# Get started with Agent Skills in the API

Learn how to use Agent Skills to create documents with the Claude API in under 10 minutes.

---

This tutorial shows you how to use Agent Skills to create a PowerPoint presentation. You'll learn how to enable Skills, make a simple request, and access the generated file.

## Prerequisites

- [Anthropic API key](/settings/keys)
- Python 3.7+ or curl installed
- Basic familiarity with making API requests

## What are Agent Skills?

Pre-built Agent Skills extend Claude's capabilities with specialized expertise for tasks like creating documents, analyzing data, and processing files. Anthropic provides the following pre-built Agent Skills in the API:

- **PowerPoint (pptx)**: Create and edit presentations
- **Excel (xlsx)**: Create and analyze spreadsheets
- **Word (docx)**: Create and edit documents
- **PDF (pdf)**: Generate PDF documents

<Note>
**Want to create custom Skills?** See the [Agent Skills Cookbook](https://platform.claude.com/cookbook/skills-notebooks-01-skills-introduction) for examples of building your own Skills with domain-specific expertise.
</Note>

## Step 1: List available Skills

First, let's see what Skills are available. We'll use the Skills API to list all Anthropic-managed Skills:

<CodeGroup>
```python Python
import anthropic

client = anthropic.Anthropic()

# List Anthropic-managed Skills
skills = client.beta.skills.list(source="anthropic", betas=["skills-2025-10-02"])

for skill in skills.data:
    print(f"{skill.id}: {skill.display_title}")
```

```typescript TypeScript
import Anthropic from "@anthropic-ai/sdk";

const client = new Anthropic();

// List Anthropic-managed Skills
const skills = await client.beta.skills.list({
  source: "anthropic",
  betas: ["skills-2025-10-02"]
});

for (const skill of skills.data) {
  console.log(`${skill.id}: ${skill.display_title}`);
}
```

```bash Shell
curl "https://api.anthropic.com/v1/skills?source=anthropic" \
  -H "x-api-key: $ANTHROPIC_API_KEY" \
  -H "anthropic-version: 2023-06-01" \
  -H "anthropic-beta: skills-2025-10-02"
```
</CodeGroup>

You see the following Skills: `pptx`, `xlsx`, `docx`, and `pdf`.

This API returns each Skill's metadata: its name and description. Claude loads this metadata at startup to know what Skills are available. This is the first level of **progressive disclosure**, where Claude discovers Skills without loading their full instructions yet.

## Step 2: Create a presentation

Now we'll use the PowerPoint Skill to create a presentation about renewable energy. We specify Skills using the `container` parameter in the Messages API:

<CodeGroup>
```python Python
import anthropic

client = anthropic.Anthropic()

# Create a message with the PowerPoint Skill
response = client.beta.messages.create(
    model="claude-opus-4-6",
    max_tokens=4096,
    betas=["code-execution-2025-08-25", "skills-2025-10-02"],
    container={
        "skills": [{"type": "anthropic", "skill_id": "pptx", "version": "latest"}]
    },
    messages=[
        {
            "role": "user",
            "content": "Create a presentation about renewable energy with 5 slides",
        }
    ],
    tools=[{"type": "code_execution_20250825", "name": "code_execution"}],
)

print(response.content)
```

```typescript TypeScript
import Anthropic from "@anthropic-ai/sdk";

const client = new Anthropic();

// Create a message with the PowerPoint Skill
const response = await client.beta.messages.create({
  model: "claude-opus-4-6",
  max_tokens: 4096,
  betas: ["code-execution-2025-08-25", "skills-2025-10-02"],
  container: {
    skills: [
      {
        type: "anthropic",
        skill_id: "pptx",
        version: "latest"
      }
    ]
  },
  messages: [{
    role: "user",
    content: "Create a presentation about renewable energy with 5 slides"
  }],
  tools: [{
    type: "code_execution_20250825",
    name: "code_execution"
  }]
});

console.log(response.content);
```

```bash Shell
curl https://api.anthropic.com/v1/messages \
  -H "x-api-key: $ANTHROPIC_API_KEY" \
  -H "anthropic-version: 2023-06-01" \
  -H "anthropic-beta: code-execution-2025-08-25,skills-2025-10-02" \
  -H "content-type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "model": "claude-opus-4-6",
    "max_tokens": 4096,
    "container": {
      "skills": [
        {
          "type": "anthropic",
          "skill_id": "pptx",
          "version": "latest"
        }
      ]
    },
    "messages": [{
      "role": "user",
      "content": "Create a presentation about renewable energy with 5 slides"
    }],
    "tools": [{
      "type": "code_execution_20250825",
      "name": "code_execution"
    }]
  }'
```
</CodeGroup>

Let's break down what each part does:

- **`container.skills`**: Specifies which Skills Claude can use
- **`type: "anthropic"`**: Indicates this is an Anthropic-managed Skill
- **`skill_id: "pptx"`**: The PowerPoint Skill identifier
- **`version: "latest"`**: The Skill version set to the most recently published
- **`tools`**: Enables code execution (required for Skills)
- **Beta headers**: `code-execution-2025-08-25` and `skills-2025-10-02`

When you make this request, Claude automatically matches your task to the relevant Skill. Since you asked for a presentation, Claude determines the PowerPoint Skill is relevant and loads its full instructions: the second level of progressive disclosure. Then Claude executes the Skill's code to create your presentation.

