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

# Creating and Configuring Your First Agent

> Learn how to create, personalize, and test your first AI-powered agent in Shortext.

In Shortext, an **Agent** is your AI-powered assistant — the entity that interacts with users, handles messages, and triggers automations or API calls.
This guide will show you how to create, configure, and test your first Agent.

***

## 🧩 Step 1 — Access the Agents Section

From your main dashboard, click **“Agents”** in the left navigation sidebar.

<img src="https://mintlify.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/n-ycorp/images/agents/agents-list.png" alt="Agents list screen" />

Here you can view all your existing agents or create new ones.

***

## ⚙️ Step 2 — Create a New Agent

Click **“New Agent”** (or **“Create Agent”**) in the top right corner.

<img src="https://mintlify.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/n-ycorp/images/agents/new-agent-form.png" alt="Agent creation form" />

Fill in the required details:

* **Agent Name** → e.g. “Support Assistant” or “Recruitment Bot”
* **Description** → A short sentence describing what this agent does.
* **Language** → The default language for conversations (English, French, etc.)
* **Active Status** → Whether the agent is live or in test mode.

<Note type="tip">
  Choose a meaningful name — it will appear in analytics and user session tracking.
</Note>

***

## 🧠 Step 3 — Define the Agent’s Personality

Every agent can have its own **personality** and **tone of voice**.

<img src="https://mintlify.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/n-ycorp/images/agents/agent-personality.png" alt="Agent personality configuration" />

You can define:

* **Tone** → friendly, professional, neutral, etc.
* **Behavioral Instructions** → custom rules that guide how the agent responds.
* **Context Memory** → whether the agent remembers past interactions.

Example:

```json theme={null}
{
  "tone": "friendly",
  "style": "concise and helpful",
  "instructions": [
    "Always greet the user warmly.",
    "Keep messages short and easy to understand.",
    "If the question is unclear, ask for clarification."
  ]
}
```

<Note type="info">You can update an agent’s personality anytime without losing its previous conversation data. </Note>

***

## 🔗 Step 4 — Configure Channels

Each agent can be connected to one or more messaging channels.

<img src="https://mintlify.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/n-ycorp/images/agents/channel-setup.png" alt="Agent channel configuration" />

Supported channels include:

* WhatsApp Business API
* Telegram
* Web Chat (optional)

Select the channel(s) the agent should respond on, and provide any necessary credentials (like your WhatsApp phone number or API token).

<Note type="warning"> If you’re using WhatsApp, make sure your number is already verified and linked to a WhatsApp
Business Account. </Note>

***

## 🧰 Step 5 — Connect APIs or Automations (Optional)

Agents can perform external actions by calling APIs or triggering automations.
This allows your bot to fetch data, send updates, or perform business logic dynamically.

<img src="https://mintlify.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/n-ycorp/images/agents/api-configuration.png" alt="Agent API configuration" />

Examples:

* Fetch a user profile from your CRM
* Send payment confirmation
* Log a new support ticket

Configuration details are covered in:
👉 API Configuration & Testing →

***

## 🧪 Step 6 — Test Your Agent

Once your agent is configured, you can test it directly within Shortext.

<img src="https://mintlify.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/n-ycorp/images/agents/test-chat.png" alt="Agent test chat interface" />

Testing Options:

* **Internal Sandbox Chat** — Send messages to see how the agent responds.
* **Live Channel Test** — If linked to WhatsApp, send a real message from your number.
* **Debug Console** — Inspect the raw message exchange and AI reasoning (if available).

<Note type="success"> Testing helps fine-tune your prompts, responses, and API actions before going live. </Note>

***

## 🚀 Step 7 — Activate Your Agent

Once satisfied with your test results, toggle the “Active” switch.
Your agent is now live and ready to handle conversations from your users.

<img src="https://mintlify.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/n-ycorp/images/agents/agent-active.png" alt="Agent activation toggle" />

🧭 What’s Next

Now that your first agent is up and running, continue with:
Customizing Personality and Responses →
Connecting WhatsApp →
Testing APIs with Your Agent →

<Note type="info"> Agents are central to Shortext — once created, you can link them to automations, monitoring tools,
or even ticketing systems to extend their capabilities. </Note>