Ask Mode and No More Auto Driven AI Confirm

app.js

@@ -365,7 +365,8 @@ const qvacView = createQvacView({
   },
   getCatalog: () => chartCatalog,
   onOpenChart: (chartId, ts, chartOpts = {}) => {
-    showView('charts')
+    // Tab switch is owned by tools.maybeNavigate — only prepare chart state here
+    if (chartOpts.navigate) showView('charts')
     if (metricsDashboard.showCharts) {
       metricsDashboard.showCharts({
         charts: [chartId],
@@ -375,22 +376,22 @@ const qvacView = createQvacView({
         ts,
         mode: chartOpts.mode,
         preset: chartOpts.preset,
-        openFocus: true,
+        openFocus: Boolean(chartOpts.navigate),
       })
       return
     }
     if (ts) metricsDashboard.focusChartAt(chartId, ts)
     else {
       metricsDashboard.scrollToChart?.(chartId)
-      metricsDashboard.openFocus?.(chartId)
+      if (chartOpts.navigate) metricsDashboard.openFocus?.(chartId)
     }
   },
   onOpenView: (view) => showView(view),
+  getAutoNavigate: () => settings.qvacAutoNavigate || 'ask',
   charts: {
-    showCharts: (o) => {
-      showView('charts')
-      return metricsDashboard.showCharts?.(o) || { ok: false, error: 'unavailable' }
-    },
+    // Do not showView here — tools call onOpenView only when navigation is allowed
+    showCharts: (o) =>
+      metricsDashboard.showCharts?.(o) || { ok: false, error: 'unavailable' },
     setPinned: (ids, o) => metricsDashboard.setPinned?.(ids, o),
     setChartMode: (id, mode) => metricsDashboard.setChartMode?.(id, mode),
     setTimeWindow: (o) => metricsDashboard.setTimeWindow?.(o),
@@ -408,11 +409,7 @@ const qvacView = createQvacView({
     remove: (a) => customDashboardView.deleteDashboard(a),
     addCharts: (a) => customDashboardView.addDashboardCharts(a),
     removeCharts: (a) => customDashboardView.removeDashboardCharts(a),
-    open: (a) => {
-      const r = customDashboardView.openDashboard(a)
-      showView('dashboard')
-      return r
-    },
+    open: (a) => customDashboardView.openDashboard(a),
   },
   log: (msg) => log(msg),
 })

client/settings.js

@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ export const SETTINGS_LOCALSTORAGE_KEY = 'peardata.settings.v1'
  *   qvacSubAgents?: boolean,
  *   qvacMaxSubAgents?: number,
  *   qvacToolDepth?: 'auto'|'core'|'deep',
+ *   qvacAutoNavigate?: 'off'|'ask'|'on',
  *   customDashboards?: Array<{
  *     id: string,
  *     name: string,
@@ -83,6 +84,8 @@ export function defaultSettings() {
     qvacSubAgents: true,
     qvacMaxSubAgents: 3,
     qvacToolDepth: 'auto',
+    /** off = never switch tabs; ask = confirm each time; on = always when tools request */
+    qvacAutoNavigate: 'ask',
     customDashboards: [],
     activeDashboardId: null,
   }

docs/QVAC.md

@@ -241,6 +241,18 @@ With multi-agent **enabled** (default), specialists only run for **broad investi
 (“what’s wrong”, full health check, 3+ domains). Ordinary questions (graphs, one metric,
 alerts list, dashboards) stay **single-agent** — no “Dispatching multi-agent…” flash.
 
+### Auto-navigate
+
+Tools may prepare Charts boards / dashboards **without** leaving the QVAC tab.
+
+| Setting (`qvacAutoNavigate`) | Behavior |
+|------------------------------|----------|
+| **off** | Never switch tabs unless tool passes `navigate=true` (user asked to “show/open”) or confirms an `open_view` |
+| **ask** (default) | Confirm dialog before each tab switch |
+| **on** | Always switch when a tool requests a view |
+
+The model is instructed to set `navigate=true` only when the user explicitly wants to see that UI.
+
 On context overflow the engine first drops to **core** tools, then drops tool schemas entirely and retries.
 