## Step 3: Download the created file

The presentation was created in the code execution container and saved as a file. The response includes a file reference with a file ID. Extract the file ID and download it using the Files API:

<CodeGroup>
```python Python
# Extract file ID from response
file_id = None
for block in response.content:
    if block.type == "tool_use" and block.name == "code_execution":
        # File ID is in the tool result
        for result_block in block.content:
            if hasattr(result_block, "file_id"):
                file_id = result_block.file_id
                break

if file_id:
    # Download the file
    file_content = client.beta.files.download(
        file_id=file_id, betas=["files-api-2025-04-14"]
    )

    # Save to disk
    with open("renewable_energy.pptx", "wb") as f:
        file_content.write_to_file(f.name)

    print(f"Presentation saved to renewable_energy.pptx")
```

```typescript TypeScript
// Extract file ID from response
let fileId: string | null = null;
for (const block of response.content) {
  if (block.type === "tool_use" && block.name === "code_execution") {
    // File ID is in the tool result
    for (const resultBlock of block.content) {
      if ("file_id" in resultBlock) {
        fileId = resultBlock.file_id;
        break;
      }
    }
  }
}

if (fileId) {
  // Download the file
  const fileContent = await client.beta.files.download(fileId, {
    betas: ["files-api-2025-04-14"]
  });

  // Save to disk
  const fs = require("fs/promises");
  await fs.writeFile("renewable_energy.pptx", Buffer.from(await fileContent.arrayBuffer()));

  console.log("Presentation saved to renewable_energy.pptx");
}
```

```bash Shell
# Extract file_id from response (using jq)
FILE_ID=$(echo "$RESPONSE" | jq -r '.content[] | select(.type=="tool_use" and .name=="code_execution") | .content[] | select(.file_id) | .file_id')

# Download the file
curl "https://api.anthropic.com/v1/files/$FILE_ID/content" \
  -H "x-api-key: $ANTHROPIC_API_KEY" \
  -H "anthropic-version: 2023-06-01" \
  -H "anthropic-beta: files-api-2025-04-14" \
  --output renewable_energy.pptx

echo "Presentation saved to renewable_energy.pptx"
```
</CodeGroup>

<Note>
For complete details on working with generated files, see the [code execution tool documentation](/docs/en/agents-and-tools/tool-use/code-execution-tool#retrieve-generated-files).
</Note>

## Try more examples

Now that you've created your first document with Skills, try these variations:

### Create a spreadsheet

<CodeGroup>
```python Python
response = client.beta.messages.create(
    model="claude-opus-4-6",
    max_tokens=4096,
    betas=["code-execution-2025-08-25", "skills-2025-10-02"],
    container={
        "skills": [{"type": "anthropic", "skill_id": "xlsx", "version": "latest"}]
    },
    messages=[
        {
            "role": "user",
            "content": "Create a quarterly sales tracking spreadsheet with sample data",
        }
    ],
    tools=[{"type": "code_execution_20250825", "name": "code_execution"}],
)
```

```typescript TypeScript
const response = await client.beta.messages.create({
  model: "claude-opus-4-6",
  max_tokens: 4096,
  betas: ["code-execution-2025-08-25", "skills-2025-10-02"],
  container: {
    skills: [
      {
        type: "anthropic",
        skill_id: "xlsx",
        version: "latest"
      }
    ]
  },
  messages: [{
    role: "user",
    content: "Create a quarterly sales tracking spreadsheet with sample data"
  }],
  tools: [{
    type: "code_execution_20250825",
    name: "code_execution"
  }]
});
```

```bash Shell
curl https://api.anthropic.com/v1/messages \
  -H "x-api-key: $ANTHROPIC_API_KEY" \
  -H "anthropic-version: 2023-06-01" \
  -H "anthropic-beta: code-execution-2025-08-25,skills-2025-10-02" \
  -H "content-type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "model": "claude-opus-4-6",
    "max_tokens": 4096,
    "container": {
      "skills": [
        {
          "type": "anthropic",
          "skill_id": "xlsx",
          "version": "latest"
        }
      ]
    },
    "messages": [{
      "role": "user",
      "content": "Create a quarterly sales tracking spreadsheet with sample data"
    }],
    "tools": [{
      "type": "code_execution_20250825",
      "name": "code_execution"
    }]
  }'
```
</CodeGroup>

