made an adjustment to the adjust code instructions

The AI prompt now explicitly shows:
1. Assign Available Variables to standard Python variables first
2. Then use those variables in the code
3. Multi-line example with file writing pattern

This prevents the AI from trying to use {variable} directly in
expressions without proper assignment.

🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code)

Co-Authored-By: Claude <noreply@anthropic.com>

src/smarttools/runner.py

@@ -67,12 +67,15 @@ def execute_code_step(step: CodeStep, variables: dict) -> tuple[dict, bool]:
     Returns:
         Tuple of (output_vars_dict, success)
     """
+    # Substitute variables in code (like {outputfile} -> actual value)
+    code = substitute_variables(step.code, variables)
+
     # Create execution environment with variables
     local_vars = dict(variables)
 
     try:
-        # Execute the code
+        # Execute the code with substituted variables
-        exec(step.code, {"__builtins__": __builtins__}, local_vars)
+        exec(code, {"__builtins__": __builtins__}, local_vars)
 
         # Support comma-separated output vars (e.g., "a, b, c")
         output_vars = [v.strip() for v in step.output_var.split(',')]

src/smarttools/ui_urwid.py

@@ -1829,7 +1829,14 @@ class SmartToolsUI:
         ai_provider_select_btn = Button3DCompact("▼", on_press=show_ai_provider_dropdown)
 
         # Default prompt template for AI code generation/adjustment
-        default_ai_prompt = f"""Modify or generate Python code according to my instruction below.
+        # Show variables in triple-quote format so the AI follows the pattern
+        vars_formatted = ', '.join(f'\"\"\"{{{v}}}\"\"\"' for v in vars_available)
+        default_ai_prompt = f"""Write inline Python code (NOT a function definition) according to my instruction.
+
+The code runs directly with variable substitution. Assign any "Available Variables" used to a new standard variable first, then use that variable in the code. Use triple quotes and curly braces since the substituted content may contain quotes/newlines.
+
+Example:
+my_var = \"\"\"{{variable}}\"\"\"
 
 INSTRUCTION: [Describe what you want]
 
@@ -1838,9 +1845,10 @@ CURRENT CODE:
 {{code}}
 ```
 
-AVAILABLE VARIABLES: {', '.join(vars_available)}
+AVAILABLE VARIABLES: {vars_formatted}
 
-Return ONLY the Python code, no explanations or markdown fencing."""
+IMPORTANT: Return ONLY executable inline code. Do NOT wrap in a function.
+No explanations, no markdown fencing, just the code."""
 
         # Multiline editable prompt for AI with DOS-style scrollbar
         ai_prompt_edit = TabPassEdit(edit_text=default_ai_prompt, multiline=True)