 ## Settings

index.html

@@ -452,6 +452,17 @@
                 Max parallel agents
                 <input id="qvac-set-max-agents" type="number" min="1" max="6" step="1" value="3" />
               </label>
+              <label class="settings-field">
+                Auto-navigate UI
+                <select id="qvac-set-autonav" title="When tools open Charts/Dashboard/other views">
+                  <option value="off">Off — stay on current tab</option>
+                  <option value="ask" selected>Ask each time</option>
+                  <option value="on">On — always switch when tools request</option>
+                </select>
+              </label>
+              <p class="muted settings-hint">
+                Even when Off, tools can still pin charts / edit dashboards in the background. Tab switches only if you asked (“show me…”) with navigate=true, or you confirm.
+              </p>
             </div>
             <div class="qvac-settings-block qvac-settings-actions">
               <h4>Actions</h4>

ui/qvac/index.js

@@ -64,11 +64,13 @@ export function createQvacView(opts) {
     onOpenView: opts.onOpenView,
     charts: opts.charts,
     dashboards: opts.dashboards,
+    getAutoNavigate: () => settings().qvacAutoNavigate || 'ask',
     confirmAction: (msg) => {
       try {
-        return typeof confirm === 'function' ? confirm(msg) : true
+        // Must be strict true — Cancel returns false
+        return typeof confirm === 'function' ? confirm(msg) : false
       } catch {
-        return true
+        return false
       }
     },
   })
@@ -89,6 +91,7 @@ export function createQvacView(opts) {
       subAgents: settings().qvacSubAgents !== false,
       maxSubAgents: Number(settings().qvacMaxSubAgents) || 3,
       toolDepth: settings().qvacToolDepth || 'auto',
+      autoNavigate: settings().qvacAutoNavigate || 'ask',
     }),
     log: opts.log,
   })
@@ -221,6 +224,7 @@ export function createQvacView(opts) {
         loaded ? `model=${profile.chatModel}` : 'no model loaded',
         s.qvacMode ? `mode=${s.qvacMode}` : '',
         multi ? 'multi-agent=on' : 'multi-agent=off',
+        `nav=${s.qvacAutoNavigate || 'ask'}`,
       ]
         .filter(Boolean)
         .join(' · ')
@@ -237,6 +241,7 @@ export function createQvacView(opts) {
     set('#qvac-set-tool-depth', s.qvacToolDepth || 'auto')
     set('#qvac-set-subagents', s.qvacSubAgents !== false, true)
     set('#qvac-set-max-agents', s.qvacMaxSubAgents ?? 3)
+    set('#qvac-set-autonav', s.qvacAutoNavigate || 'ask')
   }
 
   function readSettingsForm() {
@@ -249,6 +254,8 @@ export function createQvacView(opts) {
     const subAgents = root.querySelector('#qvac-set-subagents')?.checked !== false
     let maxAgents = Number(root.querySelector('#qvac-set-max-agents')?.value) || 3
     maxAgents = Math.min(6, Math.max(1, maxAgents))
+    const autoNavRaw = root.querySelector('#qvac-set-autonav')?.value || 'ask'
+    const autoNav = ['off', 'ask', 'on'].includes(autoNavRaw) ? autoNavRaw : 'ask'
     selectedProfile = profile
     persist({
       qvacProfile: profile,
@@ -257,6 +264,7 @@ export function createQvacView(opts) {
       qvacToolDepth: toolDepth,
       qvacSubAgents: subAgents,
       qvacMaxSubAgents: maxAgents,
+      qvacAutoNavigate: autoNav,
     })
   }
 
@@ -1036,6 +1044,7 @@ export function createQvacView(opts) {
       '#qvac-set-tool-depth',
       '#qvac-set-subagents',
       '#qvac-set-max-agents',
+      '#qvac-set-autonav',
     ]) {
       root?.querySelector(sel)?.addEventListener('change', () => {
         readSettingsForm()

