Agentforce Agent Builder Guide — Build Your First Agent 2026
🤖 Free Agentforce Course 2026 — sfinterviewpro.com
🤖 Module 4 of 15
Agent Builder —
Build Your First Agent!
Navigate the new 2026 Agent Builder, create the XYZ Company Sales Assistant with Subagents, write Instructions, and have your FIRST real conversation with your AI agent — all step by step.
1st
Real Agent
100%
Hands-On
Live
Agent Test
Zero
Code Needed
📍 Course Progress — Module 4 of 15
✅What is Agentforce
✅Trust Layer
✅Dev Org Setup
M4Agent Builder
M5TIA Framework
M6Prompt Builder
M7Std Actions
M8Flow Actions
M9Apex Actions
M10API Actions
M11Data Cloud
M12Deploy
M13Escalation
M14Testing
M15Full Project
🎯 What You Build in This Module
By the end of Module 4, you will have a working Agentforce agent named “XYZ Sales Assistant” — it will understand natural language questions about your Accounts and Opportunities and respond intelligently. You will have your FIRST real conversation with your own AI agent using the new Conversation Preview Panel!
📋 New in 2026 Agent Builder (July 2026)
Major UI Update: The new Agentforce Builder is now the DEFAULT (as of July 13, 2026). You'll see: Explorer sidebar — Canvas View (visual blocks) — Script View (Agent Script code) — Conversation Preview Panel — Agentforce Assistant. Topics are now called “Subagents” (April 2026 terminology change). The builder provides better debugging, reasoning visibility, and multi-view editing.
1. The New Agent Builder Interface (2026)
The complete redesigned UI — Explorer, Canvas, Script, and Preview Panel
The new Agentforce Builder (released April 2026, now default since July 2026) is a completely rebuilt interface combining Explorer sidebar, Canvas View (visual blocks), Script View (Agent Script code), and Conversation Preview Panel — all in one unified workspace. You can edit in natural language OR write Agent Script directly.
| Builder Component | Location | What It Does | 2026 Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Explorer | Left sidebar | File-based navigator — view all Subagents, Actions, Variables, Data Sources in one place | NEW: Flatter, less digging required |
| Canvas View | Center (main) | Visual block editor — Subagents and Instructions shown as structured blocks. Easier for admins and quick reviews | NEW: Replaces old visual editor. Auto-syncs with Script View |
| Script View | Center (toggle) | Agent Script code editor with syntax highlighting, autocompletion, real-time validation. For pro-code control | NEW: Agent Script language for reliability + flexibility |
| Conversation Preview Panel | Right side | Chat interface to test agent in real time. See reasoning, selected Subagent, Actions called | UPDATED: Much more transparency on agent thinking |
| Agentforce Assistant | Integrated in UI | Built-in AI helper — ask it to generate Subagents, fix errors, refactor logic. Conversational agent building | NEW: Conversational agent creation |
📸 New Builder Layout (2026)
LEFT: Explorer sidebar showing Subagents, Actions, Variables (file-based tree)
CENTER: Canvas View with Subagent blocks — Instructions and Actions displayed visually OR Script View showing Agent Script
RIGHT: Conversation Preview Panel — test your agent, see reasoning
TOP: Canvas/Script toggle, Save, Activate buttons
The whole interface is modern, flat, with real-time sync between Canvas and Script views
CENTER: Canvas View with Subagent blocks — Instructions and Actions displayed visually OR Script View showing Agent Script
RIGHT: Conversation Preview Panel — test your agent, see reasoning
TOP: Canvas/Script toggle, Save, Activate buttons
The whole interface is modern, flat, with real-time sync between Canvas and Script views
🎯 Canvas vs Script View
Canvas View (Visual): Perfect for learning, quick reviews, and business logic changes. Shows your agent configuration as structured blocks — easy to understand and modify.Script View (Code): Full Agent Script language with syntax highlighting and validation. For precise control and production reliability. Both views are ALWAYS in sync — edit Canvas, Script updates. Edit Script, Canvas updates.
