Notion Automation via Rube MCP
Automate Notion operations through Composio's Notion toolkit via Rube MCP.
Prerequisites
- Rube MCP must be connected (RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS available)
- Active Notion connection via with toolkit
- Always call first to get current tool schemas
Setup
Get Rube MCP: Add
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 responds
- Call with toolkit
- If connection is not ACTIVE, follow the returned auth link to complete Notion OAuth
- Confirm connection status shows ACTIVE before running any workflows
Core Workflows
1. Create and Manage Pages
When to use: User wants to create, update, or archive Notion pages
Tool sequence:
NOTION_SEARCH_NOTION_PAGE
- Find parent page or existing page [Prerequisite]
NOTION_CREATE_NOTION_PAGE
- Create a new page under a parent [Optional]
- - Get page metadata/properties [Optional]
- - Update page properties, title, icon, cover [Optional]
NOTION_ARCHIVE_NOTION_PAGE
- Soft-delete (archive) a page [Optional]
Key parameters:
- : Search text for SEARCH_NOTION_PAGE
- : Parent page or database ID
- : Page ID for retrieval/update/archive
- : Page property values matching parent schema
Pitfalls:
- RETRIEVE_PAGE returns only metadata/properties, NOT body content; use FETCH_BLOCK_CONTENTS for page body
- ARCHIVE_NOTION_PAGE is a soft-delete (sets archived=true), not permanent deletion
- Broad searches can look incomplete unless has_more/next_cursor is fully paginated
2. Query and Manage Databases
When to use: User wants to query database rows, insert entries, or update records
Tool sequence:
NOTION_SEARCH_NOTION_PAGE
- Find the database by name [Prerequisite]
- - Inspect schema and properties [Prerequisite]
- /
NOTION_QUERY_DATABASE_WITH_FILTER
- Query rows [Required]
NOTION_INSERT_ROW_DATABASE
- Add new entries [Optional]
NOTION_UPDATE_ROW_DATABASE
- Update existing entries [Optional]
Key parameters:
- : Database ID (from search or URL)
- : Filter object matching Notion filter syntax
- : Array of sort objects
- : Pagination cursor from previous response
- : Property values matching database schema for inserts/updates
Pitfalls:
- 404 object_not_found usually means wrong database_id or the database is not shared with the integration
- Results are paginated; ignoring has_more/next_cursor silently truncates reads
- Schema mismatches or missing required properties cause 400 validation_error
- Formula and read-only fields cannot be set via INSERT_ROW_DATABASE
- Property names in filters must match schema exactly (case-sensitive)
3. Manage Blocks and Page Content
When to use: User wants to read, append, or modify content blocks in a page
Tool sequence:
NOTION_FETCH_BLOCK_CONTENTS
- Read child blocks of a page [Required]
NOTION_ADD_MULTIPLE_PAGE_CONTENT
- Append blocks to a page [Optional]
NOTION_APPEND_TEXT_BLOCKS
- Append text-only blocks [Optional]
NOTION_REPLACE_PAGE_CONTENT
- Replace all page content [Optional]
- - Remove a specific block [Optional]
Key parameters:
- / : Target page or block ID
- : Array of block objects (NOT child_blocks)
- : Plain text content for APPEND_TEXT_BLOCKS
Pitfalls:
- Use parameter, NOT -- the latter fails validation
- ADD_MULTIPLE_PAGE_CONTENT fails on archived pages; unarchive via UPDATE_PAGE first
- Created blocks are in response.data.results; persist block IDs for later edits
- DELETE_BLOCK is archival (archived=true), not permanent deletion
4. Manage Database Schema
When to use: User wants to create databases or modify their structure
Tool sequence:
- - Inspect current schema [Prerequisite]
- - Create a new database [Optional]
NOTION_UPDATE_SCHEMA_DATABASE
- Modify database properties [Optional]
Key parameters:
- : Parent page ID for new databases
- : Database title
- : Property definitions with types and options
- : Database ID for schema updates
Pitfalls:
- Cannot change property types via UPDATE_SCHEMA; must create new property and migrate data
- Formula, rollup, and relation properties have complex configuration requirements
5. Manage Users and Comments
When to use: User wants to list workspace users or manage comments on pages
Tool sequence:
- - List all workspace users [Optional]
- - Get current authenticated user [Optional]
- - Add a comment to a page [Optional]
- - List comments on a page [Optional]
Key parameters:
- : Page ID for comments (also called )
- : Comment content as rich text array
Pitfalls:
- Comments are linked to pages, not individual blocks
- User IDs from LIST_USERS are needed for people-type property filters
Common Patterns
ID Resolution
Page/Database name -> ID:
1. Call NOTION_SEARCH_NOTION_PAGE with query=name
2. Paginate with has_more/next_cursor until found
3. Extract id from matching result
Database schema inspection:
1. Call NOTION_FETCH_DATABASE with database_id
2. Extract properties object for field names and types
3. Use exact property names in queries and inserts
Pagination
- Set for results per page (max 100)
- Check response for boolean
- Pass or in next request
- Continue until is false
Notion Filter Syntax
Single filter:
json
{"property": "Status", "select": {"equals": "Done"}}
Compound filter:
json
{"and": [
{"property": "Status", "select": {"equals": "In Progress"}},
{"property": "Assignee", "people": {"contains": "user-id"}}
]}
Known Pitfalls
Integration Sharing:
- Pages and databases must be shared with the Notion integration to be accessible
- Title queries can return 0 when the item is not shared with the integration
Property Types:
- Property names are case-sensitive and must match schema exactly
- Formula, rollup, and created_time fields are read-only
- Select/multi-select values must match existing options unless creating new ones
Response Parsing:
- Response data may be nested under or
- Parse defensively with fallbacks for different nesting levels
Quick Reference
| Task | Tool Slug | Key Params |
|---|
| Search pages/databases | NOTION_SEARCH_NOTION_PAGE | query |
| Create page | NOTION_CREATE_NOTION_PAGE | parent_id, properties |
| Get page metadata | NOTION_RETRIEVE_PAGE | page_id |
| Update page | NOTION_UPDATE_PAGE | page_id, properties |
| Archive page | NOTION_ARCHIVE_NOTION_PAGE | page_id |
| Duplicate page | NOTION_DUPLICATE_PAGE | page_id |
| Get page blocks | NOTION_FETCH_BLOCK_CONTENTS | block_id |
| Append blocks | NOTION_ADD_MULTIPLE_PAGE_CONTENT | page_id, content_blocks |
| Append text | NOTION_APPEND_TEXT_BLOCKS | page_id, text |
| Replace content | NOTION_REPLACE_PAGE_CONTENT | page_id, content_blocks |
| Delete block | NOTION_DELETE_BLOCK | block_id |
| Query database | NOTION_QUERY_DATABASE | database_id, filter, sorts |
| Query with filter | NOTION_QUERY_DATABASE_WITH_FILTER | database_id, filter |
| Insert row | NOTION_INSERT_ROW_DATABASE | database_id, properties |
| Update row | NOTION_UPDATE_ROW_DATABASE | page_id, properties |
| Get database schema | NOTION_FETCH_DATABASE | database_id |
| Create database | NOTION_CREATE_DATABASE | parent_id, title, properties |
| Update schema | NOTION_UPDATE_SCHEMA_DATABASE | database_id, properties |
| List users | NOTION_LIST_USERS | (none) |
| Create comment | NOTION_CREATE_COMMENT | page_id, rich_text |
| List comments | NOTION_FETCH_COMMENTS | page_id |