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Open Tools to see what the agent chosen in the Agent selector can do during a conversation: RuleInside’s store tools, your own custom tools and the built-in system tools. Everything on this page applies to that agent; to work on another agent, choose it in the selector.
The Tools page in the portal

The Tools page: tools on this agent on the left, system tools on the right.

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Who can change tools

Any member can see this page. To change anything you need both:
  • to be an owner of the account, and
  • the active agent to be at Full control (see Edit levels). Agents you create are always at Full control; your main agent often is not.
Otherwise the page is read-only: there is no Add tool button, no Attach, Remove, edit or delete buttons, and the switches are greyed out. Transfer numbers follow a different rule, described under Transfer rows.

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The tools list

The page title reads “What … can do during a conversation.” with your agent’s name. Above the list:
  • Add tool (only when you can change tools).
  • A search box, Search tools…, which matches names and descriptions.
  • Filters: All, Webhook, In-page, Integration. They also apply to RuleInside’s tools.
The search and filters appear once there is at least one tool. The list shows, in order:
  1. RuleInside’s store tools on the agent (such as product search, order look-up and coupon check), each with a padlock and Managed. You cannot change or remove them, and they always stay on the agent.
  2. Your custom tools attached to this agent, with their name, type, description and URL (for Webhook and Integration tools), and the buttons Remove, edit (pencil) and delete (trash).
  3. Available to attach (only when you can change tools): your custom tools that are not on this agent, each with Attach, edit and delete.
The footer reads: “Built-in store tools are managed by RuleInside. Custom tools are reusable, attaching one here doesn’t remove it from other agents.” Each tool shows a type badge: Webhook, In-page, Integration, Built-in or Tool. The same Webhook tools are labelled Store in the agent editor’s Tools card.

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Buttons on a custom tool

Deleting a tool asks you to confirm (“Delete this tool?”) and cannot be undone. To use the tool again you must create it again, including any secret value.
Messages you may see:
  • Attach or Remove failed: “Could not update tools.” (or the reason), and the page reloads.
  • On your main agent below Full control: “This agent is managed, custom tools can only be attached to your own agents.”
  • Delete: “Tool deleted.” or “Could not delete the tool.”
  • Edit could not open: “Could not load the tool.”

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Adding or editing a tool

The New tool dialog

The New tool dialog, with the three tool types.

Click Add tool to open New tool (“Give your agent a new capability.”), or the pencil on a tool to open Edit tool (“Change this tool. The type can’t be changed.”). Choose a type:
  • Webhook (“Call your API”): the agent calls an address on your server.
  • In-page (“Run in the widget”): the tool runs inside your website assistant.
  • Integration (“MCP server”): connects an MCP server.
In Edit tool the type is locked.

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Fields for every type

A name reserved by RuleInside is refused. A tool may not refer to RuleInside’s reserved identity or system variables (such as names starting with system__) in its name, description, URL, header or parameters; the message says “Tools may not reference reserved identity or system variables”.

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Webhook fields

Parameters. Click + Add to add a row (“No parameters. Add the inputs the agent should provide.” while there are none). Each row has:
  • a name box (placeholder “param_name”), converted like the tool name;
  • a type: string, number, integer or boolean;
  • from variable (optional): when filled, the value comes from that conversation variable instead of from the agent, and req is greyed out. RuleInside’s reserved variable names are refused;
  • req: the agent must supply this value;
  • a trash button to remove the row.
Parameters have no description box: the parameter’s name is used as its description. Give each parameter a clear name, such as order_number or customer_email.
Authentication when editing. If the tool already has a value, the box reads “Leave blank to keep current key”. Leave it blank to keep the stored value, or type a new one to replace it. You cannot read the stored value back, and you cannot remove authentication from an existing tool in the portal: to drop it, delete the tool and create it again without it.

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In-page fields

Parameters, as above. “In-page tools run inside the embedded widget and need a matching handler on your site to do anything. This is an advanced option.”

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Integration fields

“Every tool call requires approval by default. MCP integrations may require an upgraded plan.”
Integration tools must be switched on for your account by RuleInside; they are off unless we have enabled them. An Integration tool cannot be edited after it is created: delete it and create it again.

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Saving the dialog

Click Create tool (“Creating…”) or, when editing, Save changes (“Saving…”). Cancel closes the dialog without saving.
  • A new tool is created and attached to the active agent in one step: “Tool created and attached.” If the tool is created but cannot be attached, it appears under Available to attach; click Attach there.
  • An edit shows “Tool updated.” and changes the tool on every agent it is attached to.
  • Failures show the reason, or “Could not create the tool.” / “Could not update the tool.”

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System tools

The System tools panel on the right reads “Allow the agent to perform built-in actions.” and shows how many are active, including the transfer tools when they are on. Five switches: End conversation, Detect language, Skip turn, Play keypad touch tone and Voicemail detection.
  • Each switch saves as soon as you click it: “Updated.” or “Could not update.” (the page then reloads).
  • Only an owner can use them, and only on an agent at Full control. Otherwise they are greyed out with “This agent is managed, its system tools are configured by RuleInside.” or “Only account owners can change these, ask an owner of your team.”
  • Voicemail detection also decides what When a call reaches voicemail shows under Call limits.

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Transfer rows

  • Transfer to agent: always locked. Only RuleInside sets it up.
  • Transfer to number: shows a settings icon when the agent has transfer numbers. When the agent editor shows the Transfer to a person card, the row links to it, with an arrow if you can change transfers there (an owner, with the agent at Instructions or above) or a padlock if you cannot. “Transfer numbers are set on each agent, under “Transfer to a person”.” See Transfer to a person.

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What you might see

Row buttons are greyed out while an attach, delete or load is running.

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Common questions

Either the active agent is not at Full control or you are not an owner. Your main agent is often below Full control; agents you create are always at Full control.
No. RuleInside’s store tools are marked Managed and always stay on the agent.
There is no undo. Create the tool again, including any authentication value, and attach it to each agent that used it.
It must start with https://, use a public domain name (not an IP address or localhost), and contain no user name or password.
Yes. Choose the other agent in the selector and click Attach on the tool. Editing the tool later changes it on every agent.
Remove takes the tool off this agent only and keeps it for your other agents. Delete (the trash button) erases it from every agent, straight away and for good.
Nowhere. Secret values are never shown again. To change it, edit the tool and type a new value.
In the agent editor, under Transfer to a person. The Transfer to number row on this page links there.
No. Delete it and create it again.
If you see “Could not update.”, the change was not saved and the page reloaded with the current value. Check that you are an owner and that the agent is at Full control.