format_range

Apply formatting to a range of cells.

SERVERCowork Bench SOURCE0717376/cowork_bench

Low RISK CLASS

Category Read

Parameters 00 required

Recommended Allowedsee the rule below

Registry record Grade F, identity unverified Pull the record →

This record as markdown: /tools/cowork-bench/format-range.md

WHAT IT DOES

What format_range does on Cowork Bench

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

RISK

Why format_range is rated Low

Even though format_range only reads data, uncontrolled read access leaks sensitive information and racks up API costs: an agent caught in a retry loop can make thousands of calls a minute without anyone noticing.

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

RECOMMENDED RULE

The rule that runs format_range safely

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: it sits between your AI agents and Cowork Bench, and checks every tool call against a rule you set before the call runs. Nothing changes on the server itself. For format_range, this is the rule to start with:

format_range Allowed

format_range is read-only, so it stays allowed. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

View as policy code

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "format_range": {}
  }
}

ALLOW ONLY THIS TOOL → Instant setup, no code required.

The button opens the PolicyLayer dashboard: create your workspace, connect Cowork Bench, apply this rule, and every format_range call is checked against it from then on.

FAQ

Questions about format_range

What does the format_range tool do? +

Apply formatting to a range of cells. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Cowork Bench MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on format_range? +

Register the Cowork Bench MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for format_range: allow, deny, rate-limit, or require approval. Point your MCP client at the PolicyLayer proxy URL and the rule is enforced on every call, before it reaches Cowork Bench. Nothing to install.

What risk level is format_range? +

format_range is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.

Can I rate-limit format_range? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the format_range rule in your PolicyLayer policy. For example, setting max: 10 and window: 60 limits the tool to 10 calls per minute. Rate limits are tracked per agent session and reset automatically.

How do I block format_range completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for format_range. The AI agent will receive a policy violation error and cannot call the tool. You can also include a reason field to explain why the tool is blocked.

What MCP server provides format_range? +

format_range is provided by the Cowork Bench MCP server (0717376/cowork_bench). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

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