Adding references to a skill

A reference pins a specific document to a skill, so the skill always grounds itself in that exact file instead of searching for it by name each time it runs. References are stored by the document's source-native ID rather than its title, so they keep pointing to the same file even if it's later renamed or moved.

Add a reference

1. Open your Knowledge Agent, go to the Skills tab, and open the skill you want to ground.
2. In the skill editor, type @ and search for the item by title. You can reference a Guru Card, a Google Drive file, or any other connected source that shows up in the results.
3. Select the document. It appears in the Referenced files table, which lists every file available to be referenced for this skill.
4. [MISSING INFORMATION ABOUT the exact syntax for citing a reference within the skill's instructions once it's been added — confirm with Engineering before publishing.]

References vs. connected sources

A reference is different from a source connected to the Knowledge Agent. A connected source is part of the agent's broad, searchable knowledge base. A reference pins one specific document to one skill, so that skill grounds in exactly that document — and it doesn't have to be one of the sources already connected to the agent.

When a referenced document changes

If a referenced document is later archived or deleted, the reference isn't automatically removed. It stays attached to the skill with an indicator so the Knowledge Agent Owner knows to update it, and the skill keeps running — that reference's content just returns empty until it's repointed or removed.

Adding or managing a reference is admin UI work and doesn't consume credits.

Frequently asked questions about references

How is a reference different from adding a card to the Knowledge Agent as a source?
A source connected to the agent is part of its broad, searchable knowledge base. A reference pins one specific document to one skill by ID, so that skill always grounds in exactly that document.