# ae_check_connection

Checks if the After Effects extension is connected to the MCP WebSocket server. Run this before executing tasks if you are unsure if After Effects is connected.

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `ae_check_connection`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/ae-check-connection

## Facts

- Tool: `ae_check_connection`
- Server: Ae (`ae-mcp-server`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae.md
- Install: `npx -y ae-mcp-server`
- Homepage: https://www.npmjs.com/package/ae-mcp-server
- Risk category: Read (Low risk)
- Registry record: grade F, identity unverified
- Server rate-limited: no
- Parameters: 0
- Recommended policy verdict: Allowed

## Example call (MCP tools/call, JSON-RPC 2.0)

```json
{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": 1,
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "ae_check_connection",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why ae_check_connection is rated Low

This tool performs a connection status check, which is a read-only operation that retrieves state information without modifying anything. It has no capability to create, delete, execute, or move data. The low severity reflects that misuse poses minimal risk—an agent checking connection status cannot harm the system or workflow.

From the tool's own definition: "Tool description states 'Checks if the After Effects extension is connected' — a pure status query with no side effects or modifications."

## Use case

AI agents call ae_check_connection to retrieve information from Ae without modifying anything. It is typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.

## Recommended policy (PolicyLayer)

Verdict: **Allowed**. Enforced by the PolicyLayer MCP gateway (https://policylayer.com/mcp-gateway) before a call reaches Ae:

```json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "ae_check_connection": {}
  }
}
```

## Other tools on Ae (34)

- `ae_delete_layer` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/ae-delete-layer.md
- `ae_remove_effect` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/ae-remove-effect.md
- `ae_add_expression` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/ae-add-expression.md
- `ae_render_preview` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/ae-render-preview.md
- `ae_select_layers` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/ae-select-layers.md
- `ae_get_composition_info` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/ae-get-composition-info.md
- `ae_get_effect_info` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/ae-get-effect-info.md
- `ae_get_layer_info` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/ae-get-layer-info.md
- `ae_get_render_queue_info` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/ae-get-render-queue-info.md
- `ae_get_screenshot` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/ae-get-screenshot.md
- `mcp_health_check` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/mcp-health-check.md
- `mcp_performance_metrics` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/mcp-performance-metrics.md
- `mcp_system_diagnostics` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/mcp-system-diagnostics.md
- `ae_add_audio_markers` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/ae-add-audio-markers.md
- `ae_add_keyframe` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/ae-add-keyframe.md
- `ae_add_text_animator` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/ae-add-text-animator.md
- `ae_animate_camera` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/ae-animate-camera.md
- `ae_animate_property` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/ae-animate-property.md
- `ae_apply_color_grading` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/ae-apply-color-grading.md
- `ae_apply_effect` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/ae-apply-effect.md
- `ae_apply_effect_preset` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/ae-apply-effect-preset.md
- `ae_create_composition` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/ae-create-composition.md
- `ae_create_layer` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/ae-create-layer.md
- `ae_create_null_controller` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/ae-create-null-controller.md
- `ae_create_particle_system` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/ae-create-particle-system.md
- `ae_duplicate_layer` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/ae-duplicate-layer.md
- `ae_enable_motion_blur` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/ae-enable-motion-blur.md
- `ae_export_video` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/ae-export-video.md
- `ae_import_file` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/ae-import-file.md
- `ae_parent_layer` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/ae-parent-layer.md
- …and 4 more: https://policylayer.com/tools/ae.md

## For agents

This record is a snapshot. Live verdicts and the full registry:

- Check every server in your MCP config at once: `npx -y policylayer stack`
- Vet a server before you add it: install the mcp-precheck skill — `npx skills add https://policylayer.com` (skill text: https://policylayer.com/skill.md)
- Query the registry over MCP: endpoint `https://api.policylayer.com/mcp` — tools `check_mcp_server`, `check_mcp_stack`, `check_tool`, `search_registry`, `get_change_events`

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Source: the PolicyLayer MCP registry — one continuously verified record per MCP server. Full record: https://policylayer.com/registry?q=ae · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/ae