2. Terminology Update: Topics — Now Called “Subagents”
April 2026 official change — know both names for interviews
⚠️ CRITICAL: Terminology Changed in April 2026
Starting April 2026, Salesforce officially renamed “Topics” to “Subagents”. NO functionality changed — it’s purely a naming update. In sfinterviewpro.com course M1-M2, we used “Topics.” From Module 4 onwards, we use “Subagents.” Know BOTH names for Agentforce interviews!
| Old Name (Before April 2026) | New Name (April 2026 onwards) | Definition (No Change) | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topic | Subagent | A category of requests the agent handles. Each Subagent has a Classification Description and Instructions | “Sales Assistant” Subagent handles account queries, opportunity lookups, email drafting |
| Multiple Topics | Multiple Subagents | An agent can have 1, 2, or many Subagents. Agent decides which Subagent handles each user message | Agent with “Sales Subagent” + “Support Subagent” + “HR Subagent” |
| Topic Instruction | Subagent Instruction | Natural language rules for how the agent behaves when handling that Subagent’s requests | “Always show Opportunity amounts in INR. Escalate pricing questions.” |
💡 Why the Rename?
Salesforce wanted to clarify that these aren’t just “topics” — they’re semi-autonomous sub-agents, each with their own personality (Instructions) and capabilities (Actions). The new name better reflects the architecture.
1
Open Agent Builder
Navigate to the new 2026 interface
a
In your Developer Org, click ⚙️ Setup
b
In Quick Find, type: Agents
c
Click Agents under the Einstein section
d
You’ll see the Agents list page. Click New Agent (top right blue button)
⚙️ Setup — Quick Find: “Agents” — Agents — New Agent
📸 What You See When Creating Agent
A modal asking: “What type of agent do you want to create?”
Options: Service Agent, Sales Agent, Agentforce for Service, Custom Agent. Choose Custom Agent or Build from Scratch
The new builder opens in a modern, flat interface with Explorer sidebar on the left.
Options: Service Agent, Sales Agent, Agentforce for Service, Custom Agent. Choose Custom Agent or Build from Scratch
The new builder opens in a modern, flat interface with Explorer sidebar on the left.
2
Choose Custom Agent Type
Build from scratch for maximum learning
a
Select Custom Agent or Build from Scratch
b
Click Next or Create
c
The new Agent Builder opens with Explorer, Canvas View, and Conversation Preview Panel all visible
✅ Builder Loaded!
You’re now in the 2026 Agent Builder. Notice: Explorer sidebar (left), Canvas View (center, likely empty), Conversation Preview Panel (right). Top bar shows Canvas/Script toggle. This is your workspace for building the agent!
3
Configure Agent Details
Name, description, and company context — the agent’s identity
a
In the Explorer sidebar, find Agent Settings or Agent Details (usually at the top)
b
Fill in exactly as shown:
Agent Name
XYZ Sales Assistant
API Name
XYZ_Sales_Assistant (auto-filled)
Description
AI Sales Assistant for XYZ Company — helps sales reps find account information, check opportunity status, and draft follow-up emails
Agent Instructions (Global System Prompt)
You are XYZ Sales Assistant — a professional, helpful AI for XYZ Company. XYZ Company is a pharma-grade silicone manufacturer. Always be professional, concise, and respectful of customer data privacy.
c
Click Save
📸 Agent Details in Explorer
In Explorer sidebar, find “Agent Settings” or “Agent Details” section. A form appears with Name, Description, System Prompt fields. The fields you’ve filled show in the Canvas View as a configuration block.
4
Create Your First Subagent
Subagents define WHAT the agent handles (new name as of April 2026)
A Subagent (formerly “Topic”) is a category of user requests the agent knows how to handle. Each Subagent has: Classification Description (WHEN to use it), Instructions (HOW to behave), and Actions (WHAT tasks to perform).
a
In Explorer, find Subagents section
b
Click + Add Subagent or New Subagent
c
Fill in these exact values:
Subagent Name
Sales Assistant
Classification Description
Handles sales team inquiries about: finding account information, retrieving contact details, checking opportunity pipeline status, requesting follow-up email drafts. Scope: XYZ Company’s Salesforce Account, Contact, Opportunity records for sales reps.
d
Click Save
🔑 Classification Description is Critical
The Classification Description tells the AI WHEN to use this Subagent. User message comes in — AI reads ALL Classification Descriptions — matches to the one that best fits. A vague description = poor routing. Be specific!
