Reference Generated MCP Tools General

MCP tool parameters : General

Input schemas for the 15 general tools. The index of every module is in mcp-tools.md; a live server answers the same thing authoritatively through the tools/list JSON-RPC method.

ask_assistant

Ask Cairn's natural-language assistant a read-only question about GRC data (e.g. 'Which decisions were made at the last management review?'). Requires the optional AI assistant to be enabled (AI_ASSISTANT_ENABLED). The answer cites real records; data access enforces the caller's permissions.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
question	string	yes	Natural-language question
language	string	-	ISO language code for the answer (default en)

check_for_updates

Report whether a newer Cairn release is published than the one this instance runs. Returns 'state' ('outdated', 'current', 'unknown' when GitHub cannot be reached or the build carries no release number, 'disabled' when the check is switched off), the running version, the latest published version and the URL of its release notes.

No parameters.

create_saved_filter

Save a named list filter for the current user. query is the list's filter query string; view_key is the list key (e.g. context.issue).

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
view_key	string	yes	List key, e.g. context.issue
name	string	yes	Filter name
query	string	-	Filter query string
is_shared	boolean	-	Share with everyone (default false)

delete_saved_filter

Delete one of the current user's saved list filters by id.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
id	string	yes	UUID of the object

get_dashboard_layout

Get the currently authenticated user's home-dashboard widget layout (ordered list of {key, id, size, visible, zone, params}) and the catalogue of available widgets with their allowed sizes. id is the widget type and key is the per-instance id. A size is a 'WxH' tile token: width W in 1..4 quarter-columns (1=1/4 .. 4=full width) by height H in 1..4 fixed row units, e.g. '2x1' or '4x2'. A widget with multiple: true (e.g. 'indicator') can appear several times, each instance carrying its own params (the indicator widget takes {indicator: <id>, show_chart: bool}).

No parameters.

get_me

Get information about the currently authenticated user, including capability flags: 'can_override_import_dates' (may set created_at / updated_at on import) and 'can_create_users'.

No parameters.

help

Get usage documentation for the Cairn MCP server. Call without arguments for the full guide, or with a topic for focused help. Topics: context, assets, compliance, risks, incidents, batch, workflow, permissions, examples, users

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
topic	string	-	Optional topic: context, assets, compliance, risks, incidents, batch, workflow, permissions, examples, users

kanban_board

Get the unified To do / Doing / Done board aggregating action plans, treatment actions, audits and risk assessments (read-only)

No parameters.

list_dependencies

List the third-party open source components this Cairn instance is built on : name, owner (the organisation publishing it), resolved version, official repository URL and what each one is used for. Same registry as the About modal. Optionally filtered by group.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
group	string	-	Restrict to one group: 'backend' (Python), 'frontend' (JavaScript, CSS, fonts) or 'development' (test and lint tooling).

list_notifications

List the currently authenticated user's in-app notifications (most recent first), with the unread count. Set unread_only=true to only return unread notifications.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
unread_only	boolean	-	Only unread notifications.
limit	integer	-	Max results (default 20, max 100).

list_saved_filters

List the current user's saved list filters (own + shared). Optional view_key (e.g. 'context.issue') narrows to one list.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
search	string	-	Text search query
limit	integer	-	Max items to return (default 25, max 100)
offset	integer	-	Offset for pagination
view_key	string	-	List key, e.g. context.issue

mark_all_notifications_read

Mark all of the authenticated user's unread notifications as read.

No parameters.

mark_notification_read

Mark one of the authenticated user's notifications as read.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
id	string	yes	UUID of the notification

update_dashboard_layout

Replace the currently authenticated user's home-dashboard widget layout. Pass layout as an ordered list of {key, id, size, visible, zone, params} instances; use get_dashboard_layout first to discover widget ids, allowed sizes and which widgets are 'multiple'. Give each instance of a 'multiple' widget a distinct key. The payload is sanitised against the registry.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
layout	array	yes	Ordered widget instances {key, id, size, visible, zone, params}.

update_me

Update the currently authenticated user's profile (self-service). Accepts first_name, last_name, phone, language, timezone, theme_preference.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
first_name	string	-	First name.
last_name	string	-	Last name.
phone	string	-	Phone number.
language	string	-	Interface language code (empty for auto, 'fr', 'en').
timezone	string	-	IANA timezone, e.g. 'Europe/Paris'.
theme_preference	string	-	Display theme. 'system' follows the OS preference.