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

# Get Main Instructions

> Let focused action agents reread the main workflow instructions when you explicitly allow it

## 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.

<Warning>
  **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.
</Warning>

For broader guidance on when and how to use focused agents, see [Focused Action](/workflow-prompting/focused-action).

## 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.

## 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

## 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

## How to Prompt for It

The safest pattern is to mention the tool directly inside the `focused_action` instructions.

```text theme={null}
"Use focused_action to verify the payment confirmation screen.
If the screen is unexpected and you need broader workflow context, call get_main_instructions,
recover back to the intended confirmation flow, then continue the focused task."
```

You can also make the permission even more explicit:

```text theme={null}
"Use focused_action to find the correct patient record.
If you lose context or land on the wrong screen, you may use get_main_instructions once
to reread the main workflow instructions and recover back to the right place."
```

## 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

## Relationship to Focused Action

`get_main_instructions` is a supporting tool for `focused_action`, not a replacement for it.

* Use [Focused Action](/workflow-prompting/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