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

# Create and manage custom tools

> Collect customer information and optionally call an external API through a custom tool.

Custom tools let an agent collect information for a business task and optionally call an external API. Prepare the task, the information needed, and the expected result before creating one.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open custom tools">
    Open the agent's **Connect** page and the **Custom tool** card. Select **Add a tool**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Describe the task">
    In **What should it do?**, describe when the tool should run and what information it should collect. Select **Generate**, or use **Add manually** to configure it yourself.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review the collected information">
    Check **Name**, **Description**, and **What to collect**. Review each field and any alternative choices. Enable **Notify a human after using this tool** only when the task should be handed to your team.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure an API call only if needed">
    Leave **Call an external API** off for information collection alone. If the task requires an API, use the setup below before saving.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save and verify">
    Select **Save** and confirm the tool appears in the list. Check **Enable tool**, then test the intended request in **Preview** using harmless data. Confirm the collected information and expected handoff or external result.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Optional external API

Ask the person responsible for the destination system for its HTTPS address, method, required inputs, and permitted operations. Do not guess these settings.

Configure **Method**, **Base URL**, **Parameters**, **Headers**, and **Body** as required. Keep credentials only in the dedicated header fields, never in the description, knowledge, or examples. Existing saved header values are not displayed; **Replace** changes the saved header set.

**Send test** sends a real request. Use a safe destination and test values; it can create or change records. After testing, use **Data access** to choose **Full data access** or **Limited data access** and select only the response fields the agent should see. Save the reviewed configuration.

## Maintain a tool

Open the tool to edit it. Turn **Enable tool** off to stop its use without deleting the configuration. **Delete tool** removes it; this does not reverse actions already completed in an external system.

You can add short tool-specific guidance in [Knowledge](/en/build/add-knowledge). Keep factual business content separate from instructions about when to use the tool.