desktop-control

name	desktop-control
description	Control desktop applications on Windows — launch, close, focus, resize, move windows, simulate keyboard/mouse input, manage processes, control VSCode, read clipboard, and capture screen info. Use when the user wants to interact with any running program, switch windows, type text, press shortcuts, open files in VSCode, manage running processes, or get system display information.

Desktop Control — Full Windows Application Control

Publish-only note (ClawHub)

This Publish package includes scripts as .ps1.txt because Publish only accepts text files. After download, rename each *.ps1.txt to *.ps1 and place them in a scripts/ folder to use the skill.

Control any desktop application on this Windows machine. Launch programs, manage windows, simulate input, control VSCode, and monitor processes — all via PowerShell scripts.

CRITICAL: Script Location

All scripts are located relative to this skill folder:

SKILL_DIR = ~/.openclaw/workspace/skills/desktop-control/scripts

When running scripts, always use the full path:

powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "$HOME/.openclaw/workspace/skills/desktop-control/scripts/<script>.ps1" -Action <action> [params]

IMPORTANT: Safety Rules

1. Before closing windows — Ask user for confirmation if the window might have unsaved work
2. Before killing processes — Always confirm with user unless they explicitly asked to kill it
3. Before sending input — Make sure the correct window is focused first
4. Clipboard — Warn user if you are overwriting clipboard content

---

Action Reference

1. Window Management (app-control.ps1)

Manage application windows — launch, close, focus, resize, move, snap.

List all visible windows

powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "$HOME/.openclaw/workspace/skills/desktop-control/scripts/app-control.ps1" -Action list-windows

Returns: PID, window title, position (X,Y), size (W×H), state (Normal/Minimized/Maximized)

Launch an application

# By name (searches PATH and common locations)
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "$HOME/.openclaw/workspace/skills/desktop-control/scripts/app-control.ps1" -Action launch -Target "notepad"

# By full path
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "$HOME/.openclaw/workspace/skills/desktop-control/scripts/app-control.ps1" -Action launch -Target "C:\Program Files\MyApp\app.exe"

# With arguments
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "$HOME/.openclaw/workspace/skills/desktop-control/scripts/app-control.ps1" -Action launch -Target "code" -Arguments "C:\Users\ibach\project"

Focus (bring to foreground)

# By window title (partial match)
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "$HOME/.openclaw/workspace/skills/desktop-control/scripts/app-control.ps1" -Action focus -Target "Visual Studio Code"

# By PID
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "$HOME/.openclaw/workspace/skills/desktop-control/scripts/app-control.ps1" -Action focus -ProcId 12345

Close a window gracefully

powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "$HOME/.openclaw/workspace/skills/desktop-control/scripts/app-control.ps1" -Action close -Target "Notepad"

Minimize / Maximize / Restore

powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "$HOME/.openclaw/workspace/skills/desktop-control/scripts/app-control.ps1" -Action minimize -Target "Visual Studio Code"
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "$HOME/.openclaw/workspace/skills/desktop-control/scripts/app-control.ps1" -Action maximize -Target "Visual Studio Code"
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "$HOME/.openclaw/workspace/skills/desktop-control/scripts/app-control.ps1" -Action restore -Target "Visual Studio Code"

Move a window

powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "$HOME/.openclaw/workspace/skills/desktop-control/scripts/app-control.ps1" -Action move -Target "Notepad" -X 100 -Y 200

Resize a window

powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "$HOME/.openclaw/workspace/skills/desktop-control/scripts/app-control.ps1" -Action resize -Target "Notepad" -Width 800 -Height 600

Snap a window (half-screen)

# Options: left, right, top, bottom, topleft, topright, bottomleft, bottomright
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "$HOME/.openclaw/workspace/skills/desktop-control/scripts/app-control.ps1" -Action snap -Target "Notepad" -Position left

---

2. Input Simulation (input-sim.ps1)

Simulate keyboard and mouse input into any application.

IMPORTANT: Always focus the target window FIRST using app-control.ps1 -Action focus before sending input.

Type text

powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "$HOME/.openclaw/workspace/skills/desktop-control/scripts/input-sim.ps1" -Action type-text -Text "Hello, World!"

