# Scratchpad agent tools

Solo can expose scratchpads through its [MCP server](../integrations/mcp-server.md), giving MCP-connected agents access to durable, project-scoped notes.

## Enabling tools

Enable **Scratchpads** in **Settings -> MCP** or **Settings -> Notes & todos**. This augments Solo's existing MCP server; it does not start a separate server.

If scratchpads are enabled while the MCP server is off, Solo shows a settings warning. Turn on the MCP server before expecting external clients to use the tools.

## What agents can do

[Scratchpad tools](../mcp-tools/scratchpads.md) let agents list, read, create, replace, rename, tag, append, clear, delete, archive, transfer, import, and export scratchpads.

The app and MCP tools share the same project-scoped scratchpad records. Notes created or changed by agents appear in the Scratchpads pane.

## Agent-first usage

Agents can create and update scratchpads for a task. For example:

`Create a Solo MCP scratchpad for this task and keep its content updated as the task progresses.`

Agents can also store external context in a project scratchpad. Give the agent a Markdown file to import, or provide pasted research, issue text, or a web-research summary to store in the note. Scratchpads can contain links, caveats, open questions, and next actions.

With Solo MCP, Scratchpad tools, and [Todo tools](../todos/agent-tools.md) enabled, an MCP-connected agent can read a scratchpad and create todos in Solo.

## Revisions

Scratchpad overwrites and targeted edits require a matching revision guard. End-of-note and section appends may omit the guard or optionally require a matching revision. Revision guards help prevent an agent or UI edit from silently overwriting a newer version.

When **Revision conflict** appears, the local draft remains visible. Copy any draft text you want to preserve, then choose **Reload latest** to replace the draft with the newest saved content.

## Large notes

Agent reads support `full`, `content`, `headings`, and `section` modes; `offset` and `limit` provide line slices for full or content reads. If `mode` is omitted for a large unpaginated read, Solo automatically returns the headings projection. Request `full` or `content`, or use pagination, to return body content; use a targeted read when you need less than the full note.

## Files

Scratchpad file tools read and write UTF-8 Markdown. Project-relative paths are constrained to the project directory so agents cannot use relative paths to escape the project.

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Are you a human? Read this doc on the web: https://soloterm.com/docs/scratchpads/agent-tools