Let Floatboat do it for you

Changing a setting or tidying a pile of tasks usually starts with "where was that menu again?" You can just tell Floatboat instead: "hide the file browser," "archive these old tasks." It does it, then tells you what happened.

This page covers what you can ask for, how to see what it did, and what it won't do.

Start with an exampleCopy Anchor Link

In the clip below, Alex is reading a report in a conversation and finds the file browser is taking up room. Alex just says so.

Once you send it, a line reading called 1 MCP tool(s) shows up in the conversation. Underneath is mcp__aoe-host__host_action, followed by what it did this time, such as ui.set_panel_visibility (show or hide a panel). That's Floatboat working on the app itself for you. The window changes right after that line appears.

What you can ask forCopy Anchor Link

You don't need to learn any names. Say it the way you'd say it to a person. Here are some ideas, grouped by what you're trying to do.

Tidy spaces and tasksCopy Anchor Link

• "Rename 'Supplier quotes' to 'October quotes'."
• "Archive the tasks I finished last month."
• "Switch this task to a different model."
• "Branch a new task off this one. I want to try another approach."
• "Did I talk about the returns policy last week? Find that conversation."

It can also create, pin, open, and close spaces and tasks.

Change what the window looks likeCopy Anchor Link

• "Hide the file browser." "Open the browser panel."
• "Open Settings." "Take me to Schedules & Automations."
• "Open this file in preview and jump to page 3."
• "Put this sentence in the input box. I'll edit it before sending."

Change a few settingsCopy Anchor Link

It can change four settings: the display language, the theme (light or dark), whether sounds play, and whether Markdown reads right to left.

• "Switch to the dark theme."
• "Turn the sounds off."

Keyboard shortcuts work too: "Change the shortcut for New Task to ⌘⇧N," or "Reset my shortcuts." To look them over yourself, see Keyboard shortcuts.

Calendar, automations, and MemoCopy Anchor Link

• "Subscribe to this calendar link and refresh it every hour."
• "Run the Monday meeting reminder once right now."
• "Save what I just said as a Memo."
• "Which events coming up are worth preparing for?"

These are the same features you'll find in Float Schedule and Memo. You're just using them by talking.

Commands, Skills, and CombosCopy Anchor Link

• "What Combos do I have installed?"
• "Rename this command."
• "Install this Combo from the marketplace."

It installs the version currently in the marketplace. To learn what a Combo is, see Combos and Skills.

Check for updates and quitCopy Anchor Link

• "Is there a new version?"
• "Download it, install it, and restart."
• "Quit Floatboat."

Before it quits or installs an update, Floatboat checks for unsent text, attachments you haven't dealt with, and drafts you haven't saved. If it finds any, it stops and tells you.

How to see what it didCopy Anchor Link

Every action adds a line reading called N MCP tool(s), with host_action in the name and what it did after it. Once the reply is done, those steps fold into More details. Open it to see exactly what was called and what changed.

What it won't doCopy Anchor Link

These limits are there so you can hand things over with a clear head.

• Deleting has conditions. It can only delete spaces and tasks you've already archived. Deleting a space removes the record in the app only. None of your files on the computer are touched. To delete something, archive it first.
• Window changes stay in the window you're chatting in. It won't bring another window forward or grab your focus. If you ask it to "bring this window to the front," it will.
• Only a few settings. Apart from the four above, you change settings yourself on the Settings page.
• Batches are capped at 50, and you have to name them. It won't guess which tasks count as "all the old ones." Tell it which ones.
• It only works on Floatboat itself. To have it look something up on the web, see Browser.

Something not working?Copy Anchor Link

I asked it to hide a panel and it said it couldn't. Changing the window only works in the Floatboat window you're using. If you asked from a chat app on your phone, or a scheduled task is running, there's no window to change, and it'll say so. Ask again from Floatboat on your computer.

It says it can't find a task or space. Be more specific and use the name. If the task is archived, say "look in the archived ones."

I said "delete" and it wouldn't. It only deletes things that are already archived. Say "archive this task" first, then ask for the delete.

I'm not sure what it changed. Open More details and look for the line with host_action in it. If something's off, just say "change it back."

What's nextCopy Anchor Link

• To see every single thing it can do: App actions the agent can use
• To have it handle a whole job: Tasks
• To get reminders and have things prepared ahead of time: Float Schedule
• To change shortcuts yourself: Keyboard shortcuts