🔹 How the HTTP Request Tool Works
- You define the Tool with a clear natural-language description explaining when it should be used.
- The Agent reads this description to decide if and when the Tool applies during a conversation.
- You define Properties (variables) that the Agent must collect (e.g., ID, email, date).
- If required properties are missing, the Agent will ask the user for them first.
- Once all required data is available, the Agent executes the HTTP request using your configuration.
🔹 Supported HTTP Methods
The HTTP Request Tool supports all standard REST methods:- GET → Retrieve information
- POST → Create new resources
- PUT → Update existing resources
- PATCH → Perform partial updates
- DELETE → Remove resources
⚙️ Configuration Fields
When creating an HTTP Request Tool, you configure:- Name
- Description (what the Tool does and when to use it)
- URL
- Method
- Headers
- Query parameters
- Body
- Properties (variables)
- Type (string, number, etc.)
- Description (used by the Agent to ask the user correctly)
- Required / optional flag
🧩 Property Picker (Variable Insertion)
When editing Headers, Query, or Body, Timely.ai provides a Property Picker. Instead of typing variables manually ({{variableName}}), you can:
- Click inside any field (Headers, Query, or Body).
- A floating list appears showing all defined properties.
- Click a property to automatically insert it in the correct format.
If a property is called
userId, selecting it automatically inserts:
🤖 cURL Import Assistant
Timely.ai includes a Creation Assistant that allows you to import a full HTTP configuration directly from a cURL command.How it works:
- Click the magic wand / assistant icon when creating an HTTP Request Tool.
- Paste a full curl command (or describe the request).
- The Assistant automatically:
- Detects the HTTP method
- Extracts the URL
- Parses headers
- Converts request body fields into Properties
- Pre-fills the Tool configuration
- You already have API examples from documentation
- You are migrating existing integrations
- You want to avoid manual configuration errors
- URL
- Method: POST
- Headers
- Body
- Properties (
name,email)
🔹 Example Setup
Name: Customer API LookupDescription: “Allows the Agent to retrieve customer information from the external CRM using a customer ID.” Property:
id(number) → “Customer ID provided by the user. Must be numeric.”
- URL: https://api.crm.com/customers/{{id}}
- Method: GET
- Headers:
project_type is missing, the Agent will ask the user for it before executing the request.
🧠 Best Practices
- Be explicit in property descriptions
Example: “Date of birth in format YYYY-MM-DD.” - Keep Tools focused — one Tool per clear API action.
- Always test requests using the Internal Chat before publishing.
- Avoid hardcoding secrets directly in requests.
- For complex APIs, split actions into multiple Tools.
- Use the Property Picker and cURL Assistant to reduce errors.
✅ Key Takeaway
The HTTP Request Tool is the bridge between your Agent and the external world. By combining:- Clear descriptions
- Well-defined properties
- The Property Picker
- The cURL Import Assistant