Manage nodes

Scenario

In this exercise, you will build a predictable, step-by-step conversation flow using nodes while generative AI remains enabled. When generative AI is enabled, the agent may respond dynamically to some prompts. Topics and nodes are used when you need structured, repeatable outcomes—for example, collecting required information in a fixed order.

In this exercise, you will:

Create the Book Showing topic
Add nodes to enforce a structured conversation flow
Test the agent and verify topic routing

This exercise will take approximately 30 minutes to complete.

What you will learn

How to use nodes to enforce a structured conversation when generative AI is enabled
How to share variables across topics using variable scope
How to build repeatable, step-by-step topic flows using message, question, condition, and topic management nodes

High-level lab steps

Create Book Showing topic
Configure variable scope to use variables from the Customer Details topic in the Book Showing topic
Create and edit nodes
Test the agent

Prerequisites

Must have completed Lab: Manage topics

Detailed steps

Exercise 1 - Create a topic from blank

In this exercise, you will create the Book Showing topic and add trigger phrases. Trigger phrases help the agent recognize when the user is trying to book a showing.

Task 1.1 - Create a topic from blank

Navigate to the Copilot Studio portal https://copilotstudio.microsoft.com and ensure you are in the appropriate environment.
Select Agents from the left navigation pane.
Select the Real Estate Booking Service agent you created in the earlier lab.
Select the Topics tab.
Select + Add a topic and select From blank.
Select the Details icon to open the Topic details dialog (you may need to select More > Details).
In the Name field, enter the following text:

Book Showing
In the Description field, enter the following text:

Use this topic when a user wants to book, schedule, or arrange a real estate property showing
Select Save.

Task 1.2 - Verify trigger type

Select the Trigger node at the top of the topic. Confirm the trigger type is set to The agent chooses.

Note With generative orchestration enabled, the agent uses this description to decide when to start the topic.

Exercise 2 - Variable scope

Enable variables to be be accessed by other topics.

Task 2.1 - Configure the scope of the variables

Select the Topics tab.
Select the Customer Details topic.
Select Variables in the top bar to open the Variables pane (you may need to select More > Variables).
Select and expand Topic variables.
Select the right-hand check boxes for the three topic variables. This enables the variables in this topic to be available for other topics to use.
Select Save.

Exercise 3 - Author a structured topic flow with nodes

In this exercise, you will add nodes to the Book Showing topic to enforce a repeatable, step-by-step flow.

Task 3.1 - Add a message node

Select the Topics tab.
Select the Book Showing topic.
Select the the + icon under the Trigger node and select Send a message.
In the Enter a message field, enter the following text:

Hi, I can help you with booking a real estate property showing.
Select Save.

Task 3.2 - Route to the Customer Details topic

Select the the + icon under the Message node
Select Topic management > Go to another topic > Customer Details.
Select Save.

Task 3.3 - Add condition node

Select the the + icon under the Topic node and select Add a condition.
In the Condition node, select the DetailsCorrect variable.
Select is equal to.
Select Yes.
Select Save.

Task 3.4 - Add question nodes

Select the the + icon under the left Condition node and select Ask a question.
In the Enter a message field, enter the following text:

Which property do you want to see?
Select User’s entire response for Identify.
Select the variable in Save user response as and enter PropertyName for Variable name.
Select Save.
Select the the + icon under the new Question node and select Ask a question.
In the Enter a message field, enter the following text:

What date and time do you want to see the property?
Select Date and time for Identify.
Select the variable in Save user response as and enter VisitDateTime for Variable name
Select the + icon under the left Question node and select Send a messsage.
In the Enter a message field, enter the following text:

Great! Let me get that scheduled for you.
After that message node, add a node to end the topics by selecting Topic Management > End all topics.
Select Save.

Exercise 4 - Test the agent

In this exercise, you will test topic routing and confirm the conversation follows the expected step-by-step flow.

Task 4.1 - Test the Book Showing topic

Select the Test icon in the upper-right of the page to open the testing panel.
Select the ellipses … menu at the top of the testing panel in the upper-right of the page.
If it’s not enabled, enable Track between topics.
Select the Start new test session icon at the top of the testing panel.
When the Conversation Start message appears, your agent will start a conversation. In response, let’s try to trigger the topic that you’ve created:

I want to book a real estate showing
The agent should respond with the “What is your name?” question.
Provide a name.
Provide an email address.
After you supply the information, an Adaptive Card displays the information that you entered and asks if the details are correct. Select Yes.

Notice that you were routed back to the Book Showing topic.

Enter 555 Oak Lane, Denver, CO 80203 to the Which property to you want to see? prompt
Enter Tomorrow 10:00 AM to the What date and time do you want to see the property? prompt.

Summary

In this lab, you created the Book Showing topic and used nodes to enforce a structured, step-by-step interaction while generative AI remained enabled. You also configured variable scope so information collected in Customer Details can be used across topics.