Google Docs Automation via Rube MCP

Create, edit, search, export, and manage Google Docs documents programmatically using Rube MCP (Composio).

Toolkit docs: composio.dev/toolkits/googledocs

Prerequisites

• Rube MCP must be connected (RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS available)

• Active connection via RUBE_MANAGE_CONNECTIONS with toolkit googledocs

• Always call RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS first to get current tool schemas

Setup

Get Rube MCP: Add https://rube.app/mcp as an MCP server in your client configuration. No API keys needed — just add the endpoint and it works.

• Verify Rube MCP is available by confirming RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS responds

• Call RUBE_MANAGE_CONNECTIONS with toolkit googledocs

• If connection is not ACTIVE, follow the returned auth link to complete setup

• Confirm connection status shows ACTIVE before running any workflows

Core Workflows

1. Create a New Document

Use GOOGLEDOCS_CREATE_DOCUMENT to create a new Google Doc with a title and initial text content.

Tool: GOOGLEDOCS_CREATE_DOCUMENT Parameters:

• title (required): Document filename/title
• text (required): Initial text content to insert into the document

2. Search for Documents

Use GOOGLEDOCS_SEARCH_DOCUMENTS to find Google Docs by name, content, date, or sharing status.

Tool: GOOGLEDOCS_SEARCH_DOCUMENTS Parameters:

• query: Search query string
• max_results: Limit number of results
• modified_after / created_after: Filter by date
• shared_with_me: Filter shared documents
• starred_only: Filter starred documents
• include_shared_drives: Search shared drives
• order_by: Sort results
• page_token: Pagination token

3. Update Document Content with Markdown

Use GOOGLEDOCS_UPDATE_DOCUMENT_MARKDOWN to replace the entire content of a document with Markdown-formatted text.

Tool: GOOGLEDOCS_UPDATE_DOCUMENT_MARKDOWN Parameters:

• id (required): Document ID
• markdown (required): Markdown content to replace entire document body

4. Find and Replace Text

Use GOOGLEDOCS_REPLACE_ALL_TEXT to replace all occurrences of a string in a document.

Tool: GOOGLEDOCS_REPLACE_ALL_TEXT Parameters:

• document_id (required): Target document ID
• find_text (required): Text to search for
• replace_text (required): Replacement text
• match_case: Case-sensitive matching (boolean)
• search_by_regex: Use regex for find_text
• tab_ids: Specific tabs to search

5. Export Document as PDF

Use GOOGLEDOCS_EXPORT_DOCUMENT_AS_PDF to export a Google Doc to PDF format.

Tool: GOOGLEDOCS_EXPORT_DOCUMENT_AS_PDF Parameters:

• file_id (required): Document file ID
• filename: Output PDF filename

6. Copy a Document

Use GOOGLEDOCS_COPY_DOCUMENT to duplicate an existing Google Doc.

Tool: GOOGLEDOCS_COPY_DOCUMENT Parameters:

• document_id (required): Source document ID to copy
• title: Title for the new copy
• include_shared_drives: Search shared drives for the source

Common Patterns

• Search then edit: Use GOOGLEDOCS_SEARCH_DOCUMENTS to find a document by name, then use the returned document ID with GOOGLEDOCS_UPDATE_DOCUMENT_MARKDOWN or GOOGLEDOCS_REPLACE_ALL_TEXT to modify it.

• Create from template: Use GOOGLEDOCS_COPY_DOCUMENT to duplicate a template, then GOOGLEDOCS_REPLACE_ALL_TEXT to fill in placeholder text.

• Retrieve then update: Use GOOGLEDOCS_GET_DOCUMENT_BY_ID to read current content, then apply edits with GOOGLEDOCS_UPDATE_EXISTING_DOCUMENT .

• Batch text insertion: Use GOOGLEDOCS_INSERT_TEXT_ACTION to insert text at specific positions (by index) or append to the end of a document.

• Share documents: Combine with GOOGLEDRIVE_ADD_FILE_SHARING_PREFERENCE (googledrive toolkit) to share documents after creation.

Known Pitfalls

• GOOGLEDOCS_UPDATE_DOCUMENT_MARKDOWN replaces the entire document content -- it does not append. Use it for full rewrites only.

• GOOGLEDOCS_INSERT_TEXT_ACTION requires a precise insertion_index (character position). Set append_to_end: true to safely add text at the end.

• GOOGLEDOCS_UPDATE_EXISTING_DOCUMENT requires constructing an editDocs request body with raw Google Docs API batch update requests -- consult the API documentation for the correct structure.

• Document IDs and file IDs are the same value for Google Docs, but parameter names differ across tools (id , document_id , file_id ).

• GOOGLEDOCS_SEARCH_DOCUMENTS uses Google Drive search syntax for the query parameter (e.g., name contains 'report' ).

Quick Reference

Action Tool Key Parameters

Create document GOOGLEDOCS_CREATE_DOCUMENT

title , text

Search documents GOOGLEDOCS_SEARCH_DOCUMENTS

query , max_results , modified_after

Get document by ID GOOGLEDOCS_GET_DOCUMENT_BY_ID

id

Update with Markdown GOOGLEDOCS_UPDATE_DOCUMENT_MARKDOWN

id , markdown

Programmatic edits GOOGLEDOCS_UPDATE_EXISTING_DOCUMENT

document_id , editDocs

Insert text GOOGLEDOCS_INSERT_TEXT_ACTION

document_id , text_to_insert , insertion_index

Find and replace GOOGLEDOCS_REPLACE_ALL_TEXT

document_id , find_text , replace_text

Export as PDF GOOGLEDOCS_EXPORT_DOCUMENT_AS_PDF

file_id , filename

Copy document GOOGLEDOCS_COPY_DOCUMENT

document_id , title

Powered by Composio