docs/guides/agent/understand_the_canvas.md
Click the plus sign next to any component on the canvas to select the next component. Common components include:
Begin, Agent, Retrieval, Message, Await response, Switch, Iteration, Categorize, Code, Text processing, Execute SQL, HTTP Request, and pipeline-related components: Parser, Title chunker, Token chunker, Transformer, Indexer.
After adding a component, click the component itself to open the configuration panel on the right. Fields in the configuration panel define input data, processing logic, output variables, and references for subsequent steps.
Components on the Agent canvas support variable references to implement data transmission between components. Variable sources include system variables, global variables defined in the Begin component, and outputs from upstream components.
In input boxes supporting variable references, type / or click the variable button next to the input box to open the variable selector.
Common variables:
| Variable | Description |
|---|---|
sys.query | Current user input question |
formalized_content | Sorted text results from Retrieval, SQL or tool components |
chunks | Fragment set output by document parsing or chunking components |
content | Main text output from Agent, Code or other components |
Operation Steps:
/ inside the input box{}, + or other icons in different versions)sys.queryAfter configuration, click Save to save the Agent. During debugging, click Run at the top of the canvas, enter test questions and observe the execution result of each component. If a component returns no output, check input variables, model configuration, knowledge base permissions, external interface addresses or tool configuration.
Connections define component execution order. Sequential components run along a single path. Branch components such as Switch and Categorize route workflows to different exits according to conditions. Iteration executes sub-processes in loops. Components not connected to the execution path will not run. Before deleting a component, check upstream/downstream connections and variable references to avoid missing inputs for subsequent nodes.
Click any canvas component to open the right-side configuration panel, which displays fields, input variables, output variables and runtime parameters. Recommended workflow: confirm which variable the component reads → configure processing logic → verify downstream nodes reference correct outputs.