ui/qvac/prompts.js

@@ -28,7 +28,9 @@ export function buildSystemPrompt(ctx = {}) {
     '- Cite chart ids (e.g. system.cpu) when discussing metrics.',
     '- You are read-only unless the user explicitly asks for an operator action and their role allows it.',
     '- Do not claim cloud access; all inference is local via QVAC.',
-    '- Prefer show_charts / open_chart / open_view when the user asks to see graphs or the UI.',
+    '- Navigation policy: NEVER switch the user away from their current tab unless they asked to see that UI, or they have auto-navigate on.',
+    '  Pass navigate=true on show_charts / open_chart / open_view / open_dashboard / create_dashboard ONLY when the user said show/open/go to/take me to that view.',
+    '  If they only want analysis (“is CPU high?”), call tools WITHOUT navigate — boards update in the background; stay on QVAC.',
     multi
       ? '- Multi-agent is DYNAMIC: the host only fans out specialists for broad investigations (what\'s wrong, full health, multi-domain). Single questions use normal tools only.'
       : '',
@@ -36,12 +38,10 @@ export function buildSystemPrompt(ctx = {}) {
     'Tool playbook (use these exact tool names and chart ids):',
     '- Host health / "what\'s wrong" / diagnose / investigate → investigate_host FIRST (one-shot findings).',
     '  Lighter alternative: host_snapshot. Do NOT use md.health for general health.',
-    '- "Show me a graph/chart/plot" → search_charts if needed, then show_charts with concrete chart ids.',
-    '  show_charts pins to the Charts wall board, sets window (preset=5m|1h|…), optional mode=line|area|bar|pie.',
-    '  Example: show_charts charts=system.cpu,system.ram preset=15m mode=area boardOnly=true.',
-    '- Custom Dashboard tab (saved boards) → create_dashboard name=… charts=system.cpu,system.ram',
-    '  then open_dashboard. Edit with add_dashboard_charts / remove_dashboard_charts / update_dashboard / list_dashboards.',
-    '- Single chart focus → open_chart chart=system.cpu (optional pin, mode, preset, ts).',
+    '- "Show me a graph" (explicit) → show_charts … navigate=true. Analysis-only → show_charts without navigate (or just summarize_chart).',
+    '  Example: show_charts charts=system.cpu,system.ram preset=15m mode=area navigate=true',
+    '- Custom dashboards → create_dashboard / add_dashboard_charts; open_dashboard navigate=true only if they asked to open Dashboard.',
+    '- Single chart focus → open_chart chart=system.cpu navigate=true when they asked to see it.',
     '- Pin/unpin board → pin_charts; change type → set_chart_type; window → set_time_window; search wall → filter_charts.',
     '- Related wall panel → show_related_ui; Metric Correlations UI → run_correlations.',
     '- Spikes / unusual activity → hot_metrics, then show_charts on top hits + summarize_chart.',

ui/qvac/tools.js

@@ -29,6 +29,15 @@ function params(properties = {}, required) {
  * @typedef {{ type: 'function', name: string, description: string, parameters: object, tier?: ToolTier }} ToolDef
  */
 