Send keyboard shortcut

# Common shortcuts: Ctrl+S, Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V, Ctrl+Z, Alt+F4, Ctrl+Shift+P, Win+D
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "$HOME/.openclaw/workspace/skills/desktop-control/scripts/input-sim.ps1" -Action send-keys -Keys "Ctrl+S"
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "$HOME/.openclaw/workspace/skills/desktop-control/scripts/input-sim.ps1" -Action send-keys -Keys "Ctrl+Shift+P"
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "$HOME/.openclaw/workspace/skills/desktop-control/scripts/input-sim.ps1" -Action send-keys -Keys "Alt+Tab"

Send special keys

# Keys: Enter, Tab, Escape, Backspace, Delete, Up, Down, Left, Right, Home, End, PageUp, PageDown, F1-F12
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "$HOME/.openclaw/workspace/skills/desktop-control/scripts/input-sim.ps1" -Action send-keys -Keys "Enter"
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "$HOME/.openclaw/workspace/skills/desktop-control/scripts/input-sim.ps1" -Action send-keys -Keys "F5"

Mouse click at coordinates

# Left click
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "$HOME/.openclaw/workspace/skills/desktop-control/scripts/input-sim.ps1" -Action mouse-click -X 500 -Y 300

# Right click
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "$HOME/.openclaw/workspace/skills/desktop-control/scripts/input-sim.ps1" -Action mouse-click -X 500 -Y 300 -Button right

# Double click
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "$HOME/.openclaw/workspace/skills/desktop-control/scripts/input-sim.ps1" -Action mouse-click -X 500 -Y 300 -DoubleClick

Move mouse

powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "$HOME/.openclaw/workspace/skills/desktop-control/scripts/input-sim.ps1" -Action mouse-move -X 500 -Y 300

Scroll

# Scroll up (positive) or down (negative)
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "$HOME/.openclaw/workspace/skills/desktop-control/scripts/input-sim.ps1" -Action mouse-scroll -Clicks 3
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "$HOME/.openclaw/workspace/skills/desktop-control/scripts/input-sim.ps1" -Action mouse-scroll -Clicks -3

---

3. VSCode Control (vscode-control.ps1)

Control Visual Studio Code through the code CLI and extensions.

Open a file

powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "$HOME/.openclaw/workspace/skills/desktop-control/scripts/vscode-control.ps1" -Action open-file -Path "C:\Users\ibach\project\main.py"

Open a file at a specific line

powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "$HOME/.openclaw/workspace/skills/desktop-control/scripts/vscode-control.ps1" -Action goto -Path "C:\Users\ibach\project\main.py" -Line 42

Open a folder/workspace

powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "$HOME/.openclaw/workspace/skills/desktop-control/scripts/vscode-control.ps1" -Action open-folder -Path "C:\Users\ibach\project"

Open diff view

powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "$HOME/.openclaw/workspace/skills/desktop-control/scripts/vscode-control.ps1" -Action open-diff -Path "file1.py" -Path2 "file2.py"

List installed extensions

powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "$HOME/.openclaw/workspace/skills/desktop-control/scripts/vscode-control.ps1" -Action list-extensions

Install an extension

powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "$HOME/.openclaw/workspace/skills/desktop-control/scripts/vscode-control.ps1" -Action install-extension -ExtensionId "ms-python.python"

Uninstall an extension

powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "$HOME/.openclaw/workspace/skills/desktop-control/scripts/vscode-control.ps1" -Action uninstall-extension -ExtensionId "ms-python.python"

Open a new terminal in VSCode

# This focuses VSCode and sends Ctrl+` to toggle terminal
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "$HOME/.openclaw/workspace/skills/desktop-control/scripts/vscode-control.ps1" -Action new-terminal

Open VSCode command palette

powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "$HOME/.openclaw/workspace/skills/desktop-control/scripts/vscode-control.ps1" -Action command-palette

Run a VSCode command by name

powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "$HOME/.openclaw/workspace/skills/desktop-control/scripts/vscode-control.ps1" -Action run-command -Command "workbench.action.toggleSidebarVisibility"

---

4. Process Management (process-manager.ps1)

Monitor and manage running processes.

