Xera Docs
Playbooks
Design multi‑step workflows with forms, approvals, and reusable steps.
Last updated: September 2025
Overview
Playbooks orchestrate repeatable workflows. Define inputs, chain agent steps, call tools, and collect outputs you can ship to downstream systems.
Structure
- Inputs: typed fields users or triggers provide.
- Steps: agent actions, tool calls, or transformations.
- Outputs: structured results (JSON, files, links).
Forms and validation
- Build forms for operators with required fields, defaults, and help text.
- Validate before starting runs to avoid failures mid‑workflow.
Approvals and handoffs
- Insert human‑in‑the‑loop checkpoints for sensitive actions.
- Pause and resume runs with full audit trails.
- Escalate to teammates via notifications.
Error handling and retries
- Per‑step retry policy with exponential backoff.
- Fallback branches on tool failure (e.g., alternative provider).
- Dead‑letter outputs for later review.
Reusability
- Export/share playbooks across projects or teams.
- Templatize common step groups and variables.
- Version playbooks to track changes over time.