📸 New Subagent in Canvas View
After saving, the new “Sales Assistant” Subagent appears in Canvas View as a visual block. The block shows: Subagent name, Classification Description summary, and an area for Instructions and Actions below it.
5
Write Subagent Instructions — Canvas View
Natural language rules — HOW the agent behaves on this Subagent
a
Click on the Sales Assistant Subagent block in Canvas View
b
Find the Instructions section (expands within the Subagent block in Canvas View)
c
Click + Add Instruction or type directly in the instructions area
d
Enter these instructions (copy-paste recommended):
1. Always greet users warmly and professionally
2. When asked about Account: provide name, industry, location, phone, contact person
3. When asked about Opportunity: show name, stage, amount in INR, close date, probability
4. When asked about Contacts: provide name, title, email, phone number
5. Always present amounts in Indian Rupees (INR) ₹ format
6. If information not found in Salesforce, clearly say so — never guess
7. For pricing, discounts, negotiations — say: “Please connect with your sales manager”
8. Always end with helpful follow-up question
9. If unable to help after trying — escalate to human sales manager
10. Respect customer data privacy — never share one customer’s info with another
e
Click Save
📦 Canvas View (You’re Here)
Visual blocks showing Instructions as structured text. Easier to read and modify. Good for quick reviews and presentations.
- Structured visual format
- Easy to understand
- Perfect for admins
- Auto-syncs with Script
💻 Script View (Same Agent)
Same Subagent Instructions shown as Agent Script code. Toggle anytime to see and edit the code. Both views stay in sync!
- Full Agent Script syntax
- Exact control
- Production reliability
- Auto-syncs with Canvas
✅ Instructions Added!
Your Subagent now has name, Classification Description, and Instructions. In the Canvas View, you see everything as visual blocks. Want to see the underlying Agent Script? Click the Script View toggle at the top. Both views show the exact same agent — just different interfaces!
6
Activate Agent
Turn the agent ON before testing
a
In Agent Settings, find the Status toggle (top right or in Agent Details)
b
Switch to Active
c
Click Save — agent is now live!
Agent Settings — Status Toggle — Active — Save
⚠️ Status Must Be Active!
Inactive agents don’t respond. Always verify Status = Active before testing or deploying.
7
Test Your Agent — Conversation Preview Panel 🎉
Your FIRST conversation with your AI agent!
a
Look at the right side of Agent Builder — you’ll see the Conversation Preview Panel (the new 2026 testing interface)
b
If not visible, click Preview or Test button in the top navigation
c
Type your first message in the chat input at the bottom of the Preview Panel
d
Press Enter and watch your agent respond!
Agent Builder — Conversation Preview Panel (right) — Type message — Send
📱 Test These Messages — Expected Conversations:
🧪 Test 1 — Basic Greeting
👤 You
Hello
🤖 XYZ Sales Assistant
Hello! Welcome to XYZ Sales Assistant. I’m here to help you with account information, opportunity status, contacts, and email drafting for your customers. How can I assist you today?
🧪 Test 2 — Account Query (No Actions Yet)
👤 You
Tell me about ABC Pharma
🤖 XYZ Sales Assistant
I’d love to help with ABC Pharma’s details! I’m ready to pull account information, but I need to access Salesforce data through Actions (which we’ll configure in later modules). For now, I can help explain how to use me once we connect those data sources. What else can I help with?
🧪 Test 3 — Out of Scope
👤 You
What’s the weather today?
🤖 XYZ Sales Assistant
I specialize in helping with XYZ Company’s sales activities — accounts, opportunities, and contacts. For weather, check a weather app! Is there anything related to your sales pipeline I can help with?
