tracetool

name	tracetool
description	Send structured traces to the TraceTool viewer using the MCP tools exposed by the tracetool plugin. Use when the user asks to log, trace, debug, or send messages to the TraceTool viewer. Also use when the user asks to clear the viewer, inspect an object, or show indented method entry/exit traces.

TraceTool Skill

You have access to a set of tracetool_* MCP tools that send structured messages to the TraceTool viewer (a Windows desktop trace viewer).
The viewer must be running before any tool call will succeed.

Note

All tools that send messages (tracetool_send, tracetool_send_value, tracetool_send_xml, etc.) return a json object that can be used to create child nodes or to update the message later with tracetool_send_child. All these tools can have a first optional parentNode or node parameter (default null) that specifies the parent node under which the message will be added. If parentNode is null, the message will be added at the root level. use a true null, not a string "null". For example:

Available tools

Send new traces (parentNode optional — null = root level)

Tool	Purpose
tracetool_send	Send a debug / warning / error message (1 or 2 columns)
tracetool_send_value	Send a JSON-serialisable value as an expandable tree
tracetool_send_xml	Send XML with syntax highlighting
tracetool_send_table	Send an array of objects as a table
tracetool_send_object	Send an object with class info, fields and methods
tracetool_send_stack	Send the current call stack
tracetool_send_dump	Send a hex dump of a buffer

Modify existing nodes (node parameter is mandatory JSON string)

Tool	Purpose
tracetool_resend	Override left and/or right message of an existing node
tracetool_resend_left	Override the left column message
tracetool_resend_right	Override the right column message
tracetool_resend_icon_index	Change the icon of a node
tracetool_set_background_color	Change the background color of a node
tracetool_append	Append text to left and/or right column
tracetool_append_left	Append text to the left column
tracetool_append_right	Append text to the right column
tracetool_show	Force a node to be scrolled into view
tracetool_set_selected	Select a node in the viewer
tracetool_delete_it	Delete a node
tracetool_delete_children	Delete all children of a node
tracetool_set_bookmark	Set or clear the bookmark flag
tracetool_set_font_detail	Change font (bold/italic/color/size/name) for a column or whole line

Viewer management

Tool	Purpose
tracetool_show_viewer	Show or hide the TraceTool viewer window
tracetool_clear_all	Clear all traces in the main viewer window
tracetool_set_host	Change the viewer host (default 127.0.0.1:81)
tracetool_get_config	Return the current host and environment flags

How to use

Simple message

tracetool_send(parentNode=null, level="debug", message="Hello from Claude")

Two-column trace (left | right)

tracetool_send(parentNode=null, level="warning", message="Response time", right="450 ms")

Parent trace with indented children

var parentNodeString = tracetool_send(parentNode=null, level="debug", message="Main trace")
var parentNode = JSON.parse(parentNodeString)
var childNodeString = tracetool_send(parentNode=parentNode, level="debug", message="Child trace")

Inspect an object

tracetool_send_value(parentNode=null,level="debug", message="Response", value='{"status":200,"body":"ok"}', maxLevel=3)

Send an XML payload

tracetool_send_xml(parentNode=null, level="debug", message="SOAP request", xml="<root><item>1</item></root>")

Send a table

tracetool_send_table(parentNode=null, level="debug", message="Users", rows='[{"id":1,"name":"Alice"},{"id":2,"name":"Bob"}]')

Configuration

• Default host: 127.0.0.1:81
• Override at runtime: tracetool_set_host(host="127.0.0.1:81")
• Override via env variable: set TRACETOOL_HOST in the plugin config

Send an object

tracetool_send_object(parentNode=null, level="debug", message="My object", obj='{"x":1,"y":2}', displayFunctions=false)

Send a call stack

tracetool_send_stack(parentNode=null, level="debug", message="Where am I?")

Send a hex dump

tracetool_send_dump(parentNode=null, level="debug", message="Buffer", shortTitle="raw", buffer="Hello", count=5)

Modify an existing node

var nodeStr = tracetool_send(parentNode=null, level="debug", message="Processing...")
tracetool_resend_right(node=nodeStr, rightMsg="done in 42 ms")
tracetool_set_background_color(node=nodeStr, color="#00FF00", colId=-1)
tracetool_set_font_detail(node=nodeStr, colId=3, bold=true, italic=false, color="#FF0000", size=0, fontName="")
tracetool_append_left(node=nodeStr, leftMsg=" [extra info]")
tracetool_set_bookmark(node=nodeStr, bookmarked=true)

Delete nodes

tracetool_delete_children(node=parentNodeStr)
tracetool_delete_it(node=nodeStr)

Rules

1. parentNode should be passed as a JSON string returned from a previous call, or null for root-level messages.
2. For node-modification tools (tracetool_resend*, tracetool_append*, tracetool_show, tracetool_set_*, tracetool_delete_*), the node parameter is mandatory and must be the JSON string returned by a previous send call.
3. Use level="error" only for actual errors; level="warning" for non-fatal issues.
4. Pass value to tracetool_send_value as a JSON string (call JSON.stringify mentally).
5. Pass rows to tracetool_send_table as a JSON array string.
6. Colors are specified as #RRGGBB or RGB(r,g,b). Named colors are not supported.