Tools

The Tools tab in the Agent Builder allows you to add custom tools and workflows to your agents. Unlike Toolkits (which are pre-built integrations), Tools are user-created custom tools and workflows that extend your agent's capabilities with specific functionality tailored to your needs.

Overview

Tools enable you to:

• Add Custom Tools: Attach custom tools you've created in your project
• Add Workflows: Include workflows/actions that execute multi-step processes
• Create New Tools: Build new custom tools directly from the agent builder
• Manage Tool Configuration: Configure how tools are used by the agent
• Browse Tool Library: Access thousands of pre-built tools from the public library

Tools vs. Toolkits

Understanding the difference helps you choose the right approach:

Feature	Tools	Toolkits
Type	Custom tools and workflows	Pre-built integrations
Creation	User-created or from library	Pre-configured by EKB
Scope	Project-specific or public	Platform-wide integrations
Configuration	Full customization	Pre-configured with options
Examples	Custom API calls, workflows, business logic	Gmail, Slack, Google Drive, etc.

When to Use Tools:

• You need custom business logic
• You want to create reusable workflows
• You need to integrate with custom APIs
• You want to combine multiple operations into one tool

When to Use Toolkits:

• You need standard integrations (Gmail, Slack, etc.)
• You want pre-configured authentication
• You need common operations (send email, create task, etc.)

Accessing the Tools Tab

1. Open Agent Builder

   • Navigate to Agents in the sidebar
   • Click Edit on an existing agent or Create Agent
   • The Agent Builder will open

2. Navigate to Tools Tab

   • In the left sidebar, click on Tools
   • The Tools tab will display with your selected tools and options to add more

Adding Tools to Your Agent

Adding Existing Custom Tools

1. Open Tools Selector

   • Click + Add Tool button in the Tools tab
   • The Tools Selector modal will open

2. Browse Available Tools

   • Custom Tools: Tools you've created in your project
   • Public Tools: Tools from the public library (9,000+ available)
   • Workflows: Existing workflows from your project

3. Search and Filter

   • Use the search bar to find specific tools
   • Filter by category or type
   • Browse by popularity or recent additions

4. Select a Tool

   • Click on a tool to view its details
   • Review the tool's description and inputs
   • Click Add to attach it to your agent

Creating a New Custom Tool

1. From Tools Selector

   • Click + Add Tool in the Tools tab
   • Click Create Custom Tool in the modal
   • You'll be redirected to the Tool Builder

2. From Empty State

   • If you have no tools, click Create Your First Tool
   • This opens the Tool Builder for a new tool

3. Configure Your Tool

   • Name: Give your tool a descriptive name
   • Description: Explain what the tool does
   • Inputs: Define input parameters
   • Steps: Configure the tool's execution steps
   • Save: Save as draft or publish

4. Return to Agent

   • After creating, the tool will be available in your project
   • Return to the agent builder and add it via the Tools selector

Adding Workflows

1. Open Tools Selector

   • Click + Add Tool in the Tools tab
   • Click Create Workflow in the modal

2. Select Workflow Trigger

   • Choose the trigger type:
     • Form Input: User fills out a form
     • File Upload: User uploads files
     • Manual: Execute on demand

3. Configure Workflow

   • Set up workflow steps
   • Define inputs and outputs
   • Configure trigger settings

4. Add to Agent

   • Once created, the workflow appears in your tools list
   • It can be executed by the agent when needed

Managing Tools

Viewing Added Tools

The Tools tab displays:

• Sidebar: Shows all tools added to the agent
  • Custom tools
  • Workflows
  • Actions from your project
• Main Area: Shows tool details and management options

Tool Status

Tools can have different statuses:

• Active: Tool is ready to use
• Draft: Tool is being edited (not yet published)
• Published: Tool has been published and is available

Configuring Tools

1. Edit Tool Configuration

   • Click Configure on an added tool
   • Adjust tool-specific settings
   • Set approval requirements (if needed)

