The AgentForce Retrieval Configuration Guide outlines that when external data must be filtered by specific criteria-such as WarrantyStatus = Active-the correct approach is to use Hybrid Search with pre-filtering logic defined in a custom retriever. The documentation specifies: "Hybrid search allows combining keyword precision and semantic context. When used with a custom retriever, administrators can pre-filter data on metadata fields (e.g., WarrantyStatus) to ensure that only eligible records are returned." Option A (relying on instructions) introduces non-deterministic behavior because the LLM cannot enforce data constraints. Option B (custom variable filtering) applies post-retrieval filtering, which is less efficient and less secure than index-level filtering. Therefore, Option C aligns with Salesforce's best practice for deterministic, metadata-based retrieval control.
References (AgentForce Documents / Study Guide):
AgentForce Data Cloud Retrieval Guide: "Building Custom Retrievers with Metadata Filters" Einstein Studio for AgentForce: "Hybrid Search Pre-Filtering" AgentForce Study Guide: "Filtering Warranty Data by Active Status"