This record as markdown: /tools/synthetic-ai-ae-mcp/duplicate-layer.md
What duplicate_layer does on Ae
AI agents use duplicate_layer 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
save | boolean | — | Save the project after duplicating. Defaults to false. |
newName | string | — | Optional duplicate name. |
compName | string | Yes | Composition name. |
layerName | string | Yes | Layer name. |
timeoutMs | number | — | Process timeout in milliseconds. Defaults to 120000. |
projectPath | string | — | Optional absolute path to an .aep file to open first. |
Parameters from the server's own tool schema.
Why duplicate_layer is rated Medium
An AI agent can call duplicate_layer 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
The rule that runs duplicate_layer 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 duplicate_layer, this is the rule to start with:
duplicate_layer 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.
The button opens the PolicyLayer dashboard: create your workspace, connect Ae, apply this rule, and every duplicate_layer call is checked against it from then on.
Questions about duplicate_layer
Duplicate a layer by name. 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.
duplicate_layer accepts 6 parameters: save, newName, compName, layerName, timeoutMs, projectPath. Required: compName, layerName. The full parameter table on this page comes from the server's own tool schema.
Register the Ae MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for duplicate_layer: 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.
duplicate_layer 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 duplicate_layer 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 duplicate_layer. 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.
duplicate_layer 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.
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