---
title: "Create your first AI agent"
description: "Create a file source by manual upload, set the agent's basic details, link the file source and set the prompt, then verify answer quality by searching file contents and running a test chat"
canonical_url: "https://docs.ardge.com/en/knowledge/argent/first-ai-agent"
---
# Create your first AI agent

> Create a file source by manual upload, set the agent's basic details, link the file source and set the prompt, then verify answer quality by searching file contents and running a test chat

## Overview

An AI agent is the unit ARGENT uses to provide intelligent Q&A. Each agent links to one or more file sources, and its prompt settings decide the role and tone of its answers.

Creating an agent always happens in two parts: first create a file source and let its files finish vector processing, then create the agent and link that file source. This article walks through the flow by uploading files manually, and ends by verifying the agent's answers.

## What you'll learn

- Create a file source by manual upload and check its processing status
- Create an AI agent and set its avatar, name, welcome message, risk statement and default questions
- Define the agent's role quickly with a prompt template
- Use file content search and a test chat to confirm the agent finds the right content in your files

**Estimated time: about 20 minutes** (not counting the time it takes to process the files into vectors)

## Applies to

- ARGENT 1.0.1 and later

## Before you begin

- You have set up the **Model Connection**, and the language model and embedding model both read **Running** in AI Model Center. For how, see [Set up the model connection in ARGENT](https://docs.ardge.com/en/knowledge/argent/model-connection)
- You have the files you want to give the agent, in a supported format

## Step 1: Upload files to create a file source

1. Go to the **File Sources** page and click **Add File Sources**
2. In **Source Name**, enter a name, such as "Product Catalog"
3. Under **Source Type**, choose **Manual Upload**
4. In the **Upload Files** area, click **Select Files**, or drag files onto the area
5. Check that **File Count:** and **Total File Size:** above the area are within the limits
6. Click **Create**

<note>

**Upload format and quantity limits:**

Each file can be up to 150 MB. Supported formats include TXT, MD, HTML, JSON, PDF, DOCX, PPTX, PNG, JPG, XLSX and CSV. Click the info icon next to the description to see the full list of supported formats for each category.

Each upload takes up to 50 files and 50 GB in total.

</note>

Files over the limit aren't added to the upload queue. The page lists their names and shows **The following files could not be added to the upload queue due to upload restrictions:**.

When the file source is created, the page shows **File synchronization task has been created and started.** and returns to the **File Sources** page. In the list, the file source's **Last Run** column shows a progress percentage while processing, then **Completed** when it's done.

<tip>

**You can add more files later:**

Click the source name in the list to open its detail page, then click **Upload Files** to add more files to the same file source.

</tip>

![The File Sources page and the Add File Sources button](https://docs.ardge.com/screenshots/knowledge/en/argent/first-ai-agent/step-1-1.webp)

![The Add File Sources page with Manual Upload selected](https://docs.ardge.com/screenshots/knowledge/en/argent/first-ai-agent/step-1-2.webp)

![The Upload Files area with a file queued, showing File Count and Total File Size](https://docs.ardge.com/screenshots/knowledge/en/argent/first-ai-agent/step-1-3.webp)

## Step 2: Fill in the agent's basic details

1. Go to the **AI Agent** page
2. Click **Create New Agent** to open the **Create New Agent** page
3. Fill in the fields as follows

<table>
<thead>
  <tr>
    <th>
      Field
    </th>
    
    <th>
      Value
    </th>
    
    <th>
      Rules and notes
    </th>
  </tr>
</thead>

<tbody>
  <tr>
    <td>
      <strong>
        Avatar
      </strong>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      The agent's icon
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Click one of the 10 icons
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      <strong>
        Agent Name
      </strong>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      A name that identifies the agent, such as "Customer Service"
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Required
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      <strong>
        Description
      </strong>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      What this agent is for
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Optional. Shown on the agent card
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      <strong>
        Welcome Message
      </strong>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      The first line people see when they open a chat
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Optional. Pre-filled with default text
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      <strong>
        Risk Statement
      </strong>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      A disclaimer shown at the bottom of the AI chat
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Optional. Pre-filled with default text
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      <strong>
        Default Question
      </strong>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Questions people can click directly
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Optional. Click <strong>
        Add Question
      </strong>
      
       to add them one at a time, up to 5
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      <strong>
        Access Permission
      </strong>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      The accounts that can use this agent
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Optional. The creator is in the list by default. Click <strong>
        Modify
      </strong>
      
       to change it
    </td>
  </tr>
</tbody>
</table>

![The AI Agent page and the Create New Agent button](https://docs.ardge.com/screenshots/knowledge/en/argent/first-ai-agent/step-2-1.webp)

