Galaxy MCP Tools Reference
Complete reference for Galaxy MCP server functions.
Connection
code
mcp__galaxy__connect(url, api_key) # Connect to Galaxy instance mcp__galaxy__get_server_info() # Server version and config mcp__galaxy__get_user() # Current user details
Histories
code
mcp__galaxy__list_history_ids() # Quick list: {id, name}
mcp__galaxy__get_histories(limit, offset, name) # Paginated, filterable
mcp__galaxy__get_history_details(history_id) # Metadata only, no datasets
mcp__galaxy__get_history_contents(history_id, limit, offset, order) # Datasets
mcp__galaxy__create_history(history_name) # Create new history
Datasets
code
mcp__galaxy__get_dataset_details(dataset_id, include_preview, preview_lines) mcp__galaxy__download_dataset(dataset_id, file_path) # Omit file_path for memory mcp__galaxy__upload_file(path, history_id) mcp__galaxy__upload_file_from_url(url, history_id, file_type, dbkey) mcp__galaxy__get_job_details(dataset_id) # Job that created this dataset
Tools
code
mcp__galaxy__search_tools_by_name(query) mcp__galaxy__search_tools_by_keywords(keywords) # keywords is a list mcp__galaxy__get_tool_details(tool_id, io_details) mcp__galaxy__get_tool_run_examples(tool_id) # XML test cases mcp__galaxy__get_tool_citations(tool_id) mcp__galaxy__get_tool_panel() # Full toolbox hierarchy mcp__galaxy__run_tool(history_id, tool_id, inputs)
Workflows
code
mcp__galaxy__list_workflows(workflow_id, name, published) mcp__galaxy__get_workflow_details(workflow_id, version) mcp__galaxy__invoke_workflow(workflow_id, inputs, params, history_id) mcp__galaxy__get_invocations(invocation_id, workflow_id, history_id) mcp__galaxy__cancel_workflow_invocation(invocation_id)
IWC (Intergalactic Workflow Commission)
code
mcp__galaxy__get_iwc_workflows() # Full manifest mcp__galaxy__search_iwc_workflows(query) # Search by name/description/tags mcp__galaxy__import_workflow_from_iwc(trs_id)
Common Patterns
Tool Discovery
python
# Find candidate tools search_tools_by_name(query="hyphy") # Inspect I/O get_tool_details(tool_id="toolshed.g2.bx.psu.edu/repos/iuc/hyphy_fel/hyphy_fel/2.5.84+galaxy0", io_details=True)
Workflow Testing Loop
python
# 1. Create history
create_history(history_name="Test: My Workflow")
# 2. Upload or reuse datasets
upload_file(path="/path/to/data.txt", history_id="...")
# 3. Invoke workflow
invoke_workflow(workflow_id="...", inputs={"0": {"id": "DATASET_ID", "src": "hda"}}, history_id="...")
# 4. Inspect outputs
get_history_contents(history_id="...", order="create_time-dsc")
# 5. Fix and repeat
History Contents with Pagination
python
# Page 1 (newest first) get_history_contents(history_id="...", limit=100, offset=0, order="hid-dsc") # Page 2 get_history_contents(history_id="...", limit=100, offset=100, order="hid-dsc")
Order Options for History Contents
- •
hid-asc- oldest first (default) - •
hid-dsc- newest first - •
create_time-dsc- most recently created - •
update_time-dsc- most recently modified - •
name-asc- alphabetical
See Also
- •
history-access.md- Detailed history/dataset access patterns - •
gotchas.md- Common pitfalls and solutions