Export document as PDF with advanced options
AI agents use export_pdf to create or update resources in Indesign — usually the action step of a workflow, after the agent has gathered context. Every call changes real data in your Indesign environment.
Exporting to PDF creates a new file output but does not modify the original InDesign document or destroy data. While it generates content, it is reversible (the PDF can be deleted and re-exported). This is a Write operation rather than Execute because it follows a standard, bounded export procedure rather than arbitrary code execution. Not Destructive because no data is removed or overwritten.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'export_pdf' and description 'Export document as PDF with advanced options' indicates file creation/generation. This creates a new PDF file artifact from the current InDesign document state.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access export_pdf gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Indesign, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for export_pdf:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"export_pdf": {
"limits": [
{
"counter": "export_pdf_rate",
"window": "minute",
"max": 30,
"scope": "grant"
}
]
}
}
}export_pdf stays usable, but capped — an agent stuck in a loop can't make hundreds of changes a minute. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
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Export document as PDF with advanced options. It is categorised as a Write tool in the Indesign MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.
Register the Indesign MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for export_pdf: 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 Indesign. Nothing to install.
export_pdf is a Write tool with medium risk. Write tools should be rate-limited to prevent accidental bulk modifications.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the export_pdf 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 export_pdf. 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.
export_pdf is provided by the Indesign MCP server (lucdesign/indesign-mcp-server). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Start from Indesign, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.
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36 Indesign tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.