# files_read

Read text content of an attached file. Works for: .txt, .md, .json, code files, and PDFs (after files.ingest extracts text). DO NOT call on binary files — for IMAGES use files.get_base64, for AUDIO/VIDEO it cannot be transcribed via this tool, and for non-PDF DOCUMENTS run files.ingest first, THEN files.read. Calling on a binary mime-type returns an error — saves you a turn to read the routing hint before deciding.

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `files_read`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/files-read

## Facts

- Tool: `files_read`
- Server: Dialogbrain (`https://api.dialogbrain.com/mcp`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain.md
- Homepage: https://github.com/saloprj/dialogbrain-mcp
- Risk category: Read (Low risk)
- Registry record: grade F, identity unverified
- Server auth posture: open
- Server rate-limited: no
- Parameters: 4 (1 required)
- Recommended policy verdict: Allowed

## Parameters

| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `file_id` | integer | yes | ID of the file to read (from attachment_file_ids in context). |
| `encoding` | string | no | Text encoding to use (default: utf-8). |
| `max_chars` | integer | no | Maximum characters to return (default: 10000). Use smaller values for large files. |
| `summarize` | boolean | no | If true, generate AI summary instead of returning raw content. Use for 'summary', 'summarize', 'краткое содержание' requests. OMIT to return raw content (the de |

Parameters from the server's own tool schema.

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

```json
{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": 1,
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "files_read",
    "arguments": {
      "file_id": 0
    }
  }
}
```

## Why files_read is rated Low

This tool retrieves and queries file content without side effects. It is a pure read operation that extracts text from documents. The safeguards mentioned (error on binary files, routing hints for other file types) further confirm it is read-only and non-destructive.

From the tool's own definition: "Tool description explicitly states 'Read **text content** of an attached file' and lists supported formats (.txt, .md, .json, code files, PDFs). No modification, deletion, or execution capabilities are described."

## Use case

AI agents call files_read to retrieve information from Dialogbrain 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 Dialogbrain:

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

## Other tools on Dialogbrain (224)

- `agents_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/agents-delete.md
- `agents_trigger_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/agents-trigger-delete.md
- `ai_filters_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/ai-filters-delete.md
- `ai_tags_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/ai-tags-delete.md
- `calendar_delete_event` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/calendar-delete-event.md
- `collections_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/collections-delete.md
- `files_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/files-delete.md
- `folders_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/folders-delete.md
- `integrations_remove_endpoints` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/integrations-remove-endpoints.md
- `messages_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/messages-delete.md
- `notes_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/notes-delete.md
- `reminder_cancel` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/reminder-cancel.md
- `tasks_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/tasks-delete.md
- `threads_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/threads-delete.md
- `widgets_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/widgets-delete.md
- `youtube_delete_comment` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/youtube-delete-comment.md
- `youtube_delete_video` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/youtube-delete-video.md
- `agent_handoff` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/agent-handoff.md
- `agents_simulate_inbound` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/agents-simulate-inbound.md
- `android_launch_app` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/android-launch-app.md
- `android_shell` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/android-shell.md
- `android_ui_dump` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/android-ui-dump.md
- `background_run` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/background-run.md
- `browser_attach_meet` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/browser-attach-meet.md
- `browser_click` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/browser-click.md
- `browser_close` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/browser-close.md
- `browser_drag` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/browser-drag.md
- `browser_evaluate` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/browser-evaluate.md
- `browser_fill` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/browser-fill.md
- `browser_fill_form` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/browser-fill-form.md
- …and 194 more: https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain.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`

---

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