You installed PrincipalTasksAI. Now you want the practical part: asking your AI app for a real piece of work and getting the right workflow back.

The important thing to know is simple: you do not need to memorize task names. Describe the job in ordinary language. PrincipalTasksAI is designed to search its local task library, find the closest workflow, and ask before running anything that uses a credit.

For example:

Help me with this task: Write a parent communication letter.

Your AI app should be able to match that request to the right PrincipalTasksAI workflow without you naming the exact tool.

Here's how to ask clearly, how search works, and what to do if your AI app seems to answer generically.

How the task search works

PrincipalTasksAI installs a local task catalog and trigger list. When you ask for help, your AI app can search that local list for words that match your request.

That means you can say what you mean, not what the software calls it. A request like "Write a parent communication letter" can be searched by topic, role, document type, or business situation.

The search happens locally on your machine. Your customer, client, student, patient, or business details are not sent to the server just to find a matching task.

When a workflow is found, PrincipalTasksAI should confirm the match before running the licensed task. Searching and browsing do not use credits.

Too vague

"Write a parent communication letter"

Better

"Help me with this task: Write a parent communication letter. Save the result as a local document."

The better version gives your AI app more context about the result you want. That helps it choose the right workflow and produce something useful.

Examples you can use right now

You don't need to know which skill to use — PrincipalTasksAI finds the right one automatically. Just describe what you need:

Try: Write a parent communication letter
Try: Draft a staff evaluation summary
Try: Prepare a student disciplinary notice
Try: Create a board meeting report
Try: Write a school improvement plan section
Try: Find tasks I can run today
Try: Show me what categories are available
Try: Check my PrincipalTasksAI balance

That last one is useful when you're exploring. PrincipalTasksAI will return a full list of skill categories so you can see the full range of what's available across all 200+ frameworks.

You never need to know the task name. Describe what you're working on in plain language. PrincipalTasksAI searches the library, finds the closest match, and confirms before running. You stay in control of every step.

If your AI app answers generically

First, fully quit and reopen the AI app. Many apps only load MCP tools when the app starts.

If you use Claude Desktop, also check permissions. Go to Settings → Connectors → Customize → principaltasksai and set the PrincipalTasksAI tools to Always allow. Do it once and it should stay set.

Full walkthrough with screenshots: Why PrincipalTasksAI Isn't Responding — And the 30-Second Permissions Fix →

Codex, Cursor, and Windsurf use a different setup path, so this Claude permission step may not apply.

Make your request easier to match

A good request usually includes three things: the situation, the output you want, and any detail the AI should use.

Good request pattern

Use plain language like this:

I need to [describe the situation]. Please find the right workflow, ask before using a credit, and create [the document, email, checklist, or analysis I need].

That gives PrincipalTasksAI enough information to search, confirm, and produce the right kind of output.

A few more things worth knowing

Each task uses 1 credit

Searching the library is free. Running a task costs 1 credit. Check your balance anytime:

Check my PrincipalTasksAI balance

Credits never expire — they're there when you need them.

You can browse before you run

Not sure what's in the library? Ask:

Show me the available task categories

The short version: Install PrincipalTasksAI → restart your AI app → describe the work you need in plain English → let PrincipalTasksAI search the task library and confirm before using a credit.

If you haven't set up PrincipalTasksAI yet, the Getting Started guide walks through installation in under five minutes. Or browse the full task library to see what's available before you sign up.