find_similar_table
[MAINTENANCE] 2622182d — fuzzy-match a free-text description against every table already indexed (index_table) for one stored document, best match first. Each result carries the stored table row PLUS a difflib similarity score (0..1) against its normalized_caption. Useful before index_table to ch...
This record as markdown: /tools/io-github-ajc3xc-meridian/find-similar-table.md
What find_similar_table does on Meridian
AI agents call find_similar_table to retrieve information from Meridian without modifying anything. It is typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
doc | string | Yes | The stored document's source (the path/URL you ingested it under via ingest_document, which registers a docx/latex document in the doc-structure store). |
limit | integer | — | Max matches to return (default 5). |
project_id | string | — | |
description | string | Yes | A free-text description to fuzzy-match against this document's indexed tables. |
project_name | string | — | Project name — an alternative to project_id; resolved to the id internally. project_id wins if both are given. |
Parameters from the server's own tool schema.
Why find_similar_table is rated Low
This is a query/search operation that retrieves and returns existing data without side effects. It checks whether tables already exist under different captions but does not create, modify, delete, or execute anything. The read-only nature and lack of any destructive or state-changing capability places it firmly in the Read category with low severity.
From the tool's definition Tool performs fuzzy-matching search against indexed tables and returns results with similarity scores. Description explicitly states it 'fuzzy-match' and 'Returns {document_id, matches:[...]}' — purely informational retrieval with 'an empty list (never an…
Risk signalsBulk/mass operation — affects multiple targets
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
The rule that runs find_similar_table safely
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: it sits between your AI agents and Meridian, and checks every tool call against a rule you set before the call runs. Nothing changes on the server itself. For find_similar_table, this is the rule to start with:
find_similar_table is read-only, so it stays allowed. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
The button opens the PolicyLayer dashboard: create your workspace, connect Meridian, apply this rule, and every find_similar_table call is checked against it from then on.
Questions about find_similar_table
[MAINTENANCE] 2622182d — fuzzy-match a free-text description against every table already indexed (index_table) for one stored document, best match first. Each result carries the stored table row PLUS a difflib similarity score (0..1) against its normalized_caption. Useful before index_table to check whether a table is already present under a slightly different caption. Returns {document_id, matches:[...]} — an empty list (never an error) when the document has no indexed tables, or doc doesn't resolve to a stored document. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Meridian MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
find_similar_table accepts 5 parameters: doc, limit, project_id, description, project_name. Required: doc, description. The full parameter table on this page comes from the server's own tool schema.
Register the Meridian MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for find_similar_table: 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 Meridian. Nothing to install.
find_similar_table is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the find_similar_table 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.
Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for find_similar_table. 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.
find_similar_table is provided by the Meridian MCP server (@meridianmcp/mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
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