---
name: shell-agent-file-workflow-de38b5ec4274
description: Delegate file generation to shell_agent when direct tools fail, with systematic file location and retrieval
---

# Shell Agent File Generation Workflow

When direct document or file generation approaches fail, delegate the task to shell_agent which can autonomously write code, execute it, and retry on errors. Generated files may appear in nested workspace directories.

## When to Use

- Direct file generation tools or `create_file` functions fail for complex formats
- Complex file creation requiring multiple steps, libraries, or error recovery
- When you need an autonomous agent to figure out how to accomplish a goal
- File generation that requires iteration and automatic error fixing

## Workflow Steps

### Step 1: Delegate File Generation to shell_agent

Use shell_agent with a clear, specific task description:

```
shell_agent(task="Create a [file type] with [specific content/structure requirements]")
```

The agent will:
- Decide whether to use Python or Bash
- Write and execute code
- Inspect output and iterate
- Automatically retry and fix errors (up to several rounds)

### Step 2: Locate Generated Files

Files may be created in nested directories within the workspace. Use `find` to locate them:

```bash
find . -name "*.extension" -type f
```

For multiple file types:
```bash
find . -type f \( -name "*.pptx" -o -name "*.docx" -o -name "*.pdf" \)
```

For recently modified files (last 10 minutes):
```bash
find . -name "*.extension" -type f -mmin -10
```

### Step 3: Copy Files to Working Directory

Once located, copy the file to your working directory:

```bash
cp /path/to/found/file.extension ./
```

## Example

### Creating a PowerPoint Presentation

```
# Step 1: Delegate to shell_agent
shell_agent(task="Create a 10-slide PowerPoint presentation covering: topic A, topic B, topic C")

# Step 2: Find the generated file
find . -name "*.pptx" -type f

# Output might show: ./workspace/nested/path/presentation.pptx

# Step 3: Copy to working directory
cp ./workspace/nested/path/presentation.pptx ./
```

### Creating a PDF Report

```
# Step 1: Delegate generation
shell_agent(task="Generate a PDF report with charts and tables from the provided data")

# Step 2: Locate output
find . -name "*.pdf" -type f -mmin -5

# Step 3: Retrieve file
cp ./generated/reports/output.pdf ./
```

## Tips

- **Be specific in task description**: Include file format, structure, and content requirements explicitly
- **Check multiple extensions**: If unsure of output format, search for common extensions
- **Use modification time**: Filter by recent files to identify newly created outputs
- **Verify file integrity**: After copying, check that the file is valid and complete

## Troubleshooting

| Issue | Solution |
|-------|----------|
| No files found | Expand search: remove extension filter, increase time window |
| Multiple files found | Sort by modification time: `find . -name "*.ext" -type f -printf '%T@ %p\n' \| sort -n` |
| File is corrupted | Re-run shell_agent with more specific requirements |
| Permission errors | Use `sudo` or check directory permissions |

---
Source attribution: AG064
Original project: https://github.com/AG064/OpenSpace/blob/ff671ef61ed6587c49bd54c81cdc751c0b99e363/gdpval_bench/skills/shell-agent-file-workflow/SKILL.md
License: MIT
License information: https://opensource.org/license/mit
Original upstream instructions; downloaded from Dave AI.

## Upstream license notice

MIT License

Copyright (c) 2026 ✨Data Intelligence Lab@HKU✨

Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:

The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
copies or substantial portions of the Software.

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
SOFTWARE.



# Dave AI resource metadata

Creator / publisher: AG064
Original project: https://github.com/AG064/OpenSpace/blob/ff671ef61ed6587c49bd54c81cdc751c0b99e363/gdpval_bench/skills/shell-agent-file-workflow/SKILL.md
Attribution basis: Source repository record

Fields of work: Content & Media, Development & Engineering, Project & Program Management
Roles: Backend Developer, DevOps / SRE, Frontend Developer, Project Manager, Technical Writer
Specialties: API, DevOps
Tools: Shell_Agent
Country applicability: Country not specified
Classification basis: Source catalog labels
Instruction SHA-256: 4e385d318e18ae2348e917c203d0e7469c4c81859d86665a54391bb081e35bbd