2. Tool Approval Settings

   • Auto-execute: Tool runs automatically when triggered
   • Require Approval: Agent asks for confirmation before executing

3. Input Defaults

   • Set default values for tool inputs
   • Configure required vs. optional inputs

Removing Tools

1. Remove from Agent

   • Click the X button on a tool in the sidebar
   • Or click Remove in the tool details
   • Confirm removal

2. Delete Custom Tool

   • For custom tools, you can delete them entirely
   • Click the three dots menu on a custom tool
   • Select Delete
   • Note: This permanently deletes the tool from your project

Tool Types

Custom Tools

Custom tools are tools you create with:

• Custom Logic: Your own business rules and processes
• API Integrations: Connect to your own APIs
• Multi-Step Operations: Combine multiple actions
• Data Processing: Transform and manipulate data

Creating Custom Tools:

1. Define inputs (parameters the tool accepts)
2. Configure steps (what the tool does)
3. Set up error handling
4. Test the tool
5. Publish when ready

Workflows

Workflows are multi-step processes that can:

• Execute Sequences: Run multiple operations in order
• Handle Triggers: Respond to form inputs or file uploads
• Process Data: Transform data through multiple steps
• Integrate Services: Connect multiple services together

Workflow Triggers:

• Form Input: User provides input via a form
• File Upload: User uploads files for processing
• Manual: Execute on demand by the agent

Public Tools

The public tool library includes:

• 9,000+ Tools: Pre-built tools from the community
• Various Categories: Communication, productivity, data, etc.
• Ready to Use: Clone and customize for your needs
• Regularly Updated: New tools added frequently

Using Public Tools:

1. Browse the public library
2. Find a tool that matches your needs
3. Clone it to your project
4. Customize if needed
5. Add to your agent

Best Practices

Tool Organization

1. Name Clearly: Use descriptive names that explain the tool's purpose
2. Document Well: Add clear descriptions for each tool
3. Group Related Tools: Organize tools by function or category
4. Version Control: Use drafts for testing before publishing

Tool Selection

1. Start Simple: Begin with basic tools and add complexity gradually
2. Test Thoroughly: Test tools before adding to production agents
3. Consider Performance: Too many tools can slow down agent responses
4. Review Regularly: Remove unused tools to keep agents efficient

Tool Configuration

1. Set Appropriate Defaults: Configure sensible default values
2. Use Approval When Needed: Require approval for sensitive operations
3. Handle Errors: Ensure tools have proper error handling
4. Document Inputs: Clearly document what each input does

Use Cases

Customer Support Agent

Tools Needed:

• Create Ticket Tool: Custom tool to create support tickets
• Search Knowledge Base: Tool to search documentation
• Escalate Issue: Workflow to escalate to human agent

Data Analysis Agent

Tools Needed:

• Data Processing Tool: Custom tool for data transformation
• Report Generation: Workflow to generate reports
• Export Data: Tool to export results

Content Creation Agent

Tools Needed:

• Content Generator: Custom tool for content creation
• Image Generation: Tool to create images
• Publishing Workflow: Workflow to publish content

Troubleshooting

Tool Not Appearing

Issue: Tool doesn't show up in the selector

Solutions:

• Check if the tool is published (drafts may not appear)
• Verify you're in the correct project
• Refresh the tools list
• Check tool permissions

Tool Not Executing

Issue: Agent doesn't use the tool

Solutions:

• Verify the tool is added to the agent
• Check tool configuration
• Review agent's system prompt (may need to mention the tool)
• Test the tool independently

Tool Execution Errors

Issue: Tool fails when executed

Solutions:

• Check tool inputs are correct
• Verify tool configuration
• Review error messages in tool execution logs
• Test tool with sample inputs

Approval Not Working

Issue: Tool executes without approval when it should require it

Solutions:

• Check approval settings in tool configuration
• Verify agent has permission to request approval
• Review tool's approval configuration

Related Documentation

• Workflows - Learn about creating workflows
• Toolkits - Understand pre-built integrations
• Agent Builder - General agent configuration guide