+/** Shared optional navigate param for UI-affecting tools */
+const NAVIGATE_PROP = {
+  navigate: {
+    type: 'boolean',
+    description:
+      'true only if the user asked to open/see that view, or they confirmed auto-navigate. Default false keeps them on the current tab.',
+  },
+}
+
 /** @type {ToolDef[]} */
 export const TOOL_DEFS = [
   // ── core: diagnosis + navigation ─────────────────────────────────────
@@ -130,7 +139,7 @@ export const TOOL_DEFS = [
     name: 'open_chart',
     tier: 'core',
     description:
-      'Open one chart on the Charts wall (scroll + focus). Prefer show_charts when pinning multiple or changing window/type.',
+      'Prepare one chart on the Charts wall (pin/focus). Does NOT switch tabs unless navigate=true or user allows auto-navigate.',
     parameters: params(
       {
         chart: { type: 'string', description: 'Chart id' },
@@ -145,6 +154,7 @@ export const TOOL_DEFS = [
           type: 'string',
           description: 'Time preset e.g. 5m|15m|1h|6h|24h',
         },
+        ...NAVIGATE_PROP,
       },
       ['chart']
     ),
@@ -154,7 +164,7 @@ export const TOOL_DEFS = [
     name: 'show_charts',
     tier: 'core',
     description:
-      'PRIMARY live chart tool. Opens Charts view, pins charts to the board, sets time window/type, optional focus and related panel. Use for "show me graphs", "plot CPU", multi-chart boards.',
+      'PRIMARY chart tool: pin charts, set window/type on the Charts wall. Stays on QVAC unless navigate=true (user asked to see graphs) or auto-navigate allows.',
     parameters: params(
       {
         charts: {
@@ -196,6 +206,7 @@ export const TOOL_DEFS = [
           type: 'boolean',
           description: 'Live play (true) or pause (false)',
         },
+        ...NAVIGATE_PROP,
       },
       ['charts']
     ),
@@ -204,7 +215,7 @@ export const TOOL_DEFS = [
     type: 'function',
     name: 'pin_charts',
     tier: 'core',
-    description: 'Pin or unpin charts on the Charts board without changing focus.',
+    description: 'Pin or unpin charts on the Charts board (no tab switch unless navigate=true).',
     parameters: params(
       {
         charts: {
@@ -215,6 +226,7 @@ export const TOOL_DEFS = [
           type: 'boolean',
           description: 'true=pin (default), false=unpin',
         },
+        ...NAVIGATE_PROP,
       },
       ['charts']
     ),
@@ -232,6 +244,7 @@ export const TOOL_DEFS = [
           description: 'line|area|stacked|bar|multibar|pie',
           enum: ['line', 'area', 'stacked', 'bar', 'multibar', 'pie'],
         },
+        ...NAVIGATE_PROP,
       },
       ['chart', 'mode']
     ),
@@ -248,6 +261,7 @@ export const TOOL_DEFS = [
       },
       seconds: { type: 'number', description: 'Lookback seconds' },
       playing: { type: 'boolean', description: 'Live updates on/off' },
+      ...NAVIGATE_PROP,
     }),
   },
   {
@@ -258,6 +272,7 @@ export const TOOL_DEFS = [
     parameters: params(
       {
         q: { type: 'string', description: 'Filter query (empty clears)' },
+        ...NAVIGATE_PROP,
       },
       ['q']
     ),
@@ -270,6 +285,7 @@ export const TOOL_DEFS = [
     parameters: params(
       {
         chart: { type: 'string', description: 'Seed chart id' },
+        ...NAVIGATE_PROP,
       },
       ['chart']
     ),
@@ -279,11 +295,12 @@ export const TOOL_DEFS = [
     name: 'run_correlations',
     tier: 'deep',
     description:
-      'Run Metric Correlations around a chart or timestamp and show results on the Charts wall.',
+      'Run Metric Correlations around a chart or timestamp on the Charts wall.',
     parameters: params({
       chart: { type: 'string', description: 'Optional seed chart id' },
       ts: { type: 'number', description: 'Center timestamp ms (default now)' },
       window: { type: 'number', description: 'Highlight window seconds' },
+      ...NAVIGATE_PROP,
     }),
   },
   {
@@ -291,7 +308,7 @@ export const TOOL_DEFS = [
     name: 'open_view',
     tier: 'core',
     description:
-      'Navigate desktop to a view: overview|charts|dashboard|processes|alerts|logs|fleet|settings|qvac',
+      'Switch the user to a desktop view. Only when they asked to go there, or navigate=true / auto-navigate allows. Views: overview|charts|dashboard|processes|alerts|logs|fleet|settings|qvac',
     parameters: params(
       {
         view: {
@@ -309,6 +326,7 @@ export const TOOL_DEFS = [
             'qvac',
           ],
         },
+        ...NAVIGATE_PROP,
       },
       ['view']
     ),
@@ -327,7 +345,7 @@ export const TOOL_DEFS = [
     name: 'create_dashboard',
     tier: 'core',
     description:
-      'Create a custom live dashboard and open it. Pass name + charts (comma ids). Use for "build a dashboard with CPU and RAM".',
+      'Create a custom live dashboard. Pass name + charts. Tab switch only with navigate=true or auto-navigate allow.',
     parameters: params(
       {
         name: { type: 'string', description: 'Dashboard name' },
@@ -341,6 +359,7 @@ export const TOOL_DEFS = [
           description: 'Default tile mode line|area|bar|…',
           enum: ['line', 'area', 'stacked', 'bar', 'multibar', 'pie'],
         },
+        ...NAVIGATE_PROP,
       },
       ['name']
     ),
@@ -390,6 +409,7 @@ export const TOOL_DEFS = [
           description: 'Tile chart type',
           enum: ['line', 'area', 'stacked', 'bar', 'multibar', 'pie'],
         },
+        ...NAVIGATE_PROP,
       },
       ['charts']
     ),
@@ -414,9 +434,11 @@ export const TOOL_DEFS = [
     type: 'function',
     name: 'open_dashboard',
     tier: 'core',
-    description: 'Open the Dashboard tab and select a board by id (or active).',
+    description:
+      'Select a dashboard board. Switches to Dashboard tab only with navigate=true or auto-navigate allow (user asked to open it).',
     parameters: params({
       id: { type: 'string', description: 'Dashboard id (optional)' },
+      ...NAVIGATE_PROP,
     }),
   },
 
