When Runner Asks a Question
Respond when Runner needs a choice or missing information before it can continue.
What this covers: You will answer or intentionally skip Runner’s questions without losing task context.
Runner asks a question when your decision can materially change the result. Questions can use a single choice, multiple choices, or a free-form answer.
Entry path: Open a conversation whose task state is waiting for input → question card.
Before you start
- Answer the newest active question; older cards can be read-only.
- Review the effect carefully when a choice involves access, money, publishing, customer data, or an external service.
- Use Skip only when Runner can safely choose without your preference.
Question controls
| Control or state | What happens |
|---|---|
| A single-choice option | Selects the answer and can advance to the next question. The final choice can send the answers automatically. |
| Multiple-choice options | Lets you select more than one permitted answer. |
| Other… | Opens a field for an answer that is not listed. |
| Submit or continue action, when shown | Advances the card or sends the completed answers. |
| Skip, when offered | Tells Runner to proceed using its best judgment. |
| Disabled card | The task is busy, expired, stopped, or the question can no longer accept an answer. |
Answer a question
- Read the question and any explanation above the choices.
- Read each choice before selecting it: a single choice can advance immediately, and the final answer can submit automatically.
- Select the choice or choices that match your intent.
- Choose Other… and enter a concise answer when none of the listed choices fit.
- Use the continue or submit action only if the card shows one.
- Wait while Runner delivers the answers.
- Confirm that Runner resumes the task and records your answer in the conversation.
English callouts highlight the controls. Select the image to enlarge it.
Read each choice before selecting it; the final answer can be sent automatically.
Watch: answer follow-up questions
The example selects a candle price and a photography direction. Answered confirms the choices, then Runner resumes the task.
Skip when Runner can decide
- Read what Runner is asking.
- If the card offers Skip, select it only when you are comfortable with Runner using its best judgment.
- Watch the task resume.
- Review the result closely, because you did not provide the missing preference.
Skipping is useful for low-risk presentation choices. Give an explicit answer when the decision affects access, money, publishing, customer data, or a destructive action.
Troubleshooting
| State | Meaning | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Waiting for input | Runner cannot confidently continue without a response. | Answer or intentionally skip the active question. |
| Old question is read-only | A newer message or task state has replaced it. | Answer the newest active question instead. |
| User interrupted this question | The task was stopped before the question was completed. | Start a new follow-up message if you still want Runner to continue. |
| Submit is unavailable | One or more required answers are incomplete, or the card is no longer active. | Complete every current question or move to the latest question card. |
| Response error | Runner could not accept the answer. | The card can return to its unanswered state. Keep the conversation open, check the latest task state, and answer again only when the card accepts input. |