Using Agent Forge

Chatting with Agents

Agent Forge provides an intuitive chat interface for interacting with AI agents. This guide covers everything from selecting an agent to managing conversations and uploading files.

The Chat Interface

First Screen: Agent Selection

When you log in, you’ll see the main Agent Forge interface with available agents that you have built or shared within your organizations.

Agent Selection Screen

Starting a Conversation

Selecting an Agent

  1. Click the agent dropdown in the main chat area
  2. Browse available agents - both your personal agents and shared agents
  3. Click on an agent to select it
  4. The chat interface will update to show the selected agent’s name

Understanding Agent Cards

In the Agent Builder view, you’ll see agents displayed as cards:

Agent Builder Screen

Each agent card shows:

  • Agent Name: Descriptive title
  • Model: The underlying LLM (e.g., gpt-oss-120b, gemma-2-27b-it)
  • Description: Brief explanation of the agent’s purpose
  • Capabilities: Tags indicating special features (e.g., shared, file-uploads)
  • Action Buttons: Options to chat, edit, or manage the agent that you have access to

Beginning Your Chat

Once an agent is selected:

Begin Conversation

  1. Review the agent information displayed at the top
  2. Type your message in the text box at the bottom
  3. Press Enter or click the send button to submit
  4. Wait for the response - responses may stream in real-time if streaming mode is enabled

Managing Conversations

Chat Management Features

Chat Management

The left sidebar provides conversation management tools:

Navigation Options:

  • Starred Conversations: Quick access to important chats
  • Search Functionality: Find specific conversations by content or date
  • Chat History: Browse all previous conversations
  • New Chat: Start fresh conversation threads

Organizing Chats:

  • Star important conversations: Click the star icon to mark key discussions
  • Search by keyword: Use the search bar to find specific topics
  • Delete old chats: Remove conversations you no longer need

Conversation Context

Each chat maintains context throughout the conversation:

  • Previous messages are remembered within the session
  • File attachments remain accessible during the conversation
  • Agent configuration stays consistent throughout the chat

Best Practice: Start a new chat when switching topics to ensure clean context and better responses.

Uploading Files

Agent Forge supports file uploads to provide context and documentation to agents.

Upload Methods

Method 1: Click to Upload

File Upload Button

  1. Click the “Upload Files” button at the bottom of the chat interface
  2. Browse your files in the file picker dialog
  3. Select one or multiple files
  4. Click “Open” to attach files
  5. Files will appear in the chat as attachments

Method 2: Drag and Drop

Drag and Drop Upload

  1. Select files from your file manager
  2. Drag files over the chat interface
  3. Drop files in the designated area
  4. Files are automatically uploaded and attached

Supported File Types

Agent Forge supports various document formats:

  • .txt - Plain text files
  • .md - Markdown files
  • .csv - Comma-separated values
  • .json - JSON data files
  • .pdf - PDF documents
  • .docx or .doc - Microsoft Word documents

Working with Uploaded Files

Once files are uploaded:

When Asking Questions About Files:

  • Make sure to mention the filename (does not have to be exact) that you have uploaded
"Summarize the key points in "KPI-2025.docx"."
"What are the main key points in the PDF file OWASP presentation? (filename: 04-OWASP_presentation.pdf)"

File Context:

  • Agents can read and analyze uploaded files
  • Multiple files can be referenced in a single conversation
  • File content is available throughout the chat session

File Management:

  • View uploaded files: See list of attachments in the chat
  • Remove files: Click the X icon on unwanted attachments
  • Updating files: Remove the old file and upload a new version

Best Practices

Getting Quality Responses

Be Specific: ❌ “Tell me about security” ✅ “What are the top 3 security vulnerabilities in REST APIs and how can I prevent them?”

Provide Context: ❌ “How do I optimize this?” ✅ “I’m running a Python Flask API serving 10,000 requests/day. How can I optimize database query performance?”

Use Follow-ups:

  • Build on previous responses
  • Ask for clarification
  • Request specific examples or formats

File Upload Tips

Prepare Files:

  • Use clear file names that indicate content
  • Remove sensitive information before uploading
  • Compress large files when possible

Context in Prompts:

"I've uploaded our Q4 financial report (Q4-Fin-Report.csv). Can you identify the top 3 expense categories and suggest optimization opportunities?"

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Agent not responding:

  • Check your internet connection
  • Verify the agent is properly configured
  • Try refreshing the page
  • Contact administrator if issues persist

File upload fails:

  • Check file size (may exceed limit)
  • Verify file format is supported
  • Ensure stable internet connection
  • Try uploading smaller files

Slow responses:

  • Model may be processing complex request
  • High system load may cause delays
  • Streaming mode can improve perceived speed
  • Break complex questions into smaller parts

Context lost:

  • Start a new chat for fresh context
  • Avoid extremely long conversations (>20-30 turns)
  • Provide necessary context in each message
  • Re-upload files if needed in new conversations

Security Considerations

Data Privacy

When chatting with agents:

  • PII Detection: Agents may automatically detect and handle personal information
  • Prompt Injection: Protection against malicious prompt manipulation
  • Access Logs: Conversations may be logged for audit purposes
  • Organization Visibility: Shared agents may be accessible to other users

Safe Practices

  • Don’t share passwords or API keys in chats
  • Mask sensitive data when providing examples
  • Review agent permissions before uploading confidential files
  • Use private agents for sensitive organizational information

Next Steps

Now that you know how to chat with agents:

  1. Build Your Own Agent - Create specialized agents for your needs
  2. Set Up Knowledge Bases - Enhance agents with organizational knowledge
  3. Explore Advanced Features - Fine-tune agent configurations