🧪 Test 4 — Pricing Question (Should Decline)
👤 You
What discount can I give to ABC Pharma?
🤖 XYZ Sales Assistant
For pricing and discount decisions, please connect with your sales manager — that requires human judgment and approval. I can help you prepare by pulling ABC Pharma’s account history, past orders, and open opportunities. Would that be helpful?
🎉 Congratulations!
Your agent is WORKING! It’s responding intelligently, declining out-of-scope requests, and enforcing guardrails — all based on Instructions you wrote. No Salesforce data access yet (we add that in M7-M10 with Actions), but the AI intelligence is 100% functional. Amazing work!
💡 About the Conversation Preview Panel
The new 2026 Preview Panel shows more than just chat. Look for:
— Which Subagent was selected (reasoning transparency)
— Which Actions were called (if any)
— Input/output of each step
— Full reasoning chainThis is Minal’s feedback: “Conversation Preview Panel is the primary testing interface.” Use it to understand exactly what your agent is thinking!
3. Canvas View vs Script View — Two Ways to Build the Same Agent
Visual blocks OR code — both in perfect sync (new in 2026)
The new Agent Builder lets you work in Canvas View (visual blocks for quick edits) OR Script View (Agent Script code for precision control). Any change in Canvas automatically updates Script and vice versa. This is revolutionary — no more choosing between visual and code editors!
| Aspect | Canvas View | Script View |
|---|---|---|
| What You See | Structured visual blocks showing Subagents, Instructions, Actions as UI elements | Agent Script code with syntax highlighting and real-time validation |
| Best For | Admins, quick edits, business logic reviews, learning, presentations | Developers, precise control, production reliability, complex logic |
| Sync | Edit Canvas — Script updates automatically | Edit Script — Canvas updates automatically |
| Syntax | No code knowledge needed | Need to know Agent Script language (human-friendly, not complex) |
| When to Use | Making changes, teaching others, adding instructions, tweaking Subagents | Building from scratch, ensuring reliability, complex routing logic |
🔑 The Magic: Perfect Sync!
You write Instructions in Canvas View as plain English — Script View shows it as Agent Script. You add a Subagent in Canvas — Script View automatically adds the declaration. Change the Script code — Canvas View updates the blocks. This is the power of the 2026 builder!
Try It Now:
In Agent Builder, click the Script View toggle (top bar). You’ll see your entire agent as Agent Script. See how your Instructions appear as code? Change a word in the Script — go back to Canvas View — it’s updated there too! This is what makes the new builder so powerful.
4. The Agentforce Reasoning Loop (Unchanged from M1, Critical for Interviews)
What happens under the hood when you chat with your agent
When a user sends a message, the agent runs a reasoning loop — a multi-step process deciding what to do. Understanding this is what separates senior developers from button-clickers.
| Step | What Happens | In Your Agent |
|---|---|---|
| 1️⃣ Message In | User sends message through Conversation Preview Panel | “Tell me about ABC Pharma” |
| 2️⃣ Trust Layer | PII masking + toxicity check on input (Module 2) | “Tell me about [ORG_1]” (masked) |
| 3️⃣ Subagent Selection | AI reads Classification Descriptions of all Subagents, picks best match | Selects “Sales Assistant” Subagent (best match) |
| 4️⃣ Load Instructions | AI reads Instructions for selected Subagent | Loads “When asked about Account: provide name, industry, location...” |
| 5️⃣ Plan Actions | AI decides which Actions to call (if any) to gather data | No Actions yet — would plan “Get Account Data” once we add it (M7-M9) |
| 6️⃣ Execute Actions | Actions run (Apex queries Salesforce, Flow runs, APIs called) | N/A for now (no Actions configured) |
| 7️⃣ Generate Response | AI uses Instructions + Action results to write response | AI generates: “I’d love to help with ABC Pharma’s details, but I need data access...” |
| 8️⃣ Trust Layer Output | PII re-inserted + toxicity check on output | Response verified safe before sending |
| 9️⃣ Deliver | Final response sent to user | User sees the friendly, helpful response |
🎯 Interview Alert!
