Add and configure tools in the Now Assist Skill Kit tool canvas to gather data and context before a prompt runs. Tools can be chained sequentially, run in parallel, or branched conditionally using decision nodes.
About this task
A tools are utilities that run before the skill prompt executes. They gather data, call services, or run scripts. Their outputs can be referenced in the prompt template as context. The input for a tool can be a skill input or
the output of a previous tool in the canvas.
The Add tools tab displays a visual canvas showing the execution flow of your skill: from Start, through any tool and decision nodes you add, to the skill prompt, and then to
End. You add nodes to the flow by selecting the (+) icon on a connector between existing nodes.
Two types of nodes are available:
- Tool Nodes
- Tool nodes run a single tool such as a script, flow action, retriever, or web search. Tool nodes execute sequentially by default. When adding a tool node, you can select Add as parallel node to
place it alongside an existing node at the same level in the flow, so both tools run simultaneously and their outputs are both available downstream.
- Decision nodes
- Decision nodes route execution to one of several downstream tool nodes based on conditions. Branches are evaluated in order. The first fulfilled condition runs and the rest are skipped. A default branch runs if no
conditions are met.
Important: Decision nodes require all destination tool nodes to already exist on the canvas. Create all tool nodes that the decision will route to before adding the decision node.
Procedure
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Navigate to .
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Select the skill that you want to add a tool to.
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Select the 2. Add tools tab.
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Select the (+) icon on the connector where you want to insert a node.
The Add node dialog opens. Select Tool node or Decision node. Decision node is only selectable after at least one tool node exists on the
canvas.
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To add a tool node, select Tool node and then Add.
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In the Add tool dialog, select a tool type from the Tool type dropdown.
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If you want this tool to run simultaneously with another tool at the same level in the flow, select Add as parallel node.
When selected, the tool is placed alongside the next node in the flow rather than above it. Both tools run at the same time and their outputs are available to the next step downstream.
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Select Configure tool.
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Complete the five-step configuration wizard.
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Select Add tool.
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To add a decision node, select Decision node and then Add.
Important: All tool nodes that the decision will route to must already exist on the canvas before you add the decision node. The Destination node dropdown only lists nodes already on the
canvas.
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Enter a Name for the decision node.
The Originating node field is read-only and is automatically populated with the upstream tool node.
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For each branch, enter a Branch name and select a Destination node.
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Under Branch conditions, select Filters or Script and define the conditions that must be met for this branch to execute.
Branches are evaluated in the order they appear. Once a branch condition is fulfilled, all subsequent branches are skipped. Use the arrow controls to reorder branches.
- Optional:
Select Add branch to add additional branches.
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Select Add.
The default branch executes if no other branch conditions are met.
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Select Run tools to test the tool flow.
What to do next
After adding and testing your tools, configure the prompt to reference tool outputs using the + Inputs and tools button in the prompt editor. To learn more, see Create a prompt.