![The empty Create New Agent form](https://docs.ardge.com/screenshots/knowledge/en/argent/first-ai-agent/step-2-2.webp)

![The form with Agent Name, Description, Welcome Message and Risk Statement filled in](https://docs.ardge.com/screenshots/knowledge/en/argent/first-ai-agent/step-2-3.webp)

![The lower half of the form: Default Question, File Source, Access Permission and Prompt Settings](https://docs.ardge.com/screenshots/knowledge/en/argent/first-ai-agent/step-2-4.webp)

## Step 3: Link the file source

1. In the **File Source** field, click **Connect File Source**
2. In the **Connect File Source** dialog, use **Name**, **File Count** and **Status** to find and select the file source you created in Step 1
3. Click **Confirm**

The selected file source appears above the **Connect File Source** button.

![The Connect File Source dialog](https://docs.ardge.com/screenshots/knowledge/en/argent/first-ai-agent/step-3-1.webp)

![The Connect File Source dialog with a file source checked](https://docs.ardge.com/screenshots/knowledge/en/argent/first-ai-agent/step-3-2.webp)

![The linked file source shown above Connect File Source](https://docs.ardge.com/screenshots/knowledge/en/argent/first-ai-agent/step-3-3.webp)

<warning>

**A file source is required:**

If no file source is selected, submitting the form shows **This field is required** on that field, and the agent isn't created.

</warning>

## Step 4: Set the prompt

The prompt defines the agent's role, tone and limits.

1. In the **Prompt Settings** field, click **Prompt Template**
2. In the **Prompt Templates** dialog, click a template, then click **Confirm**. The template text fills the **Prompt Settings** field
3. Edit the text to fit your needs

The available templates are:

<table>
<thead>
  <tr>
    <th>
      Template
    </th>
    
    <th>
      Use it for
    </th>
  </tr>
</thead>

<tbody>
  <tr>
    <td>
      <strong>
        General Q&A Assistant
      </strong>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Answering questions from document contents, with relevant background information
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      <strong>
        HR Assistant
      </strong>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Answering questions about company policy, benefits, pay and training
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      <strong>
        IT Support Bot
      </strong>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Answering technical questions with clear, step-by-step instructions
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      <strong>
        Customer Support Assistant
      </strong>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Answering questions about products, services, order status and return policies
    </td>
  </tr>
</tbody>
</table>

![The Prompt Templates dialog](https://docs.ardge.com/screenshots/knowledge/en/argent/first-ai-agent/step-4-1.webp)

![Prompt Settings after applying a template](https://docs.ardge.com/screenshots/knowledge/en/argent/first-ai-agent/step-4-2.webp)

<tip>

**Enlarge the editor for a long prompt:**

Click the expand icon at the bottom right of the **Prompt Settings** field to edit in the **Advanced Prompt Settings** dialog, then click **Apply** when you're done.

</tip>

## Step 5: Create the agent

Click **Create** at the bottom right of the page.

When the agent is created, the page shows **Creation Successful / New AI Agent has been successfully created** and returns to the **AI Agent** page, where the agent's card appears in the list. The switch at the top right of the card controls whether the agent is enabled.

![The Create button at the bottom of the form](https://docs.ardge.com/screenshots/knowledge/en/argent/first-ai-agent/step-5-1.webp)

![The creation success message and the new agent card](https://docs.ardge.com/screenshots/knowledge/en/argent/first-ai-agent/step-5-2.webp)

## Step 6: Verify answer quality

Once the agent is created, confirm it finds the right content in your files before you open it up to others.

