collect_files

Collect the project and all its footage into a folder (File > Collect Files). Saves a copy of the .aep with all dependencies.

SERVERAe SOURCE@synthetic-ai/ae-mcp

Medium RISK CLASS

Category Write

Parameters 31 required

Recommended Rate-limitedsee the rule below

Registry record Grade F, identity unverified Pull the record →

This record as markdown: /tools/synthetic-ai-ae-mcp/collect-files.md

WHAT IT DOES

What collect_files does on Ae

AI agents use collect_files to create or update resources in Ae, usually the action step of a workflow, after the agent has gathered context. Every call changes real data in your Ae environment.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`timeoutMs`	number	—
`projectPath`	string	—
`outputFolder`	string	Yes	Absolute path to destination folder. Will be created if needed.

Parameters from the server's own tool schema.

RISK

Why collect_files is rated Medium

An AI agent can call collect_files faster than any human can review: one bad instruction and it creates or modifies resources in Ae by the hundred, each call as confident as the last.

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

RECOMMENDED RULE

The rule that runs collect_files safely

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

collect_files Rate-limited

collect_files 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.

View as policy code

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "collect_files": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "collect_files_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 30,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

LIMIT THIS TOOL → Instant setup, no code required.

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

FAQ

Questions about collect_files

What does the collect_files tool do? +

Collect the project and all its footage into a folder (File > Collect Files). Saves a copy of the .aep with all dependencies. It is categorised as a Write tool in the Ae MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.

What parameters does collect_files accept? +

collect_files accepts 3 parameters: timeoutMs, projectPath, outputFolder. Required: outputFolder. The full parameter table on this page comes from the server's own tool schema.

How do I enforce a policy on collect_files? +

Register the Ae MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for collect_files: 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 Ae. Nothing to install.

What risk level is collect_files? +

collect_files is a Write tool with medium risk. Write tools should be rate-limited to prevent accidental bulk modifications.

Can I rate-limit collect_files? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the collect_files 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 collect_files completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for collect_files. 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 collect_files? +

collect_files is provided by the Ae MCP server (@synthetic-ai/ae-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

KEEP EXPLORING

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