“Explain the Agentforce reasoning loop” is asked in EVERY senior interview. Your answer: Message — Trust Layer (PII mask) — Subagent Classification — Load Instructions — Plan Actions — Execute Actions — Generate Response — Trust Layer (PII restore) — Deliver. MEMORIZE THIS.
5. Agent Builder — Interview Questions & Answers
Real questions from Agentforce interviews
| Interview Question | Best Answer |
|---|---|
| Explain the new Agentforce Builder (2026) | It has four main components: Explorer sidebar (file-based navigator), Canvas View (visual block editor), Script View (Agent Script code with sync), and Conversation Preview Panel (testing/debugging). Canvas and Script views stay in perfect sync — edit one, the other updates automatically. |
| What’s the difference between Canvas and Script View? | Canvas View = visual blocks (good for admins, quick edits, learning). Script View = Agent Script code (good for developers, precision control). Both show the same agent — just different interfaces. Change Canvas — Script updates. Change Script — Canvas updates. Perfect sync. |
| Why were Topics renamed to Subagents in April 2026? | Terminology update to better reflect architecture — these aren’t just “topics,” they’re semi-autonomous sub-agents, each with their own Instructions and capabilities. No functionality changed — just the name. Know both for interviews! |
| What is a Subagent Classification Description? | Natural language description that tells the AI WHEN to use that Subagent. User message comes in — AI reads ALL Classification Descriptions — picks the Subagent with the best-matching description. Critical for correct routing. |
| Explain the Agentforce reasoning loop | Message — Trust Layer (PII mask) — Subagent Classification (which Subagent?) — Load Instructions (how to behave) — Plan Actions (what to do) — Execute Actions (call Apex/Flow) — Generate Response — Trust Layer (PII restore) — Deliver to user. |
| What is the Conversation Preview Panel? | The built-in testing interface in the new Agent Builder (right side panel). Chat with your agent in real time. See which Subagent was selected, which Actions were called, full reasoning chain. Much more transparent than old Test Panel. |
Module 4 Summary
What you built today — foundation of all future modules
- ✅New Agent Builder (2026) — navigated all panels: Explorer, Canvas View, Script View, Conversation Preview Panel
- ✅Subagent Terminology — Topics renamed to Subagents (April 2026 official change)
- ✅Agent Created — “XYZ Sales Assistant” with name, description, company context
- ✅Subagent Created — “Sales Assistant” with Classification Description
- ✅Instructions Written — 10 behavioral rules + global system prompt
- ✅Canvas & Script Views — understood both modes, saw how they sync perfectly
- ✅Agent Activated — Status = Active
- ✅First Conversation — tested in Conversation Preview Panel (Minal’s primary testing interface)
- ✅Reasoning Loop — understood 9-step flow (critical for interviews)
🎉 Your First Agentforce Agent is Live!
The XYZ Sales Assistant understands language, follows rules, makes intelligent decisions, and has guardrails — all working perfectly. Right now it’s data-blind (can’t access real Salesforce data yet). Modules 5-10 give it Salesforce superpowers through Actions. By Module 15, it’s production-ready!
🧠 Module 4 — Knowledge Check
Q1: What are the four main components of the new Agent Builder (2026)? — Explorer (sidebar), Canvas View (visual), Script View (code), Conversation Preview Panel (testing)
Q2: What is a Subagent Classification Description used for? — Tells AI WHEN to use this Subagent by describing what user messages it should handle
Q3: Canvas and Script Views — are they separate agents or the same agent shown two ways? — Same agent, two views. Edit Canvas — Script syncs. Edit Script — Canvas syncs. Perfect sync!
Q4: Explain the Agentforce reasoning loop. — Message — Trust Layer — Subagent Classification — Instructions — Plan Actions — Execute — Response — Trust Layer — Deliver
Q5: What changed in April 2026 regarding Topics? — Topics were officially renamed to Subagents. No functionality changed — just terminology. Know both names!
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