              )
  
              if not isinstance(replies_response, dict) or "error" not in replies_response:
                  replies = replies_response
          except Exception as e:
              log_warning(
                  "Failed to fetch entry replies from replies endpoint",
                  exc=e,
                  course_id=course_id,
                  topic_id=topic_id,
                  entry_id=entry_id
              )
  
      # Get topic details for context
      topic_response = await make_canvas_request(
          "get", f"/courses/{course_id}/discussion_topics/{topic_id}"
      )
  
      topic_title = "Unknown Topic"
      if "error" not in topic_response:
          topic_title = topic_response.get("title", "Unknown Topic")
  
      # Format the entry details
      course_display = await get_course_code(course_id) or course_identifier
  
      user_id = entry_response.get("user_id")
      user_name = entry_response.get("user_name", "Unknown user")
      message = entry_response.get("message", "")
      created_at = format_date(entry_response.get("created_at"))
      updated_at = format_date(entry_response.get("updated_at"))
      read_state = entry_response.get("read_state", "unknown")
  
      result = f"Discussion Entry Details for '{topic_title}' in Course {course_display}:\n\n"
      result += f"Topic ID: {topic_id}\n"
      result += f"Entry ID: {entry_id}\n"
      result += f"Author: {user_name} (ID: {user_id})\n"
      result += f"Posted: {created_at}\n"
  
      if updated_at != "N/A" and updated_at != created_at:
          result += f"Updated: {updated_at}\n"
  
      result += f"Read State: {read_state.title()}\n"
      result += f"\nContent:\n{message}\n"
  
      # Format replies
      if include_replies:
          if replies:
              result += f"\nReplies ({len(replies)}):\n"
              result += "=" * 50 + "\n"
  
              for i, reply in enumerate(replies, 1):
                  reply_id = reply.get("id")
                  reply_user_name = reply.get("user_name", "Unknown user")
                  reply_message = reply.get("message", "")
                  reply_created_at = format_date(reply.get("created_at"))
  
                  result += f"\nReply #{i}:\n"
                  result += f"Reply ID: {reply_id}\n"
                  result += f"Author: {reply_user_name}\n"
                  result += f"Posted: {reply_created_at}\n"
                  result += f"Content:\n{reply_message}\n"
          else:
              result += "\nNo replies found for this entry."
      else:
          result += "\n(Replies not included - set include_replies=True to fetch them)"
  
      return result

• src/canvas_mcp/server.py:49-49 (registration)

  The registration of discussion tools, including 'get_discussion_entry_details', occurs here by calling register_discussion_tools(mcp) during server startup.

  register_discussion_tools(mcp)