### Create a Word document

<CodeGroup>
```python Python
response = client.beta.messages.create(
    model="claude-opus-4-6",
    max_tokens=4096,
    betas=["code-execution-2025-08-25", "skills-2025-10-02"],
    container={
        "skills": [{"type": "anthropic", "skill_id": "docx", "version": "latest"}]
    },
    messages=[
        {
            "role": "user",
            "content": "Write a 2-page report on the benefits of renewable energy",
        }
    ],
    tools=[{"type": "code_execution_20250825", "name": "code_execution"}],
)
```

```typescript TypeScript
const response = await client.beta.messages.create({
  model: "claude-opus-4-6",
  max_tokens: 4096,
  betas: ["code-execution-2025-08-25", "skills-2025-10-02"],
  container: {
    skills: [
      {
        type: "anthropic",
        skill_id: "docx",
        version: "latest"
      }
    ]
  },
  messages: [{
    role: "user",
    content: "Write a 2-page report on the benefits of renewable energy"
  }],
  tools: [{
    type: "code_execution_20250825",
    name: "code_execution"
  }]
});
```

```bash Shell
curl https://api.anthropic.com/v1/messages \
  -H "x-api-key: $ANTHROPIC_API_KEY" \
  -H "anthropic-version: 2023-06-01" \
  -H "anthropic-beta: code-execution-2025-08-25,skills-2025-10-02" \
  -H "content-type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "model": "claude-opus-4-6",
    "max_tokens": 4096,
    "container": {
      "skills": [
        {
          "type": "anthropic",
          "skill_id": "docx",
          "version": "latest"
        }
      ]
    },
    "messages": [{
      "role": "user",
      "content": "Write a 2-page report on the benefits of renewable energy"
    }],
    "tools": [{
      "type": "code_execution_20250825",
      "name": "code_execution"
    }]
  }'
```
</CodeGroup>

### Generate a PDF

<CodeGroup>
```python Python
response = client.beta.messages.create(
    model="claude-opus-4-6",
    max_tokens=4096,
    betas=["code-execution-2025-08-25", "skills-2025-10-02"],
    container={
        "skills": [{"type": "anthropic", "skill_id": "pdf", "version": "latest"}]
    },
    messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "Generate a PDF invoice template"}],
    tools=[{"type": "code_execution_20250825", "name": "code_execution"}],
)
```

```typescript TypeScript
const response = await client.beta.messages.create({
  model: "claude-opus-4-6",
  max_tokens: 4096,
  betas: ["code-execution-2025-08-25", "skills-2025-10-02"],
  container: {
    skills: [
      {
        type: "anthropic",
        skill_id: "pdf",
        version: "latest"
      }
    ]
  },
  messages: [{
    role: "user",
    content: "Generate a PDF invoice template"
  }],
  tools: [{
    type: "code_execution_20250825",
    name: "code_execution"
  }]
});
```

```bash Shell
curl https://api.anthropic.com/v1/messages \
  -H "x-api-key: $ANTHROPIC_API_KEY" \
  -H "anthropic-version: 2023-06-01" \
  -H "anthropic-beta: code-execution-2025-08-25,skills-2025-10-02" \
  -H "content-type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "model": "claude-opus-4-6",
    "max_tokens": 4096,
    "container": {
      "skills": [
        {
          "type": "anthropic",
          "skill_id": "pdf",
          "version": "latest"
        }
      ]
    },
    "messages": [{
      "role": "user",
      "content": "Generate a PDF invoice template"
    }],
    "tools": [{
      "type": "code_execution_20250825",
      "name": "code_execution"
    }]
  }'
```
</CodeGroup>

## Next steps

Now that you've used pre-built Agent Skills, you can:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card
    title="API Guide"
    icon="book"
    href="/docs/en/build-with-claude/skills-guide"
  >
    Use Skills with the Claude API
  </Card>
  <Card
    title="Create Custom Skills"
    icon="code"
    href="/docs/en/api/skills/create-skill"
  >
    Upload your own Skills for specialized tasks
  </Card>
  <Card
    title="Authoring Guide"
    icon="edit"
    href="/docs/en/agents-and-tools/agent-skills/best-practices"
  >
    Learn best practices for writing effective Skills
  </Card>
  <Card
    title="Use Skills in Claude Code"
    icon="terminal"
    href="https://code.claude.com/docs/en/skills"
  >
    Learn about Skills in Claude Code
  </Card>
  <Card
    title="Use Skills in the Agent SDK"
    icon="cube"
    href="/docs/en/agent-sdk/skills"
  >
    Use Skills programmatically in TypeScript and Python
  </Card>
  <Card
    title="Agent Skills Cookbook"
    icon="book"
    href="https://platform.claude.com/cookbook/skills-notebooks-01-skills-introduction"
  >
    Explore example Skills and implementation patterns
  </Card>
</CardGroup>