Install
openclaw skills install skill-extractorExport any installed OpenClaw skill into a shareable ZIP: detects & stages external runtime files, generates STRUCTURE.md for LLM-guided install. Reads and packages local files only — no network calls, no APIs, no external transmissions.
openclaw skills install skill-extractorPackage any installed OpenClaw skill into a clean, shareable ZIP. External runtime files referenced in SKILL.md are detected, staged under _external/, and documented — so a new install knows exactly where every file belongs and can reproduce full functionality.
All file operations are local only. Nothing is transmitted anywhere. The user confirms what gets included before anything is zipped.
STRUCTURE.md inside the staging folder before zippingScan all known OpenClaw skill locations (workspace skills folder, user-local skills folder, and the bundled npm package skills folder) for subdirectories that contain a SKILL.md. Present the list with skill name and source. Ask which to export.
Find the skill folder by name. If not found, report and stop.
Create a hidden temp staging folder inside the workspace named after the skill. Copy all files from the skill directory into it. Originals are never touched.
Read the SKILL.md from the original skill directory. Extract all path-like strings that begin with a user home or app-data prefix (home dir shorthands and platform app-data equivalents). Resolve each to an absolute path.
For each path:
Do not copy anything yet. Build the list first — it goes to the user for review in the next step.
Present the user with everything that will be included in the ZIP:
Clearly warn: "These files will be packaged with their real values — including any credentials, tokens, or sensitive config. Review before sharing the ZIP."
Ask: "Proceed with packaging these files?"
_external/, mirroring the directory structure relative to the user's home, then continue.Write STRUCTURE.md into the staging dir with these sections in order:
Header — skill name, generation timestamp, one-line purpose statement.
Folder Layout — ASCII tree of the staging dir. Directories before files at each level, both sorted alphabetically. Use standard tree connectors (├──, └──, │). Directory names end with /.
File Descriptions table — two columns: relative file path and one-line purpose. Describe each file by what it does rather than its type. Well-known skill files have fixed descriptions:
| File | Description |
|---|---|
SKILL.md | Main skill instructions. The LLM agent reads this to understand purpose, setup, and usage. |
_meta.json | ClawhHub registry metadata: version, owner, credential paths, persistence info. |
STRUCTURE.md | This file. Auto-generated folder map and install guide. |
| Any other file | Infer purpose from filename, location, and content — describe what it does in plain English. |
External Files table — only if external files were detected. Three columns: file path inside the ZIP | target install path on the machine | notes. Determine the notes value by this logic:
| Condition | Notes |
|---|---|
| Path suggests credentials or config | Packaged with real values — review before sharing. |
| Path suggests a worker or background script | Extracted from SKILL.md at runtime — included here for reference. |
| Path suggests a log, pid, or state file | Runtime-generated. Recreated automatically on first run. |
| File did not exist at export time | Not present at export — created automatically when the skill runs. |
| Anything else | External runtime file. Review SKILL.md for usage. |
Follow the table with a brief note on how to place _external/ files at their target paths on both Windows and Unix systems.
Install Instructions — three options:
_external/ files at their target paths, confirm with openclaw skills list_external/ files manuallyFooter — credit line linking to the skill on ClawhHub.
Confirm the output path with the user (default: the user's Desktop). Remove any existing ZIP at that path first. Compress the staging dir. Report the saved path and file size. Delete the staging folder.
| Problem | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Skill not found | Name mismatch | Check spelling; run openclaw skills list |
| Access denied on copy | File ownership issue | Run as admin or check permissions |
| ZIP creation fails | Disk full or missing compression support | Free space or update runtime |
| Staging not cleaned | ZIP step failed | Delete the staging folder inside the workspace manually |
| External file missing | Runtime-generated, not yet created | Safe to skip — document as "created at runtime" |
| User declined confirmation | Sensitive files flagged by user | Abort — no ZIP created, staging cleaned up |