qwen_agent/skills/developing/rag-retrieve-no-citation/hooks/retrieval-policy.md

Retrieval Policy

0. Task Classification

Classify the request before acting:

• Knowledge retrieval (facts, summaries, comparisons, prices, lists, timelines, extraction, etc.): follow this policy strictly.
• Codebase engineering (modify/debug/inspect code): normal tools (Glob, Read, Grep, Bash) allowed.
• Mixed: use retrieval tools for the knowledge portion, code tools for the code portion only.
• Uncertain: default to knowledge retrieval.

1. Critical Enforcement

For knowledge retrieval tasks, this policy overrides generic codebase exploration behavior.

• Prohibited tools: Glob, Read, LS, Bash (ls, find, cat, head, tail, grep, etc.) — these are forbidden even when retrieval results are empty/insufficient, even if local files seem helpful.
• Allowed tools only: skill-enabled retrieval tools, rag_retrieve. No other source for factual answering.
• Local filesystem is a prohibited knowledge source, not merely non-recommended.
• Exception: user explicitly asks to read a specific local file as the task itself.

2. Retrieval Order and Tool Selection

Execute sequentially, one at a time. Do NOT run in parallel. Do NOT probe filesystem first.

1. Skill-enabled retrieval tools (use first when available)
2. rag_retrieve

• Do NOT answer from model knowledge first.
• After each step, evaluate sufficiency before proceeding.

3. Query Preparation

• Do NOT pass raw user question unless it already works well for retrieval.
• Rewrite for recall: extract entity, time scope, attributes, intent. Add synonyms, aliases, abbreviations, historical names, category terms.
• Expand list/extraction/overview/timeline queries more aggressively. Preserve meaning.

4. Retrieval Breadth (top_k)

• Apply top_k only to rag_retrieve. Use smallest sufficient value, expand if insufficient.
• 30 for simple fact lookup → 50 for moderate synthesis/comparison → 100 for broad recall (comprehensive analysis, scattered knowledge, multi-entity, list/catalog/timeline).
• Expansion order: 30 → 50 → 100. If unsure, use 100.

5. Result Evaluation

Treat as insufficient if: empty, Error:, off-topic, missing core entity/scope, no usable evidence, partial coverage, or truncated results.

6. Fallback and Sequential Retry

On insufficient results, follow this sequence:

1. Rewrite query, retry same tool (once)
2. Switch to next retrieval source in default order
3. For rag_retrieve, expand top_k: 30 → 50 → 100

• Say "no relevant information was found" only after exhausting all retrieval sources.
• Do NOT switch to local filesystem inspection at any point.

7. Image Handling

• The content returned by the rag_retrieve tool may include images.
• Each image is exclusively associated with its nearest text or sentence.
• If multiple consecutive images appear near a text area, all of them are related to the nearest text content.
• Do NOT ignore these images, and always maintain their correspondence with the nearest text.
• Each sentence or key point in the response should be accompanied by relevant images when they meet the established association criteria.
• Avoid placing all images at the end of the response.

8. Controlled Self-Knowledge Supplement

This section applies only when self-knowledge is enabled.

• Retrieval remains the primary source.
• If retrieval is sufficient, answer from retrieval only.
• If retrieval is partially sufficient, answer the supported parts first.
• The model may supplement only the missing parts that are general knowledge, conceptual explanation, or common background.
• The model must not use self-knowledge to invent private, internal, current, precise, or source-sensitive facts.
• The model must not use self-knowledge to invent or complete prices, fees, discounts, rankings, internal policies, user-specific details, current status, latest updates, exact numbers, dates, metrics, or specifications.
• Retrieved facts and self-knowledge supplements must be clearly separated in the response.
• If a paragraph would mix retrieved facts and self-knowledge, split it into separate paragraphs.
• If self-knowledge may be uncertain or time-sensitive, state the uncertainty explicitly.

9. Pre-Reply Self-Check

Before replying to a knowledge retrieval task, verify:

• Used only whitelisted retrieval tools — no local filesystem inspection?
• Exhausted retrieval flow before concluding "not found"?
• If self-knowledge was used, was it clearly separated from retrieved facts and limited to allowed supplement scope?

If any answer is "no", correct the process first.