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Guide · Agent skill

How to use the Google Forms Manager agent skill (gws-forms)

Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data

The gws-forms skill is an agent skill that teaches an AI agent how to work with Google Forms through the gws command-line tool. This guide explains what an agent skill is, what the gws-forms skill lets the agent do, how to install it, how to ask for things in plain language, and what to check for safety. By the end you will be able to install the skill and make a first request.

Google Forms Managergoogleworkspace/cli · Apache-2.0

Quick start

  1. 1Install gws. Install the gws command-line tool, which the skill requires.
  2. 2Authenticate. Sign in with your Google account and grant gws the credentials it needs, following the gws-shared SKILL.md.
  3. 3Confirm Forms access. Make sure your account has Google Forms API access through gws.
  4. 4Install the skill. Unzip the gws-forms download into ~/.claude/skills/ or a project's .claude/skills/ folder, or upload it under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
  5. 5Make a request. Ask the agent in plain language, such as creating an empty form with a title.
  6. 6Add items and review. Ask for items in a separate update step, then review the form before publishing.

What is an agent skill and what does gws-forms do?

An agent skill is a folder containing a SKILL.md file. The file gives an AI agent instructions for one kind of task. The gws-forms skill covers Google Forms. Once it is installed, the agent knows how to call the gws forms commands on your behalf.

The skill lets the agent create forms, fetch existing forms, batch-update their questions and settings, change publish settings, and work with form responses and watches. It also tells the agent to look up the required inputs for each method before calling it.

  • Create forms (the form is created with a title; items are added in a separate update step)
  • Fetch an existing form
  • Batch-update questions and settings
  • Change publish settings
  • Work with responses and watches

Install the gws-forms skill

Download the ZIP for the skill from this page and unzip it. For a personal setup, place the unzipped skill folder in ~/.claude/skills/. For a single project, place it in that project's .claude/skills/ folder.

You can also upload the skill in the Claude apps. Go to Settings, then Capabilities, then Skills, and upload it there.

  • Personal install: unzip into ~/.claude/skills/
  • Project install: unzip into the project's .claude/skills/ folder
  • Claude apps: Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Set up the gws tool and authentication first

The skill cannot work without the gws command-line tool. It must be installed and authenticated with a Google account, and Google account credentials must be granted to gws. The skill also needs Google Forms API access through gws.

Authentication is described in the shared gws-shared SKILL.md, which the skill refers to as a prerequisite. If that file is missing, the source says to run gws generate-skills to create it.

  • Install the gws command-line tool
  • Authenticate gws with your Google account and grant it credentials
  • Confirm Google Forms API access through gws
  • Make sure gws-shared SKILL.md exists (run gws generate-skills if it is missing)
gws generate-skills

Trigger the skill with natural requests

You do not need to type commands yourself. Describe the outcome in plain language and mention Google Forms, and the agent can use the skill. Be specific about the form, the change and whether you want it published.

Under the hood the agent runs commands in the form gws forms <resource> <method> [flags]. Before calling any method, the skill has the agent check the options with gws forms --help and gws schema forms.<resource>.<method>.

  • "Create a new Google Form called Spring Workshop Registration."
  • "Fetch the form with this ID and list its questions."
  • "Add a required short-answer question asking for email to the feedback form."
  • "Show me the responses to the event survey."
gws forms --help gws schema forms.<resource>.<method>

Know the two-step pattern for building a form

The skill does not build a full form in one call. Creating a form only copies the title and document title. To add items, the agent must first create an empty form and then call the update method to add them. Expect two steps when you ask for a complete form.

The setPublishSettings method only works on forms that have publish settings. Legacy forms are not supported.

  • Step one: create an empty form with a title
  • Step two: update it with items and settings
  • Publish settings can only be changed on non-legacy forms

Safety notes: scripts and network access

This skill runs scripts and uses the network. It sends requests to Google on your account through gws. An agent with write access can change or publish live forms, so the skill should not be trusted with sensitive surveys without review.

Review proposed changes before you allow edits. Test on a copy or a draft form first when the form matters to others.

  • The skill runs scripts and uses the network
  • Write access means the agent can alter or publish live forms
  • Review changes before allowing edits on sensitive surveys

What people use it for

  • Creating a new registration form with a title, then adding questions in a follow-up request
  • Fetching an existing feedback form to list its current questions
  • Batch-updating the settings or questions of a survey
  • Changing publish settings on a non-legacy form
  • Reviewing responses or watches for an event survey

Frequently asked questions

How do I install the gws-forms agent skill?

Download the ZIP from this page and unzip it into ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use or into a project's .claude/skills/ folder. You can also upload it in the Claude apps under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.

What do I need before the gws-forms skill works?

You need the gws command-line tool installed and authenticated with a Google account, with Google account credentials granted to gws and Google Forms API access through gws. The skill also relies on the gws-shared SKILL.md for auth setup.

Is the gws-forms skill free?

The skill is licensed under Apache-2.0. This page does not state any pricing, so check the source repository for licence details and any costs tied to your Google account.

Can the agent create a full Google Form in one request?

No. Creating a form only copies the title and document title. The agent must create an empty form first and then call the update method to add items.

Why does my form publish settings request fail?

The setPublishSettings method does not support legacy forms, because they do not have the publish_settings field. Use a non-legacy form, and make sure gws is authenticated with access to it.

Is there an alternative if I do not want an agent to edit my forms?

You can use the gws forms commands directly from a terminal or script, since the skill is a guide for the agent to use those same commands. Alternatively, use the Google Forms web interface to edit forms by hand.

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Our verdict

Use gws-forms if you manage surveys, registrations or feedback forms and want an agent to handle setup or edits, or if you already use the gws tool and its authentication. Skip it if you lack a Google account or Forms API access, or if you are handling sensitive live forms and are not comfortable letting an agent write to them.

Download the skill