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

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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

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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

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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"

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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

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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

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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