Custom Tools

Custom Tools in AnswerAI allow you to integrate your own functions into the AI workflow.

Creating a Custom Tool

When creating a custom tool, you need to define several components:

Tool Name

The tool name is required and should follow these conventions:

• Use lowercase letters
• Use underscores instead of spaces
• Be descriptive and concise

For example: add_contact_hubspot

Tool Description

Provide a clear and concise description of what the tool does. This helps the AI understand when and how to use the tool.

Input Schema

Define the input parameters your tool requires. Each parameter should have:

• A name (lowercase, use underscores for spaces)
• A type (e.g., string, number, boolean)
• A description used by the AI to understand the parameter
• Whether it's required or optional

Example input schema:

Property	Type	Description	Required
email	string	email address of contact	Yes
firstname	string	first name of contact	No
lastname	string	last name of contact	No

JavaScript Function

The JavaScript function is where you implement the logic of your custom tool. Here's an example of how to use the input variables in your code:

Referencing Input Variables

In your JavaScript function, you can reference the input variables defined in your input schema by using the $ prefix. This allows you to dynamically access the values provided when the tool is used. For example, if you have an input parameter named email, you would reference it in your code as $email. This syntax tells the system to replace $email with the actual value passed to the tool at runtime. Remember to use this $ prefix for all input variables to ensure they are correctly interpreted and replaced with their corresponding values.

const fetch = require('node-fetch');
const url = 'https://api.hubapi.com/crm/v3/objects/contacts';
const token = 'your-hubspot-api-token';
const body = {
    "properties": {
        "email": $email
    }
};
if (firstname) body.properties.firstname = $firstname;
if (lastname) body.properties.lastname = $lastname;

const options = {
    method: 'POST',
    headers: {
        'Authorization': Bearer ${token},
        'Content-Type': 'application/json'
    },
    body: JSON.stringify(body)
};
try {
    const response = await fetch(url, options);
    const text = await response.text();
    return text;
} catch (error) {
    console.error(error);
    return '';
}

In this example:

• The email parameter is required and always included in the request body.
• firstname and lastname are optional. The code checks if they exist before adding them to the request body.
• The function uses the input variables directly (e.g., email, firstname, lastname) without the $ prefix.

Remember to replace 'your-hubspot-api-token' with your actual HubSpot API token.

By following these guidelines, you can create powerful custom tools that integrate seamlessly with AnswerAI's workflow.