From fecea0b2b868c6c196dd39df4de36c4d00090f86 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Yufeng He <40085740+he-yufeng@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 2026 14:08:35 +0800
Subject: [PATCH 1/5] Python: fix(declarative): read every message shape in
 MessageText

WorkflowState's fallback producers emit {"role", "content"} while
DeclarativeWorkflowState's custom evaluators emit {"role", "text"}, and
each MessageText implementation read only its own side's key, so a
message crossing eval paths silently extracted "". The .NET record
shape (structured content list) got stringified into the output.

Both readers now share _extract_message_text, which accepts the flat
content shape, the flat text shape, and structured content/contents
lists (lowercase and PascalCase item keys). Producer shapes are
unchanged; the convergence question in #9041 stays with maintainers.
---
 .../_workflows/_declarative_base.py           |  34 +-----
 .../_workflows/_powerfx_functions.py          | 107 ++++++++++++------
 .../tests/test_powerfx_functions.py           |  37 ++++++
 .../tests/test_powerfx_yaml_compatibility.py  |  21 ++++
 4 files changed, 136 insertions(+), 63 deletions(-)

diff --git a/python/packages/declarative/agent_framework_declarative/_workflows/_declarative_base.py b/python/packages/declarative/agent_framework_declarative/_workflows/_declarative_base.py
index 42aec8c49bb..3ec2ae270c7 100644
--- a/python/packages/declarative/agent_framework_declarative/_workflows/_declarative_base.py
+++ b/python/packages/declarative/agent_framework_declarative/_workflows/_declarative_base.py
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@
 from agent_framework._workflows._state import State
 
 from ._errors import DeclarativeWorkflowError
+from ._powerfx_functions import _extract_message_text  # pyright: ignore[reportPrivateUsage]
 from ._powerfx_limits import _PowerFxStateBudget, _validate_powerfx_state  # pyright: ignore[reportPrivateUsage]
 from ._state_path import _is_safe_path_segment  # pyright: ignore[reportPrivateUsage]
 
@@ -854,34 +855,11 @@ def _eval_and_replace_message_text(self, inner_expr: str) -> str:
         messages: Any = self.eval(f"={inner_expr}")
         if isinstance(messages, list) and messages:
             message_list = cast(list[Any], messages)
-            last_msg: Any = message_list[-1]
-            if isinstance(last_msg, dict):
-                last_msg_dict = cast(dict[str, Any], last_msg)
-                # Try "text" key first (simple dict format)
-                if "text" in last_msg_dict:
-                    return str(last_msg_dict["text"])
-                # Try extracting from "contents" (Message dict format)
-                # Message.text concatenates text from all TextContent items
-                contents_obj = last_msg_dict.get("contents", [])
-                if isinstance(contents_obj, list):
-                    contents = cast(list[Any], contents_obj)
-                    text_parts: list[str] = []
-                    for content in contents:
-                        if isinstance(content, dict):
-                            content_dict = cast(dict[str, Any], content)
-                            # TextContent has a "text" key
-                            if content_dict.get("type") == "text" or "text" in content_dict:
-                                text_parts.append(str(content_dict.get("text", "")))
-                        else:
-                            content_obj: object = content
-                            if hasattr(content_obj, "text"):
-                                text_parts.append(str(getattr(content_obj, "text", "")))
-                    if text_parts:
-                        return " ".join(text_parts)
-                return ""
-            last_msg_obj: object = last_msg
-            if hasattr(last_msg_obj, "text"):
-                return str(getattr(last_msg_obj, "text", ""))
+            # Delegate to the shared extractor: messages can arrive in the
+            # flat "text" shape from this state's evaluators, the flat
+            # "content" shape from the fallback function module, or the
+            # structured .NET content list, and each must read cleanly.
+            return _extract_message_text(message_list[-1])
         return ""
 
     def _parse_function_args(self, args_str: str) -> list[str]:
diff --git a/python/packages/declarative/agent_framework_declarative/_workflows/_powerfx_functions.py b/python/packages/declarative/agent_framework_declarative/_workflows/_powerfx_functions.py
index e5b2f4156d0..d7897c1f414 100644
--- a/python/packages/declarative/agent_framework_declarative/_workflows/_powerfx_functions.py
+++ b/python/packages/declarative/agent_framework_declarative/_workflows/_powerfx_functions.py
@@ -15,6 +15,72 @@
 from typing import Any, cast
 
