> Documentation index: [/llms.txt](/llms.txt). Every page as one file: [/llms-full.txt](/llms-full.txt). # Create a skill Create a skill [#create-a-skill] Write a skill in the editor, or bring one in as a `SKILL.md` file or a ZIP. Open **Agents** > **Skills** in the sidebar and select **New skill**. The New skill menu with Create manually, Upload ZIP and From marketplace | Option | Use it when | | -------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Create manually** | You write the instructions, or paste or import a `SKILL.md`. | | **Upload ZIP** | The skill has scripts or reference files, or you are bringing in several skills at once. | | **From marketplace** | Someone has already published the skill. See [Install skills from the marketplace](/docs/platform/skills/marketplace). | The same menu is in the agent editor's **Skills** pane, where a new skill is ready to switch on for that agent. Write a skill [#write-a-skill] [Video: Writing a skill: New skill, Create manually, the Payment Terms Check skill's name, description, tag and SKILL.md, then Create and the skill in the list](/videos/platform/skills/write-skill.mp4) 1. Select **New skill** > **Create manually**. 2. Fill in the fields. 3. Select **Create**. The skill is saved and the Skills page opens. | Field | What to enter | | --------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Name** | Required. How the skill appears in lists and pickers. | | **Description** | When an agent should use the skill. Agents read this before deciding to open the skill. | | **Tags** | Labels for the tag filter. | | **SKILL.md** | The instructions. The editor starts you with a template: a heading, **When to use** and **Instructions**. | **Import .md** next to **SKILL.md** loads a Markdown file into the box. If the file starts with frontmatter (`name`, `description`, `tags` between `---` lines), those fill in the fields above; otherwise the first heading becomes the name and the line under it the description. Typing in the **SKILL.md** box fills empty fields the same way. Write instructions the way you would brief a colleague: when the skill applies, the steps, the rules and the shape of the answer. Keep them short; an agent reads them in full whenever it uses the skill. Upload a ZIP [#upload-a-zip] 1. Put each skill in its own folder with a `SKILL.md` inside, plus any other files it needs, for example: ``` invoice-matching-rules/ SKILL.md references/tolerances.md scripts/match_invoices.py ``` 2. ZIP the folder, or several skill folders together. 3. Select **New skill** > **Upload ZIP** and choose the file. You can choose several ZIPs at once. Each folder with a `SKILL.md` becomes one skill. The editor then shows its files under **Skill files**. The skill editor for Invoice Matching Rules, with SKILL.md, references/tolerances.md and scripts/match_invoices.py under Skill files | Rule | Value | | --------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | ZIP size | Up to 30 MB, packed and unpacked | | Files kept | Every file, such as scripts, images, fonts and spreadsheets. Only `.DS_Store`, `Thumbs.db` and anything under `.git/` are left out | | `SKILL.md` size | Up to 500 KB; a larger `SKILL.md` is skipped | | Description | Cut to 200 characters | | Tags | Not imported; add them in the editor | * The skill's name comes from the `name` in its `SKILL.md`, or the folder name if there is none. * Uploading a folder with the same name as a skill you have creates a second skill; to change an existing skill, use **Upload ZIP** in its editor instead. * Files other than `SKILL.md` are read-only in the editor. To change them, upload a new ZIP. Edit, replace, download or delete a skill [#edit-replace-download-or-delete-a-skill] Select a skill's name to open it in the editor, change it and select **Save**. Open the **⋮** menu at the end of a row for more: The menu of the Variance Commentary skill with Download ZIP, Edit and Delete | Action | What it does | | ------------------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Download ZIP** | Downloads the skill with all its files, ready to upload elsewhere. | | **Edit** | Opens the editor. | | **Delete** | Removes the skill after you confirm. It is taken off every agent's draft; agents keep using it in their published version until they are published again. | | **Fork to customize** | Built-in skills only: copies the skill into your workspace and opens the copy. | | **Upload ZIP** (in the editor) | Replaces the skill's `SKILL.md` and files with a ZIP holding one skill. Agents that use it keep it. | **Used by** *n* **agents** at the top of the editor counts the agents that use the skill. A changed skill reaches each of them when that agent is next published; until then their editors show **Update available**. Troubleshooting [#troubleshooting] | Message | What to do | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **No SKILL.md found in this archive** | Put a `SKILL.md` in each skill's folder and ZIP again. | | **This archive contains several skills. Upload a ZIP with a single SKILL.md to replace this skill.** | When replacing a skill from its editor, upload a ZIP with one skill only. | | **Archive exceeds the 10MB compressed size limit** | Remove large files, or split the skills into several ZIPs. |