@@ -740,6 +762,53 @@ function wireDefs(defs) {
   }))
 }
 
+/**
+ * Resolve auto-navigate preference: off | ask | on
+ * @param {*} deps
+ */
+function autoNavMode(deps) {
+  const raw = deps.getAutoNavigate?.() ?? deps.autoNavigate ?? 'ask'
+  const s = String(raw || 'ask').toLowerCase()
+  if (s === 'on' || s === 'true' || s === 'always') return 'on'
+  if (s === 'off' || s === 'false' || s === 'never') return 'off'
+  return 'ask'
+}
+
+/**
+ * Switch desktop view only when allowed.
+ * @param {string} view
+ * @param {*} deps
+ * @param {object} [args]
+ * @returns {Promise<{ navigated: boolean, reason: string }>}
+ */
+async function maybeNavigate(view, deps, args = {}) {
+  const force =
+    args.navigate === true ||
+    args.navigate === 'true' ||
+    args.navigate === 1 ||
+    args.navigate === '1'
+  const mode = autoNavMode(deps)
+  const label = String(view || 'that view')
+
+  if (force || mode === 'on') {
+    deps.onOpenView?.(view)
+    return { navigated: true, reason: force ? 'navigate=true' : 'auto_on' }
+  }
+  if (mode === 'ask') {
+    const ok =
+      (await deps.confirmAction?.(
+        `QVAC wants to open the “${label}” view. Switch now?`
+      )) === true
+    if (ok) {
+      deps.onOpenView?.(view)
+      return { navigated: true, reason: 'user_confirmed' }
+    }
+    return { navigated: false, reason: 'user_declined' }
+  }
+  // off
+  return { navigated: false, reason: 'auto_off' }
+}
+
 /**
  * @param {{
  *   manager: { request: (m: string, a?: object) => Promise<any>, active: any },
@@ -748,6 +817,8 @@ function wireDefs(defs) {
  *   getCatalog?: () => Record<string, object>,
  *   onOpenChart?: (chartId: string, ts?: number, opts?: object) => void,
  *   onOpenView?: (view: string) => void,
+ *   getAutoNavigate?: () => 'off'|'ask'|'on'|string,
+ *   autoNavigate?: 'off'|'ask'|'on'|string,
  *   charts?: {
  *     showCharts?: (opts: object) => object,
  *     setPinned?: (ids: string|string[], opts?: object) => object,
@@ -921,9 +992,10 @@ export function createToolRunner(deps) {
         case 'open_chart': {
           const chart = String(args.chart || args.id || '')
           if (!chart) return { error: 'chart required' }
-          deps.onOpenView?.('charts')
+          const nav = await maybeNavigate('charts', deps, args)
+          let result
           if (chartsApi.showCharts) {
-            return chartsApi.showCharts({
+            result = chartsApi.showCharts({
               charts: [chart],
               pin: args.pin !== false,
               boardOnly: args.pin !== false,
@@ -931,26 +1003,34 @@ export function createToolRunner(deps) {
               ts: args.ts,
               mode: args.mode,
               preset: args.preset,
-              openFocus: true,
+              openFocus: nav.navigated,
             })
+          } else {
+            deps.onOpenChart?.(chart, args.ts, {
+              pin: args.pin !== false,
+              mode: args.mode,
+              preset: args.preset,
+              navigate: nav.navigated,
+            })
+            result = { ok: true, opened: chart }
           }
-          deps.onOpenChart?.(chart, args.ts, {
-            pin: args.pin !== false,
-            mode: args.mode,
-            preset: args.preset,
-          })
-          return { ok: true, opened: chart }
+          return { ...result, navigated: nav.navigated, navigateReason: nav.reason }
         }
         case 'show_charts': {
           const list = parseChartList(args.charts || args.chart || args.ids)
           if (!list.length) return { error: 'charts required' }
-          deps.onOpenView?.('charts')
+          const nav = await maybeNavigate('charts', deps, args)
           if (!chartsApi.showCharts) {
-            // Fallback: open first chart only
-            deps.onOpenChart?.(list[0], args.ts)
-            return { ok: true, charts: list, partial: true }
+            if (nav.navigated) deps.onOpenChart?.(list[0], args.ts)
+            return {
+              ok: true,
+              charts: list,
+              partial: true,
+              navigated: nav.navigated,
+              navigateReason: nav.reason,
+            }
           }
-          return chartsApi.showCharts({
+          const result = chartsApi.showCharts({
             charts: list,
             pin: args.pin !== false,
             boardOnly: args.boardOnly != null ? Boolean(args.boardOnly) : args.pin !== false,
@@ -962,58 +1042,74 @@ export function createToolRunner(deps) {
             filter: args.filter,
             related: Boolean(args.related),
