Browsing and installing extensions

In CloudRadial AutomationAI, an extension is a vendor integration that adds native nodes to the workflow canvas, context for AI script generation, and tools the Agent and Ask AI can call. This article covers what an extension is, how to browse the catalog, how to read an extension's details and required secrets, and how to install one. It is for the Admin and Owner roles.

We'll follow four main steps:

1. Understanding what an extension is
2. Browsing the catalog
3. Viewing details and required secrets
4. Installing an extension

Step 1: Understanding What an Extension Is

Why are we doing this? Knowing what installing an extension adds to your workspace helps you pick the right ones.

An extension packages a set of skills and tools for a vendor or service. Installing one makes its nodes available on the workflow canvas and its tools available to the Agent and Ask AI in your workspace. Each catalog entry shows its vendor, version, tier, and a count of the skills and tools it provides.

Extensions are grouped by tier:

• AutomationAI Catalog, certified, first-party integrations
• Community, MSP Published, community-published extensions
• Private, extensions scoped to your own workspace

Step 2: Browsing the Catalog

Why are we doing this? This is where you find the extension for the tool you want to automate.

Open Extensions to see the catalog. The Browse tab lists every available extension, grouped by tier. Use the search box to filter by name or vendor.

Each card shows the extension name and vendor, its tier, a state badge of Available or Installed, a short description, the skill and tool counts, and the version.

Step 3: Viewing Details and Required Secrets

Why are we doing this? The details panel tells you what the extension needs before it will work, especially any secrets.

Select an extension card to open its details. The detail panel lists the version and last-updated date, the description, any required secrets, and the full set of skills and tools.

• Required secrets are the Key Vault secret names the extension's tools need before they can run. Provide these in your runner's Key Vault.
• Each tool is flagged as read-only or updating, and an updating tool may also be flagged as requiring approval before it runs.
• Each skill lists the tools it calls.

Step 4: Installing an Extension

Why are we doing this? Installing makes the extension's nodes and tools available in your workspace.

To install an extension, select Install on its card, or open the detail panel and select Install there. Once installed, the card state changes to Installed and the extension's nodes become available on the workflow canvas.

Note: You can also select Download on a card to save the extension's definition as a YAML file for editing locally.

With the extension installed, its nodes are ready to use when you build a workflow. To manage or remove extensions later, see Managing installed extensions.

If you are still having trouble, we're here to help! Submit a ticket here for assistance, and don't forget to check our status page to ensure there are no outages in your area.