Create a prompt action

In this exercise you will create a prompt action, test the prompt in Copilot Studio, and test the prompt within a Copilot agent. You’ll create a prompt action that helps users turn their raw ideas into organized marketing pitches that follow a specific format and guidelines.

This exercise should take approximately 15 minutes to complete.

Create a prompt action in Copilot Studio

  1. Open Copilot Studio in your web browser by navigating to Copilot Studio at https://copilotstudio.microsoft.com.
  2. Select Library from the left hand navigation.
  3. Select Add new then select Prompt. The Add a prompt action wizard opens.
  4. In the Action name field, enter Create a Contoso Marketing Pitch.
  5. In the Description field, enter Create a marketing pitch that follows Contoso guidelines then select Next. You’re taken to the Create prompt page.
  6. In the Instructions text box, enter Create a marketing pitch for a product based on a .
  7. Place your cursor at the end of the sentence you entered then select Add content
  8. Select Text.
  9. In the Name field, enter draft.

  10. In the Sample data field, enter The Mighty Mechanical Pencil is new, exciting, and useful. It's not only the first of its kind pencil, but it's fun to use. then select Close.

    Screenshot of the prompt builder UI in Copilot Studio showing an input variable being configured with the name "draft".

Test and refine your prompt

  1. Select Test above the instructions box to test the prompt with the sample data you provided.
  2. View the output of the test run.

Let’s refine the prompt to create more structured and consistent output.

  1. In the Instructions textbox, add the following to the existing instructions to modify the prompt:

    The pitch should follow the following Contoso guidelines: - Start with a brief hook - Describe unique value proposition - End with a call-to-action - Use an exciting and influential tone

  2. Select Test again to retest the prompt.
  3. Notice how the response differs.
  4. Select Save.

Configure and publish your action

  1. On the Select action parameters page provide the following description for the draft input variable: initial draft of the marketing pitch.
  2. Provide the following description of the text output variable: Final marketing pitch that adheres to Contoso guidelines.
  3. Select Next.
  4. Ensure you’ve entered the details correctly then select Publish.
  5. Wait a few moments while your action is saved and published.

  6. Your action is now available in the Library. Select Save and close.

    Note: Your new prompt action may take several minutes or longer to appear in the Featured or Library sections of an agent’s Add action page.

(Optional) Add a prompt action to an agent

If you’ve completed the previous lab and created a declarative agent, you may add this action to your agent and update the agent’s instructions to reference the action.

Add the action

  1. From the Library select the declarative agent you’d like to add the action to.
  2. From the Details section, select Edit.
  3. In the Instructions text box, add the following to the existing instructions text: Use the Contoso Marketing Pitch action to help marketing stakeholders craft pitches for products based on their draft ideas.
  4. On the agent details page under Actions select Add action.
  5. From the Featured or Library sections of the Add action modal window, select Contoso Marketing Pitch.
  6. On the action page, ensure the Name is Create a Contoso Marketing Pitch
  7. Ensure the description is Create a marketing pitch that follows the Contoso guidelines.
  8. Select Add action. This may take a few moments. The action is added to the list of actions available to the agent under Actions.

Configure the action

  1. Select the Contoso Marketing Pitch action from the actions available to the agent. You’re taken to a page to configure the action’s properties and settings.
  2. Confirm that the Action name is set to Create a new Contoso marketing pitch.
  3. Select Inputs in the top navigation within the action.
  4. Under Additional inputs select Add.
  5. Select the Draft variable. A form appears.
  6. Ensure the How will the agent fill this input field is set to Dynamically fill with the best option (default).
  7. In the Display name field, enter Initial draft.
  8. Ensure the Identify as field is set to User’s entire response
  9. Select Save at the top right of the window.

(Optional) Test your prompt action in Copilot Studio

Next, test the agent with the action in Copilot Studio.

  1. From the Test your agent pane in your agent’s overview page in Copilot Studio, select the refresh button to refresh the test pane and load your agent’s latest changes.
  2. In the text box for the test conversation, enter Create a Contoso marketing pitch based on the following draft: "Bouncy ball is the hottest product on the market for both youth and adults. It's durable and the largest of its kind." then send the message.
  3. Review the response and note that the agent is following the guidance you provided in the custom prompt action’s instructions.

You’ve completed the exercise and validated the functionality of your prompt action.