Agent tools

Tools are how an agent acts on the world instead of only answering in text. The agent decides during a conversation whether to call a tool, based on the tool’s description and your system message. In the builder, tools live in the Apps section of the Preferences tab.

What a new agent has#

A new agent starts with three tools:

• File Attachment Retriever reads files the user attaches to the chat.
• Document Retriever searches your knowledge sources.
• URL Content Retriever reads the content of web addresses.

Remove any you do not want.

Add a tool#

1. In Apps, click Add app. With no apps yet, the section shows No apps yet and the same button.
2. In the dialog, the switch at the top has two sources: Use FlowHunt tools and Connect your MCP.
3. With Use FlowHunt tools, search with Search tools… and pick a tool. In the agent builder the dialog opens with the Connected filter on, so the list starts with tools your workspace can already reach. Click Connected to turn the filter off and see the rest.
4. For tools with parameters, the Configure Tool step lets you decide for each parameter whether the AI decides it (AI Decides) or you fix it (User-defined). A parameter you lock is not editable by the agent. Choose Skip & Add to keep the defaults or Add with Config to use your values.

Each app shows as a row with its tools, a status and a three-dot menu named App actions. Use Remove app to take it out again.

Rename a tool for the agent#

Under Advanced Settings in the tool’s configuration you can override the Tool Name and Tool Description the agent sees. Do this when you add the same tool twice for different jobs. The name allows letters, numbers and underscores, and FlowHunt asks for a distinct name when two tools would collide. The description is your chance to say “Use this tool when…”.

Connect an MCP server#

Choose Connect your MCP in the dialog to add a Model Context Protocol server. All of an agent’s MCP servers are stored together in one MCP Client entry. A server row shows a status:

• Connected: the server is set up and ready.
• Authorized: you signed in with OAuth.
• Connect: the server needs credentials. Use Configure connection.

To host your own servers, see hosted MCP servers.

Fix a tool that needs an account#

A tool row marked Connect needs an integration. Click it to open the connection dialog, sign in, and the status changes to Connected. See connecting accounts.

If something goes wrong#

• If the agent never uses a tool, mention it by name in the System Message and make the tool description specific.
• If a tool fails during a run, the cause is usually a disconnected account. See integration disconnected.

Next steps#