 
+def _content_items_text(items: Any) -> str:
+    """Join the text entries of a structured content list.
+
+    Covers the .NET record shape (``[{"type": "text", "value": ...}]``,
+    capitalized keys included) and objects exposing a text attribute.
+    """
+    if not isinstance(items, list):
+        return ""
+    parts: list[str] = []
+    for item in items:
+        if isinstance(item, str):
+            parts.append(item)
+        elif isinstance(item, dict):
+            item_dict = cast(dict[str, Any], item)
+            for key in ("text", "value", "Text", "Value"):
+                if isinstance(item_dict.get(key), str):
+                    parts.append(item_dict[key])
+                    break
+        elif (item_text := getattr(item, "text", None)) is not None:
+            parts.append(str(item_text))
+    return " ".join(parts)
+
+
+def _extract_message_text(message: Any) -> str:
+    """Extract the displayable text of a single message-shaped value.
+
+    Messages reach the evaluators in three shapes: flat ``content`` (this
+    module's producers), flat ``text`` (DeclarativeWorkflowState's custom
+    evaluators), and a structured content list (the .NET record shape).
+    Accept all three so a message that crosses eval paths never extracts
+    as empty.
+    """
+    if isinstance(message, str):
+        return message
+    if isinstance(message, dict):
+        message_dict = cast(dict[str, Any], message)
+        content: Any = message_dict.get("content")
+        if isinstance(content, str):
+            return content
+        text: Any = message_dict.get("text")
+        if isinstance(text, str):
+            return text
+        for key in ("content", "contents"):
+            items_text = _content_items_text(message_dict.get(key))
+            if items_text:
+                return items_text
+        if content is not None and not isinstance(content, list | dict):
+            nested_text = getattr(content, "text", None)
+            if nested_text is not None:
+                return str(nested_text)
+            return str(content) if content else ""
+        return ""
+    text_attr = getattr(message, "text", None)
+    if text_attr is not None:
+        return str(text_attr)
+    content_attr = getattr(message, "content", None)
+    if isinstance(content_attr, str):
+        return content_attr
+    if content_attr is not None:
+        nested_attr = getattr(content_attr, "text", None)
+        if nested_attr is not None:
+            return str(nested_attr)
+        return str(content_attr) if content_attr else ""
+    return ""
+
+
 def message_text(messages: Any) -> str:
     """Extract text content from a message or list of messages.
 
@@ -40,49 +106,20 @@ def message_text(messages: Any) -> str:
 
     if isinstance(messages, dict):
         # Single message object
-        messages_dict = cast(dict[str, Any], messages)
-        content: Any = messages_dict.get("content", "")
-        if isinstance(content, str):
-            return content
-        text_attr = getattr(content, "text", None)
-        if text_attr is not None:
-            return str(text_attr)
-        return str(content) if content else ""
+        return _extract_message_text(messages)
 
     if isinstance(messages, list):
         # List of messages - concatenate all text
         texts: list[str] = []
         message_list = cast(list[Any], messages)
         for msg in message_list:
-            if isinstance(msg, str):
-                texts.append(msg)
-            elif isinstance(msg, dict):
-                msg_dict = cast(dict[str, Any], msg)
-                msg_content: Any = msg_dict.get("content", "")
-                if isinstance(msg_content, str):
-                    texts.append(msg_content)
-                elif msg_content:
-                    texts.append(str(msg_content))
-            else:
-                msg_obj: object = msg
-                if hasattr(msg_obj, "content"):
-                    msg_obj_content: Any = getattr(msg_obj, "content", None)
-                    if isinstance(msg_obj_content, str):
-                        texts.append(msg_obj_content)
-                    elif (msg_obj_text := getattr(msg_obj_content, "text", None)) is not None:
-                        texts.append(str(msg_obj_text))
-                    elif msg_obj_content:
-                        texts.append(str(msg_obj_content))
+            extracted = _extract_message_text(msg)
+            if extracted:
+                texts.append(extracted)
         return " ".join(texts)
 
