Tool Basics: First Steps Into Alter's Tool System

Video Tutorial

Introduction to Tools in Alter

Tools in Alter are powerful extensions that enable your AI assistant to perform specific actions and interact with various applications and services. They transform Alter from a simple chat interface into a comprehensive productivity platform that can manage your calendar, contacts, messages, and much more.

Accessing the Tool Manager

Opening Tool Manager

1. Open Alter from your menu bar
2. Navigate to “Tool Manager”
3. You’ll see the main tool interface with two primary categories

Understanding Tool Categories

Local Tools

• Pre-installed library of tools
• Run entirely on your machine
• No external dependencies required
• Immediate availability

Apps Gallery

• Connect to thousands of third-party applications
• Extend Alter’s capabilities significantly
• Requires authentication for external services

How to Add and Activate Tools

Adding Tools to Your Workspace

1. Browse through available tools in either category
2. Click on the tool category you want (e.g., “Calendar”)
3. Select individual tools you want to activate
4. Add them manually one by one
5. Tools automatically become active in Alter once added

Tool Activation Confirmation

• Added tools appear in your active tools list
• Green indicators show successfully activated tools
• Tools are immediately available for use in conversations

Understanding Tool Capabilities

Discovering What Tools Can Do

Ask Alter directly:

• “Explain what I can do with the calendar tools”
• “What capabilities do these tools provide?”

Alter will describe each tool’s function:

• Create calendar events
• List upcoming events
• Remove events
• Update existing events
• List available calendars

Learning Tool Parameters

Get detailed usage information:

• “How do I create a calendar event? What parameters should I provide?”

Typical parameters for calendar creation:

• Calendar name (optional - uses default if empty)
• Duration (default: 60 minutes)
• Location
• Notes
• Start date and time
• Event title

Practical Tool Usage Examples

Calendar Management

Creating Events:

"Create a calendar event for today 2PM called demo"

Results:

• Event created automatically
• Confirmation shown in chat
• Click the checkbox to see detailed results
• Event appears in your actual calendar application

Contact and Messaging Integration

Chaining Tools Together:

"In my contacts find Olivier Legris spelled L-E-G-R-I-S and send a message saying 'hello this is a test'"

Process:

1. Alter searches your contacts
2. Finds the specified contact
3. Sends iMessage automatically
4. Confirms message delivery

Web Search Enhancement

Adding Web Capabilities to Any Model:

1. Select a model without web access (e.g., Claude 3.5)
2. Ask a web-dependent question: “What is the weather today in Paris?”
3. Without web search: “I don’t have access to weather tools”
4. Add web search tool
5. Ask the same question again
6. Alter performs web search and provides current information

Advanced Tool Features

Tool Chaining

• Combine multiple tools in single requests
• Example: Find contact → Send message → Create calendar reminder
• Seamless workflow automation

Flexible Parameters

• Most parameters are optional
• Alter can infer missing information
• Natural language input accepted
• Contextual understanding of requests

Real-time Results

• Immediate feedback on tool actions
• Clickable result confirmations
• Integration with actual system applications

Best Practices for Tool Usage

Effective Tool Management

1. Start with essential tools: Calendar, Contacts, Web Search
2. Add tools gradually: Avoid overwhelming your workspace
3. Test tools individually: Understand each tool’s capabilities
4. Learn parameter requirements: Ask Alter about tool usage

Natural Language Commands

• Use conversational language
• Be specific about dates, times, and names
• Spell out names when necessary for accuracy
• Combine multiple actions in single requests

Troubleshooting

• Check tool activation status if commands fail
• Verify required permissions for external tools
• Use specific spelling for names and locations
• Ask Alter for help with tool parameters

Common Tool Categories

Productivity Tools

• Calendar: Event management and scheduling
• Contacts: Contact search and management
• Messages: Communication automation

Information Tools

• Web Search: Real-time web information
• Weather: Current conditions and forecasts
• News: Current events and updates

Integration Tools

• Email: Email composition and management
• Notes: Note-taking and organization
• Reminders: Task and reminder management

Time-Saving Benefits

Automation Advantages

• Single command workflows: Multiple actions from one request
• Context awareness: Tools understand your current work
• Natural interaction: No need to learn complex interfaces

Productivity Gains

• Reduced app switching: Manage multiple services from Alter
• Streamlined workflows: Chain related tasks together
• Intelligent assistance: AI understands intent and context

Getting Started Checklist

1. Open Tool Manager in Alter
2. Add essential tools: Calendar, Contacts, Web Search
3. Test basic functionality with simple commands
4. Ask Alter about capabilities for each tool
5. Practice tool chaining with combined requests
6. Explore Apps Gallery for additional integrations
7. Customize your toolkit based on your workflow needs

Tools in Alter transform your AI assistant into a comprehensive productivity platform, enabling seamless integration with your existing workflows and applications. Start with the basics and gradually expand your toolkit as you discover new automation opportunities.