> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.dovetail.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Dovetail Agents

Agents are autonomous workers you configure to take action inside Dovetail and across your connected tools. Define what they know, what they can do, and when they run. Agents handle the work that would otherwise require manual effort.

Each agent is built from five components: **triggers instructions and context**, **skills**, **external connectors** and **Dovetail tools**

## Instructions

Instructions are the prompt that shapes how your agent behaves and what it produces. Write them in plain language,

Focus on outcomes rather than steps. Describe what a good result looks like — not every action the agent should take to get there.

**Example:**\
*Every Monday, summarize new data added to the Support channel over the past week. Group findings by theme, lead with the most urgent issue, and include a direct quote for each theme.*

### Persona

Add an optional persona to shape tone and style — for example, *"Concise analyst"* or *"Friendly researcher."* It's a short phrase that gets added to the agent's system prompt. It doesn't change what the agent does, only how it communicates.

## Skills

Skills are Dovetail docs or insights you attach to an agent to give it knowledge it can't derive from instructions alone. When the agent runs, the full content of each linked skill is injected into its context.

How teams use this:

* **Templates**—a standard format the agent should follow when writing summaries or reports
* **Reference data**—a tag taxonomy, list of product areas, or internal glossary
* **Examples**—sample outputs that show the quality and style you expect
* **Background context**—information about your product, team, or a specific initiative the agent needs to understand

Keep skills focused. Each doc is injected in full at run time, so shorter and more targeted docs consistently outperform long, general ones.

## Triggers

A trigger defines when your agent runs. Choose the mode that fits how the work actually happens.

| Trigger             | When the agent runs                                                                   |
| :------------------ | :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **On-demand**       | Only when you manually trigger it from the agent page                                 |
| **Scheduled**       | On a recurring cadence                                                                |
| **Dovetail events** | Specific Dovetail events trigger an agent                                             |
| **External events** | When an event arrives from a connected external system via webhook                    |
| **Digital twin**    | Continuously, as a listener that responds to interactions directed at it through chat |

## Dovetail tools

Dovetail tools are the actions an agent can perform inside your workspace. All tools are enabled by default — you can disable individual tools or entire categories to limit what any given agent can do.

| Category      | Available actions                                                                                                                   |
| :------------ | :---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Projects**  | Create, rename, and delete projects; add data; create highlights; attach audio or video; add utterances to transcripts; create tags |
| **Docs**      | Create, update, and delete docs; add and resolve comments                                                                           |
| **Channels**  | Create and delete channels; create and update topics; add data points                                                               |
| **Workspace** | Create, rename, and delete folders; create, update, and delete contacts and fields                                                  |
| **Agents**    | Create new agents programmatically during a run                                                                                     |

Scope tools to what the agent actually needs. If an agent only creates docs, disable project and channel tools so it can't make broader workspace changes by mistake.

## External connectors

External connectors give agents access to tools outside Dovetail using the Model Context Protocol (MCP). Once a service is connected, an agent can read from and write to it during a run or when invoked in chat.

### Supported connectors

* [Linear](https://linear.app/docs/mcp)
* [Notion](https://developers.notion.com/guides/mcp/overview)
* [Hex](https://learn.hex.tech/docs/api-integrations/mcp-server)
* [Salesforce](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.sfdx_dev.meta/sfdx_dev/sfdx_dev_mcp.htm)
* [Canva](https://www.canva.dev/docs/mcp/)
* [Gmail](https://developers.google.com/workspace/gmail/api/guides/configure-mcp-server)
* Custom MCP connectors

Connectors are configured per agent.

### Web search

Toggle web search on to let your agent query the public web during a run. Useful when the agent needs current information that isn't in your Dovetail workspace — competitor releases, industry benchmarks, or recent coverage tied to a trend in your data.

### Connecting a service

1. Go to the **Connectors** section on your agent.
2. Select the service you want to add.
3. Complete the authorization flow.

## Get started

1. Open **Agents** from your sidebar and select **Create agent**.
2. Give the agent a name and write its instructions. Add a persona if you want to shape its tone.
3. Attach skills—any doc or insight that gives the agent useful context or a template to follow.
4. Set an agent type: Digital twin, on-demand, scheduled, Dovetail event, external webhook.
5. Enable external connectors if the agent needs to reach outside Dovetail.
6. Review Dovetail tools and disable any the agent doesn't need.
7. Click run now to trigger the agent and commence the configuration and flow.
8. Save the configuration.

## Share your feedback

Use **thumbs up** and **thumbs down** on agent outputs. Feedback goes directly to the Dovetail team to help improve Agents.