-    # Try to get text attribute
-    if hasattr(messages, "text"):
-        return str(messages.text)
-    if hasattr(messages, "content"):
-        content_attr: Any = messages.content
-        if isinstance(content_attr, str):
-            return content_attr
-        return str(content_attr) if content_attr else ""
+    if hasattr(messages, "text") or hasattr(messages, "content"):
+        return _extract_message_text(messages)
 
     return str(messages) if messages else ""
 
diff --git a/python/packages/declarative/tests/test_powerfx_functions.py b/python/packages/declarative/tests/test_powerfx_functions.py
index 239303794cf..367336de8bd 100644
--- a/python/packages/declarative/tests/test_powerfx_functions.py
+++ b/python/packages/declarative/tests/test_powerfx_functions.py
@@ -50,6 +50,43 @@ def test_message_text_empty_list(self):
         """Test that empty list returns empty string."""
         assert message_text([]) == ""
 
+    def test_message_text_accepts_text_key_shape(self):
+        """DeclarativeWorkflowState producers emit a flat text key."""
+        assert message_text([{"role": "user", "text": "hi"}]) == "hi"
+
+    def test_message_text_accepts_structured_content_list(self):
+        """The .NET record shape carries text in a content list."""
+        msg = {"role": "user", "content": [{"type": "text", "value": "hi"}]}
+        assert message_text([msg]) == "hi"
+
+    def test_message_text_accepts_capitalized_content_items(self):
+        """System.Text.Json can surface PascalCase content item keys."""
+        msg = {"role": "user", "content": [{"Type": "Text", "Value": "hi"}]}
+        assert message_text([msg]) == "hi"
+
+    def test_message_text_accepts_contents_list(self):
+        """Message-dict shape stores content items under contents."""
+        msg = {"role": "assistant", "contents": [{"type": "text", "text": "hi"}]}
+        assert message_text([msg]) == "hi"
+
+    def test_message_text_mixed_shapes_join(self):
+        """A list mixing both flat shapes extracts every entry."""
+        msgs = [
+            {"role": "user", "text": "question"},
+            {"role": "assistant", "content": "answer"},
+        ]
+        assert message_text(msgs) == "question answer"
+
+    def test_message_text_object_with_only_text_attr(self):
+        """Objects exposing text but no content still contribute."""
+
+        class _TextOnly:
+            @property
+            def text(self):
+                return "hi"
+
+        assert message_text([_TextOnly()]) == "hi"
+
 
 class TestUserMessage:
     """Tests for UserMessage function."""
diff --git a/python/packages/declarative/tests/test_powerfx_yaml_compatibility.py b/python/packages/declarative/tests/test_powerfx_yaml_compatibility.py
index 308982c6324..b8d4fba7a8a 100644
--- a/python/packages/declarative/tests/test_powerfx_yaml_compatibility.py
+++ b/python/packages/declarative/tests/test_powerfx_yaml_compatibility.py
@@ -406,6 +406,27 @@ async def test_message_text_empty_list(self, mock_state):
         result = state.eval("=MessageText(Local.messages)")
         assert result == ""
 
+    async def test_message_text_accepts_content_key_shape(self, mock_state):
+        """Messages from the fallback evaluator carry a flat content key."""
+        state = DeclarativeWorkflowState(mock_state)
+        state.initialize()
+
+        state.set("Local.messages", [{"role": "user", "content": "Hello"}])
+        result = state.eval("=MessageText(Local.messages)")
+        assert result == "Hello"
+
+    async def test_message_text_accepts_structured_content_list(self, mock_state):
+        """Messages in the .NET record shape extract their content items."""
+        state = DeclarativeWorkflowState(mock_state)
+        state.initialize()
+
+        state.set(
+            "Local.messages",
+            [{"role": "user", "content": [{"type": "text", "value": "Hello"}]}],
+        )
+        result = state.eval("=MessageText(Local.messages)")
+        assert result == "Hello"
+
 
 class TestPowerFxNestedVariables:
     """Test nested variable access patterns from YAML."""

