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What is Get Main Instructions?

get_main_instructions is a specialized tool that is available only to a focused action agent. It returns the main workflow instructions so the focused agent can recover from an unexpected state and get back to the right place before continuing its focused task. In prompts, refer to this tool as get_main_instructions exactly.
Focused Action Only: This tool is only available inside focused_action. The main agent and recovery agent cannot call it directly. In most cases, you should only expect the focused agent to use it when your prompt explicitly tells it to use get_main_instructions, or otherwise clearly permits access to the main workflow instructions.
For broader guidance on when and how to use focused agents, see Focused Action.

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What It Returns

The tool returns the main workflow instructions in text form.
  • Input values like {patient_id} stay in bracket notation
  • Sensitive values like {$password} stay in bracket notation
  • Runtime values may be shown with their current value when available, for example {{report_id (currently: 'RPT-123')}}
This is useful because the focused agent can reread the larger workflow context without exposing sensitive plaintext values.

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Why This Tool Exists

Sometimes a focused action lands on an unexpected screen, popup, or branch and needs more context than its local focused prompt provides. In those cases, get_main_instructions can help the focused agent:
  1. Reread the full workflow instructions
  2. Understand where it was supposed to be in the larger flow
  3. Recover back to the correct screen
  4. Continue the original focused task

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When to Use It

Use get_main_instructions mainly when:
  • The focused agent hits an unexpected state and needs broader workflow context
  • The recovery path depends on understanding earlier or later workflow steps
  • You explicitly want the focused agent to have permission to consult the full workflow prompt

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How to Prompt for It

The safest pattern is to mention the tool directly inside the focused_action instructions.
You can also make the permission even more explicit:

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Common Pitfalls

  • Do not treat this as a default tool just because it is available
  • Do not use it as a substitute for writing a clear focused_action prompt
  • Do not assume it is available to the main agent
  • Do not rely on it to reveal plaintext sensitive values; sensitive placeholders remain bracketed

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Relationship to Focused Action

get_main_instructions is a supporting tool for focused_action, not a replacement for it.
  • Use Focused Action for the main delegation pattern
  • Use get_main_instructions only when that focused agent may need broader workflow context to recover from an unexpected situation