---
name: census-bureau-automation
description: "Automate Census Bureau tasks via Rube MCP (Composio). Always search tools first for current schemas."
requires:
  mcp: [rube]
---

# Census Bureau Automation via Rube MCP

Automate Census Bureau operations through Composio's Census Bureau toolkit via Rube MCP.

**Toolkit docs**: [composio.dev/toolkits/census_bureau](https://composio.dev/toolkits/census_bureau)

## Prerequisites

- Rube MCP must be connected (RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS available)
- Active Census Bureau connection via `RUBE_MANAGE_CONNECTIONS` with toolkit `census_bureau`
- Always call `RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS` first to get current tool schemas

## Setup

**Get Rube MCP**: Add `https://rube.app/mcp` as an MCP server in your client configuration. No API keys needed — just add the endpoint and it works.

1. Verify Rube MCP is available by confirming `RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS` responds
2. Call `RUBE_MANAGE_CONNECTIONS` with toolkit `census_bureau`
3. If connection is not ACTIVE, follow the returned auth link to complete setup
4. Confirm connection status shows ACTIVE before running any workflows

## Tool Discovery

Always discover available tools before executing workflows:

```
RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS
queries: [{use_case: "Census Bureau operations", known_fields: ""}]
session: {generate_id: true}
```

This returns available tool slugs, input schemas, recommended execution plans, and known pitfalls.

## Core Workflow Pattern

### Step 1: Discover Available Tools

```
RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS
queries: [{use_case: "your specific Census Bureau task"}]
session: {id: "existing_session_id"}
```

### Step 2: Check Connection

```
RUBE_MANAGE_CONNECTIONS
toolkits: ["census_bureau"]
session_id: "your_session_id"
```

### Step 3: Execute Tools

```
RUBE_MULTI_EXECUTE_TOOL
tools: [{
  tool_slug: "TOOL_SLUG_FROM_SEARCH",
  arguments: {/* schema-compliant args from search results */}
}]
memory: {}
session_id: "your_session_id"
```

## Known Pitfalls

- **Always search first**: Tool schemas change. Never hardcode tool slugs or arguments without calling `RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS`
- **Check connection**: Verify `RUBE_MANAGE_CONNECTIONS` shows ACTIVE status before executing tools
- **Schema compliance**: Use exact field names and types from the search results
- **Memory parameter**: Always include `memory` in `RUBE_MULTI_EXECUTE_TOOL` calls, even if empty (`{}`)
- **Session reuse**: Reuse session IDs within a workflow. Generate new ones for new workflows
- **Pagination**: Check responses for pagination tokens and continue fetching until complete

## Quick Reference

| Operation | Approach |
|-----------|----------|
| Find tools | `RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS` with Census Bureau-specific use case |
| Connect | `RUBE_MANAGE_CONNECTIONS` with toolkit `census_bureau` |
| Execute | `RUBE_MULTI_EXECUTE_TOOL` with discovered tool slugs |
| Bulk ops | `RUBE_REMOTE_WORKBENCH` with `run_composio_tool()` |
| Full schema | `RUBE_GET_TOOL_SCHEMAS` for tools with `schemaRef` |

---
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