From fa6bcf8001d3277595d408da446ba06d8e7e2751 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Yufeng He <40085740+he-yufeng@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Wed, 7 Oct 2026 11:37:59 +0800
Subject: [PATCH 2/5] Python: fix(declarative): cast iterated content items for
 strict pyright

Iterating the Any-typed parameter left the loop variable and the
getattr argument Unknown under strict pyright; bind the list as
list[Any] like the dict casts below it.
---
 .../_workflows/_powerfx_functions.py                            | 2 +-
 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/python/packages/declarative/agent_framework_declarative/_workflows/_powerfx_functions.py b/python/packages/declarative/agent_framework_declarative/_workflows/_powerfx_functions.py
index d7897c1f414..6c6fcb00a36 100644
--- a/python/packages/declarative/agent_framework_declarative/_workflows/_powerfx_functions.py
+++ b/python/packages/declarative/agent_framework_declarative/_workflows/_powerfx_functions.py
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ def _content_items_text(items: Any) -> str:
     if not isinstance(items, list):
         return ""
     parts: list[str] = []
-    for item in items:
+    for item in cast(list[Any], items):
         if isinstance(item, str):
             parts.append(item)
         elif isinstance(item, dict):

From af683cba24d4c2b005b54d2c0eda0808056fb298 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Yufeng He <40085740+he-yufeng@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 2026 00:42:03 +0800
Subject: [PATCH 3/5] Python: fix(declarative): skip non-text .NET content
 records in MessageText

Explicitly typed image_url/file records carry a payload reference in
value, not displayable text; emitting it could leak the reference into
evaluated expressions. Records with no type declaration keep the
existing key probe, and the PascalCase Text record stays accepted.
---
 .../_workflows/_powerfx_functions.py            |  5 +++++
 .../declarative/tests/test_powerfx_functions.py | 17 +++++++++++++++++
 2 files changed, 22 insertions(+)

diff --git a/python/packages/declarative/agent_framework_declarative/_workflows/_powerfx_functions.py b/python/packages/declarative/agent_framework_declarative/_workflows/_powerfx_functions.py
index 6c6fcb00a36..b156c656fd4 100644
--- a/python/packages/declarative/agent_framework_declarative/_workflows/_powerfx_functions.py
+++ b/python/packages/declarative/agent_framework_declarative/_workflows/_powerfx_functions.py
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ def _content_items_text(items: Any) -> str:
 
     Covers the .NET record shape (``[{"type": "text", "value": ...}]``,
     capitalized keys included) and objects exposing a text attribute.
+    Records declaring a non-text type (image URLs, files) are skipped:
+    their ``value`` is a payload reference, not displayable text.
     """
     if not isinstance(items, list):
         return ""
@@ -29,6 +31,9 @@ def _content_items_text(items: Any) -> str:
             parts.append(item)
         elif isinstance(item, dict):
             item_dict = cast(dict[str, Any], item)
+            declared_type = item_dict.get("type", item_dict.get("Type"))
+            if isinstance(declared_type, str) and declared_type.lower() != "text":
+                continue
             for key in ("text", "value", "Text", "Value"):
                 if isinstance(item_dict.get(key), str):
                     parts.append(item_dict[key])
diff --git a/python/packages/declarative/tests/test_powerfx_functions.py b/python/packages/declarative/tests/test_powerfx_functions.py
index 367336de8bd..e00c760ba45 100644
--- a/python/packages/declarative/tests/test_powerfx_functions.py
+++ b/python/packages/declarative/tests/test_powerfx_functions.py
@@ -69,6 +69,23 @@ def test_message_text_accepts_contents_list(self):
         msg = {"role": "assistant", "contents": [{"type": "text", "text": "hi"}]}
         assert message_text([msg]) == "hi"
 