             playing: args.playing,
-            openFocus: list.length === 1,
+            openFocus: nav.navigated && list.length === 1,
           })
+          return { ...result, navigated: nav.navigated, navigateReason: nav.reason }
         }
         case 'pin_charts': {
           const list = parseChartList(args.charts || args.chart)
           if (!list.length) return { error: 'charts required' }
-          deps.onOpenView?.('charts')
+          const nav = await maybeNavigate('charts', deps, args)
           if (!chartsApi.setPinned) return { error: 'charts API unavailable' }
-          return chartsApi.setPinned(list, {
+          const result = chartsApi.setPinned(list, {
             pin: args.pin !== false && args.pin !== 'false',
           })
+          return { ...result, navigated: nav.navigated, navigateReason: nav.reason }
         }
         case 'set_chart_type': {
           const chart = String(args.chart || args.id || '')
           const mode = String(args.mode || args.type || 'line')
           if (!chart) return { error: 'chart required' }
-          deps.onOpenView?.('charts')
+          const nav = await maybeNavigate('charts', deps, args)
           if (!chartsApi.setChartMode) return { error: 'charts API unavailable' }
-          return chartsApi.setChartMode(chart, mode)
+          const result = chartsApi.setChartMode(chart, mode)
+          return { ...result, navigated: nav.navigated, navigateReason: nav.reason }
         }
         case 'set_time_window': {
-          deps.onOpenView?.('charts')
+          const nav = await maybeNavigate('charts', deps, args)
           if (!chartsApi.setTimeWindow) return { error: 'charts API unavailable' }
-          return chartsApi.setTimeWindow({
+          const result = chartsApi.setTimeWindow({
             preset: args.preset,
             seconds: args.seconds ?? args.after,
             playing: args.playing,
           })
+          return { ...result, navigated: nav.navigated, navigateReason: nav.reason }
         }
         case 'filter_charts': {
-          deps.onOpenView?.('charts')
+          const nav = await maybeNavigate('charts', deps, args)
           if (!chartsApi.setFilter) return { error: 'charts API unavailable' }
-          return chartsApi.setFilter(args.q != null ? args.q : args.filter || '')
+          const result = chartsApi.setFilter(args.q != null ? args.q : args.filter || '')
+          return { ...result, navigated: nav.navigated, navigateReason: nav.reason }
         }
         case 'show_related_ui': {
           const chart = String(args.chart || args.id || '')
           if (!chart) return { error: 'chart required' }
-          deps.onOpenView?.('charts')
+          const nav = await maybeNavigate('charts', deps, args)
           chartsApi.scrollToChart?.(chart)
           await chartsApi.showRelated?.(chart)
-          return { ok: true, chart, related: true }
+          return {
+            ok: true,
+            chart,
+            related: true,
+            navigated: nav.navigated,
+            navigateReason: nav.reason,
+          }
         }
         case 'run_correlations': {
-          deps.onOpenView?.('charts')
-          const ts =
-            args.ts != null ? Number(args.ts) : Date.now()
+          const nav = await maybeNavigate('charts', deps, args)
+          const ts = args.ts != null ? Number(args.ts) : Date.now()
           if (chartsApi.correlateAround) {
             chartsApi.correlateAround(ts, {
               chart: args.chart,
               window: args.window,
             })
-            return { ok: true, ts, chart: args.chart || null }
+            return {
+              ok: true,
+              ts,
+              chart: args.chart || null,
+              navigated: nav.navigated,
+              navigateReason: nav.reason,
+            }
           }
           if (chartsApi.runMetricCorrelations) {
             const res = await chartsApi.runMetricCorrelations({
@@ -1021,13 +1117,58 @@ export function createToolRunner(deps) {
               ts,
               window: args.window,
             })
-            return { ok: true, ...(res || {}) }
+            return {
+              ok: true,
+              ...(res || {}),
+              navigated: nav.navigated,
+              navigateReason: nav.reason,
+            }
           }
           return { error: 'correlations API unavailable' }
         }
         case 'open_view': {
-          deps.onOpenView?.(String(args.view || 'overview'))
-          return { ok: true, view: args.view }