**Confirm the files are processed and searchable:**

1. On the **AI Agent** page, click the agent's card and go to the **File Source** tab
2. Confirm the files you uploaded in Step 1 are listed
3. Enter a keyword in the **Search file contents...** field and confirm the results list relevant content snippets. With no results, it shows **No file content matched your search**
4. To check how a file was recognized, click **View Parsing Result** on its row. The dialog shows the **Original page** and the **Parsed text** side by side

**Confirm the answers with a test chat:**

1. Switch to the **Settings** tab
2. In the **Test chat** panel on the right, click a default question to put it in the **Ask something to test this agent** field, or type a question in that field directly
3. Click the send icon
4. Confirm the answer matches your files. Expand **References** above the answer to see the files and page numbers it cites

The **Test chat** uses the current settings on the left, including unsaved changes. Changes only take effect for other users after you click **Save**.

![The agent's File Source tab](https://docs.ardge.com/screenshots/knowledge/en/argent/first-ai-agent/step-6-1.webp)

![Matching content snippets after searching file contents](https://docs.ardge.com/screenshots/knowledge/en/argent/first-ai-agent/step-6-2.webp)

![The parsing result dialog, with the original page and parsed text side by side](https://docs.ardge.com/screenshots/knowledge/en/argent/first-ai-agent/step-6-3.webp)

![The Test chat panel on the Settings tab with an answer](https://docs.ardge.com/screenshots/knowledge/en/argent/first-ai-agent/step-6-4.webp)

## Troubleshooting

<table>
<thead>
  <tr>
    <th>
      Symptom
    </th>
    
    <th>
      Likely cause
    </th>
    
    <th>
      What to do
    </th>
  </tr>
</thead>

<tbody>
  <tr>
    <td>
      The agent card shows <code>
        File Source <name> disconnected
      </code>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      The NAS that file source belongs to can't be reached
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Check the NAS's network status and credentials — see <a href="https://docs.ardge.com/en/knowledge/argent/nas-file-source">
        Connect a NAS shared folder as a file source
      </a>
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      The agent card shows <code>
        File Source <name> sync failed
      </code>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      That file source's sync didn't finish successfully, or some of its files failed to convert (status <strong>
        Partially Complete
      </strong>
      
      )
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Open the source's detail page and deal with the failed files. With <strong>
        Partially Complete
      </strong>
      
      , the files that processed successfully are still searchable. See <a href="https://docs.ardge.com/en/knowledge/argent/source-statuses">
        What do the file source statuses mean?
      </a>
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      The agent card shows <code>
        Syncing
      </code>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      The file source is syncing
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Open it after the sync finishes
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      A file in the file list has a failure icon
    </td>
    
    <td>
      That file didn't convert
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Hover over the icon to see the reason — see <a href="https://docs.ardge.com/en/knowledge/argent/conversion-failures">
        What to do when a file fails to convert
      </a>
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      <code>
        Search failed. Please try again.
      </code>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      The search request didn't complete
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Confirm the embedding model is running, then try again
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      The test chat shows <code>
        No language model is configured. Please contact your administrator.
      </code>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      No language model is chosen in the model settings
    </td>
    
    <td>
      See <a href="https://docs.ardge.com/en/knowledge/argent/model-connection">
        Set up the model connection in ARGENT
      </a>
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      <code>
        Unable to create AI Agent, please try again later
      </code>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      The create request didn't go through
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Click <strong>
        Create
      </strong>
      
       again later
    </td>
  </tr>
</tbody>
</table>

## Next steps

To let outside visitors use this agent without signing in, see [Embed an AI agent on your website](https://docs.ardge.com/en/knowledge/argent/embed-on-website).

## Related articles

- [Set up the model connection in ARGENT](https://docs.ardge.com/en/knowledge/argent/model-connection)
- [Should I use Manual Upload or Select from NAS for a file source?](https://docs.ardge.com/en/knowledge/argent/local-or-remote)
- [What file formats and limits does ARGENT support?](https://docs.ardge.com/en/knowledge/argent/formats-and-limits)
- [View ARGENT usage and chat history](https://docs.ardge.com/en/knowledge/argent/usage-analytics)


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