Update BasicAgent.py

BasicAgent.py

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import smolagents, numpy, math, xlrd, os, pandas
 from smolagents import (
-    Tool,
+    tool,
     CodeAgent,
     HfApiModel,
     InferenceClientModel,
@@ -13,22 +13,15 @@ from smolagents import (
 
 #*
 @tool
-def read_excel(self, file_path, sheet_name=0):
+def read_excel(file_path: str, sheet_name=0):
     """
     Read an Excel file into a pandas DataFrame.
-
-    Args:
-        file_path (str): Path to the Excel file.
-        sheet_name (str or int, optional): Sheet name or index.
-
-    Returns:
-        pandas.DataFrame or None
     """
+    import pandas as pd
     try:
         return pd.read_excel(file_path, sheet_name=sheet_name)
     except Exception as e:
-        print(f"Error reading Excel file: {e}")
-        return None
+        return f"Error reading Excel file: {e}"
 #
 class newAgent:
     """Adapts smolagents.CodeAgent to the HF course template API."""
@@ -49,7 +42,7 @@ class newAgent:
         model = HfApiModel(model_id=model_id, token=hf_token)
         
         # include FinalAnswerTool in tools so agent knows when to stop
-        tools = [FinalAnswerTool(), read_excel()]
+        tools = [FinalAnswerTool(), read_excel]
         self.agent = CodeAgent(
             tools=tools,
             model=model,