List running processes

# All processes
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "$HOME/.openclaw/workspace/skills/desktop-control/scripts/process-manager.ps1" -Action list

# Filter by name
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "$HOME/.openclaw/workspace/skills/desktop-control/scripts/process-manager.ps1" -Action list -Name "code"

# Top N by memory
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "$HOME/.openclaw/workspace/skills/desktop-control/scripts/process-manager.ps1" -Action list -SortBy memory -Top 10

Get detailed process info

powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "$HOME/.openclaw/workspace/skills/desktop-control/scripts/process-manager.ps1" -Action info -ProcId 12345

Start a new process

powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "$HOME/.openclaw/workspace/skills/desktop-control/scripts/process-manager.ps1" -Action start -Path "notepad.exe" -Arguments "C:\file.txt"

Kill a process (CONFIRM WITH USER FIRST)

powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "$HOME/.openclaw/workspace/skills/desktop-control/scripts/process-manager.ps1" -Action kill -ProcId 12345
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "$HOME/.openclaw/workspace/skills/desktop-control/scripts/process-manager.ps1" -Action kill -Name "notepad"

Monitor process resource usage

powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "$HOME/.openclaw/workspace/skills/desktop-control/scripts/process-manager.ps1" -Action monitor -ProcId 12345 -Duration 10

---

5. Screen & System Info (screen-info.ps1)

Get display information, window details, clipboard, and screenshots.

List displays/monitors

powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "$HOME/.openclaw/workspace/skills/desktop-control/scripts/screen-info.ps1" -Action displays

Get active (focused) window info

powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "$HOME/.openclaw/workspace/skills/desktop-control/scripts/screen-info.ps1" -Action active-window

Get detailed window info

powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "$HOME/.openclaw/workspace/skills/desktop-control/scripts/screen-info.ps1" -Action window-info -Target "Visual Studio Code"

Take a screenshot

# Full screen
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "$HOME/.openclaw/workspace/skills/desktop-control/scripts/screen-info.ps1" -Action screenshot -OutputPath "$HOME/screenshot.png"

# Specific window
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "$HOME/.openclaw/workspace/skills/desktop-control/scripts/screen-info.ps1" -Action screenshot -Target "Notepad" -OutputPath "$HOME/notepad-screenshot.png"

Read clipboard

powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "$HOME/.openclaw/workspace/skills/desktop-control/scripts/screen-info.ps1" -Action clipboard-get

Set clipboard text

powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "$HOME/.openclaw/workspace/skills/desktop-control/scripts/screen-info.ps1" -Action clipboard-set -Text "Text to copy"

Get system info (uptime, OS, resolution)

powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "$HOME/.openclaw/workspace/skills/desktop-control/scripts/screen-info.ps1" -Action system-info

---

Common Workflows

Open a file in VSCode and navigate to a specific line

1. vscode-control.ps1 -Action goto -Path "C:\path\to\file.py" -Line 42

Type something into a specific application

1. app-control.ps1 -Action focus -Target "Notepad"
2. input-sim.ps1 -Action type-text -Text "Hello World"

Save the current document in any app

1. app-control.ps1 -Action focus -Target "<app name>"
2. input-sim.ps1 -Action send-keys -Keys "Ctrl+S"

Arrange two windows side-by-side

1. app-control.ps1 -Action snap -Target "Visual Studio Code" -Position left
2. app-control.ps1 -Action snap -Target "Chrome" -Position right

Kill a frozen application

1. process-manager.ps1 -Action list -Name "frozen-app"
   (note the PID)
2. ASK USER FOR CONFIRMATION
3. process-manager.ps1 -Action kill -ProcId <pid>

Take a screenshot of a specific window

1. screen-info.ps1 -Action screenshot -Target "Chrome" -OutputPath "$HOME/chrome.png"

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Error Handling

• If a script returns exit code 0 → success
• If a script returns exit code 1 → error (check stderr output for details)
• If a window is not found → try list-windows first to get the exact title
• If code CLI is not found → VSCode may not be in PATH; try launching it first

Troubleshooting

• "Window not found" → Use list-windows to see exact window titles, then match more precisely
• "Access denied" → Some system processes need admin rights; inform the user
• Input not working → Make sure the target window is focused AND in the foreground
• VSCode CLI not found → Try code --version first; if missing, launch VSCode from Start Menu