+          // Explicit navigation tool — still gated by auto-nav / navigate flag
+          const view = String(args.view || 'overview')
+          const nav = await maybeNavigate(view, deps, {
+            ...args,
+            // open_view implies intent to navigate when auto is on/ask;
+            // with auto off, still require navigate=true
+            navigate: args.navigate === true || args.navigate === 'true' ? true : args.navigate,
+          })
+          // When mode is ask/on, maybeNavigate already handled. When off without force, no-op.
+          if (!nav.navigated && autoNavMode(deps) !== 'off') {
+            // ask declined already returned; on should have navigated
+          }
+          // For open_view with auto on, force path already navigated.
+          // With auto off, require navigate=true (maybeNavigate handles).
+          // With auto ask without prior force: maybeNavigate already asked.
+          // Special case: if auto is off and navigate not set, try one confirm as explicit open_view
+          if (!nav.navigated && autoNavMode(deps) === 'off' && args.navigate == null) {
+            const ok =
+              (await deps.confirmAction?.(
+                `Switch to the “${view}” view? (You can enable Auto-navigate in QVAC Settings.)`
+              )) === true
+            if (ok) {
+              deps.onOpenView?.(view)
+              return { ok: true, view, navigated: true, navigateReason: 'user_confirmed' }
+            }
+            return {
+              ok: true,
+              view,
+              navigated: false,
+              navigateReason: 'user_declined',
+              note: 'Stayed on current tab. Pass navigate=true when the user asks to open a view.',
+            }
+          }
+          return {
+            ok: true,
+            view,
+            navigated: nav.navigated,
+            navigateReason: nav.reason,
+            note: nav.navigated
+              ? undefined
+              : 'View not switched. User did not allow navigation.',
+          }
         }
         case 'list_dashboards': {
           if (!deps.dashboards?.list) return { error: 'dashboards API unavailable' }
@@ -1042,8 +1183,8 @@ export function createToolRunner(deps) {
             mode: args.mode || 'area',
             tiles: args.tiles,
           })
-          deps.onOpenView?.('dashboard')
-          return r
+          const nav = await maybeNavigate('dashboard', deps, args)
+          return { ...r, navigated: nav.navigated, navigateReason: nav.reason }
         }
         case 'update_dashboard': {
           if (!deps.dashboards?.update) return { error: 'dashboards API unavailable' }
@@ -1068,8 +1209,8 @@ export function createToolRunner(deps) {
             mode: args.mode,
             replace: args.replace,
           })
-          deps.onOpenView?.('dashboard')
-          return r
+          const nav = await maybeNavigate('dashboard', deps, args)
+          return { ...r, navigated: nav.navigated, navigateReason: nav.reason }
         }
         case 'remove_dashboard_charts': {
           if (!deps.dashboards?.removeCharts) return { error: 'dashboards API unavailable' }
@@ -1080,10 +1221,29 @@ export function createToolRunner(deps) {
         }
         case 'open_dashboard': {
           if (!deps.dashboards?.open) {
-            deps.onOpenView?.('dashboard')
-            return { ok: true, view: 'dashboard' }
+            const nav = await maybeNavigate('dashboard', deps, {
+              ...args,
+              navigate: args.navigate != null ? args.navigate : true,
+            })
+            return {
+              ok: true,
+              view: 'dashboard',
+              navigated: nav.navigated,
+              navigateReason: nav.reason,
+            }
           }
-          return deps.dashboards.open({ id: args.id || args.dashboardId })
+          // Select board first, then maybe switch tab
+          const r = deps.dashboards.open({
+            id: args.id || args.dashboardId,
+            navigate: false,
+          })
+          const nav = await maybeNavigate('dashboard', deps, {
+            ...args,
+            // open_dashboard is an open request: default navigate ask/on, but still confirm
+            navigate: args.navigate != null ? args.navigate : undefined,
+          })
+          // If open always showed view before, prevent double — dashboards.open in app still navigates
+          return { ...r, navigated: nav.navigated, navigateReason: nav.reason }
         }
         case 'silence_alert': {
           if (!args.confirmed) {