+    def test_message_text_skips_non_text_content_records(self):
+        """Image/file records declare a non-text type; their value is not text."""
+        msg = {
+            "role": "user",
+            "content": [
+                {"type": "text", "value": "describe this"},
+                {"type": "image_url", "value": "https://example.com/cat.png"},
+                {"Type": "File", "Value": "data:application/pdf;base64,AAAA"},
+            ],
+        }
+        assert message_text([msg]) == "describe this"
+
+    def test_message_text_skips_untyped_payload_records(self):
+        """A record with neither a text type nor text keys stays empty."""
+        msg = {"role": "user", "content": [{"type": "image", "value": "..."}]}
+        assert message_text([msg]) == ""
+
     def test_message_text_mixed_shapes_join(self):
         """A list mixing both flat shapes extracts every entry."""
         msgs = [

From 8fa570c275b441144fed0cf1b3c5134fd74bd90d Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Yufeng He <40085740+he-yufeng@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Fri, 9 Oct 2026 08:15:13 +0800
Subject: [PATCH 4/5] Python: fix(declarative): probe PascalCase top-level
 message keys in MessageText

System.Text.Json keeps capitalized property names on a serialized record, so a cross-runtime message like {"Role": "user", "Content": [...]} still extracted as empty: the dict branch only looked at lowercase content/contents/text while item-level keys already tolerated both casings. Probe Content/Contents/Text alongside their lowercase twins, lowercase winning when both are present.
---
 .../_workflows/_powerfx_functions.py                   | 10 ++++++----
 .../declarative/tests/test_powerfx_functions.py        | 10 ++++++++++
 2 files changed, 16 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-)

diff --git a/python/packages/declarative/agent_framework_declarative/_workflows/_powerfx_functions.py b/python/packages/declarative/agent_framework_declarative/_workflows/_powerfx_functions.py
index b156c656fd4..1a8fecba432 100644
--- a/python/packages/declarative/agent_framework_declarative/_workflows/_powerfx_functions.py
+++ b/python/packages/declarative/agent_framework_declarative/_workflows/_powerfx_functions.py
@@ -50,19 +50,21 @@ def _extract_message_text(message: Any) -> str:
     module's producers), flat ``text`` (DeclarativeWorkflowState's custom
     evaluators), and a structured content list (the .NET record shape).
     Accept all three so a message that crosses eval paths never extracts
-    as empty.
+    as empty. Top-level keys are probed in PascalCase too, because a
+    record serialized by .NET (``{"Role": ..., "Content": ...}``) keeps
+    its capitalized property names.
     """
     if isinstance(message, str):
         return message
     if isinstance(message, dict):
         message_dict = cast(dict[str, Any], message)
-        content: Any = message_dict.get("content")
+        content: Any = message_dict.get("content", message_dict.get("Content"))
         if isinstance(content, str):
             return content
-        text: Any = message_dict.get("text")
+        text: Any = message_dict.get("text", message_dict.get("Text"))
         if isinstance(text, str):
             return text
-        for key in ("content", "contents"):
+        for key in ("content", "contents", "Content", "Contents"):
             items_text = _content_items_text(message_dict.get(key))
             if items_text:
                 return items_text
diff --git a/python/packages/declarative/tests/test_powerfx_functions.py b/python/packages/declarative/tests/test_powerfx_functions.py
index e00c760ba45..315121dc844 100644
--- a/python/packages/declarative/tests/test_powerfx_functions.py
+++ b/python/packages/declarative/tests/test_powerfx_functions.py
@@ -64,6 +64,16 @@ def test_message_text_accepts_capitalized_content_items(self):
         msg = {"role": "user", "content": [{"Type": "Text", "Value": "hi"}]}
         assert message_text([msg]) == "hi"
 
