# How to Use .md Skill Files

> Source: [https://chunkmaps.com/NLP_improved_communication/how_to_use_skill_files.html](https://chunkmaps.com/NLP_improved_communication/how_to_use_skill_files.html)

Learn what ChunkMaps .md skill files are, where the skills library lives, how agents apply skills step-by-step, and where the open JSON/YAML taxonomy lives.

Skills library · How-to

A **skill file** is a reusable ChunkMaps method pattern in Markdown. It tells a human or agent when to use a pattern, what inputs to gather, which steps to follow, what output shape to produce, and which guardrails to enforce. Articles teach; skills are **executable playbooks**.

## Where the library lives

Location

Role

`skills/` (repo root)

**Source of truth** - edit here

`TEMP/skills/`

**Web preview mirror** - copied on every rebuild

Do not edit `TEMP/skills/` expecting changes to stick. Edit repo-root `skills/`, then rebuild.

## Open a skill from the TEMP site

- Open Home or go to [Articles & Sitemap](chunkmaps_articles.html).

- Use a **Skills library** card, or open a mapped article (persuasion / agentic pillars) and click its skill CTA.

- Open the [Skills library](chunkmap-skills.html) page (primary index).

- Read the editable how-to source: [skills/how-to-use-skill-files.md](skills/how-to-use-skill-files.md).

## Apply a skill (humans + agents)

- **Load the skill** - open the matching `.md` (or attach it into the agent context).

- **Confirm fit** - check When to use / audience; switch skills if the job does not match.

- **Gather inputs** - complete the skill's input table before generating answers.

- **Follow the procedure** - run the numbered ChunkMaps steps in order.

- **Produce the output schema** - fill the skill template (outline, YAML, tables, CHUNKS_OK, blackboard, etc.).

- **Verify guardrails** - run failure-mode checks; repair invented evidence, domain drift, or missing citations/IDs.

- **Hand off** - deliver structured output to the human, pipeline, or next agent.

Load and follow the ChunkMaps skill: <skill-file-name>.md
Use only the procedure and schemas in that skill.
Gather missing inputs by asking concise questions.
Return the skill's output template, then list guardrail checks you performed.

## Update or add a skill

- Edit or create `skills/chunkmap-<slug>.md` (YAML frontmatter + standard sections).

- Update the table in `skills/README.md`.

- Optionally set `skill: {file, label, blurb}` on a TEMP page in `_build_temp_site.py`.

- Rebuild with `python _build_temp_site.py`.

- Bump the skill `version` when behaviour or output schema changes.

## Which skill to pick

Skill

Pick when you need to...

[Persuasion Flow](chunkmap_persuasion_flow.html) ([raw .md](skills/chunkmap-persuasion-flow.md))

Structure human persuasion: Chunk Map, Journey of Persuasion, counterarguments, CHUNKS_OK

[Agent Blackboard](skills/chunkmap-agent-blackboard.md)

Run multi-agent swarms with a shared state schema and DAG prompt-trees (anti-drift)

[Policy to Pipeline](skills/chunkmap-policy-to-pipeline.md)

Compile unstructured policy/SOP prose into versioned, citable logic chunks for AI pipelines

### Continue

- [Skills library](chunkmap-skills.html)

- [Editable how-to (markdown source)](skills/how-to-use-skill-files.md)

- [Persuasion Flow skill guide](chunkmap_persuasion_flow.html)

- [ChunkMaps Spec (JSON/YAML)](chunkmaps_spec.html)

- [FAQ](faq.html)

- [Articles & Sitemap](chunkmaps_articles.html)