Tools

Add custom tools and workflows to your agents

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 Odin AI
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