+    def test_message_text_accepts_pascalcase_top_level_content(self):
+        """A .NET cross-runtime record keeps PascalCase top-level keys."""
+        msg = {"Role": "user", "Content": [{"Type": "Text", "Value": "hi"}]}
+        assert message_text([msg]) == "hi"
+
+    def test_message_text_accepts_pascalcase_flat_shapes(self):
+        """PascalCase flat Content/Text strings extract like lowercase."""
+        assert message_text([{"Role": "user", "Content": "hi"}]) == "hi"
+        assert message_text([{"Role": "assistant", "Text": "hello"}]) == "hello"
+
     def test_message_text_accepts_contents_list(self):
         """Message-dict shape stores content items under contents."""
         msg = {"role": "assistant", "contents": [{"type": "text", "text": "hi"}]}

From 70c4223293a53f2771bca264c1797f33759fa0e3 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Yufeng He <40085740+he-yufeng@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 2026 19:42:10 +0800
Subject: [PATCH 5/5] Python: fix(declarative): gate object content items by
 type in MessageText

The dict path skipped typed non-text content, but the object path still
appended any .text attribute, so a Content.from_text_reasoning object
leaked reasoning text through MessageText while core Message.text keeps
only type == "text". Apply the same type gate to object items and add
a reasoning-content regression test.
---
 .../_workflows/_powerfx_functions.py                | 13 ++++++++++---
 .../declarative/tests/test_powerfx_functions.py     | 13 +++++++++++++
 2 files changed, 23 insertions(+), 3 deletions(-)

diff --git a/python/packages/declarative/agent_framework_declarative/_workflows/_powerfx_functions.py b/python/packages/declarative/agent_framework_declarative/_workflows/_powerfx_functions.py
index 1a8fecba432..1dc57920ca1 100644
--- a/python/packages/declarative/agent_framework_declarative/_workflows/_powerfx_functions.py
+++ b/python/packages/declarative/agent_framework_declarative/_workflows/_powerfx_functions.py
@@ -21,7 +21,9 @@ def _content_items_text(items: Any) -> str:
     Covers the .NET record shape (``[{"type": "text", "value": ...}]``,
     capitalized keys included) and objects exposing a text attribute.
     Records declaring a non-text type (image URLs, files) are skipped:
-    their ``value`` is a payload reference, not displayable text.
+    their ``value`` is a payload reference, not displayable text. Object
+    items are gated the same way core ``Message.text`` gates contents, so
+    a reasoning block's ``.text`` does not leak into the extraction.
     """
     if not isinstance(items, list):
         return ""
@@ -38,8 +40,13 @@ def _content_items_text(items: Any) -> str:
                 if isinstance(item_dict.get(key), str):
                     parts.append(item_dict[key])
                     break
-        elif (item_text := getattr(item, "text", None)) is not None:
-            parts.append(str(item_text))
+        else:
+            declared_type = getattr(item, "type", None)
+            if isinstance(declared_type, str) and declared_type.lower() != "text":
+                continue
+            item_text = getattr(item, "text", None)
+            if item_text is not None:
+                parts.append(str(item_text))
     return " ".join(parts)
 
 
diff --git a/python/packages/declarative/tests/test_powerfx_functions.py b/python/packages/declarative/tests/test_powerfx_functions.py
index 315121dc844..c892743c1f4 100644
--- a/python/packages/declarative/tests/test_powerfx_functions.py
+++ b/python/packages/declarative/tests/test_powerfx_functions.py
@@ -96,6 +96,19 @@ def test_message_text_skips_untyped_payload_records(self):
         msg = {"role": "user", "content": [{"type": "image", "value": "..."}]}
         assert message_text([msg]) == ""
 
+    def test_message_text_skips_reasoning_content_objects(self):
+        """Core Content objects gate on type == "text", like Message.text."""
+        from agent_framework import Content
+
+        msg = {
+            "role": "assistant",
+            "content": [
+                Content.from_text_reasoning(text="chain of thought"),
+                Content.from_text(text="final answer"),
+            ],
+        }
+        assert message_text([msg]) == "final answer"
+
     def test_message_text_mixed_shapes_join(self):
         """A list mixing both flat shapes extracts every entry."""
         msgs = [