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Guide · Agent skill

How to use the OpenRefine Data Cleaning CLI agent skill

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

The cli-anything-openrefine skill teaches an AI agent to work with OpenRefine, a free tool for cleaning messy spreadsheets and datasets, through a command-line interface. This guide explains what an agent skill is, how to install this one, how to ask for work in plain language, and what you need running before it will work. By the end you will know whether it fits a cleaning task you already have.

OpenRefine Data Cleaning CLIHKUDS/CLI-Anything · Apache-2.0

Quick start

  1. 1Install OpenRefine and the CLI. Make sure OpenRefine is installed and the cli-anything-openrefine tool is available in a Python environment, following the CLI's own documentation.
  2. 2Start the OpenRefine server. Run OpenRefine and confirm the server is reachable before you ask the agent to do anything.
  3. 3Download and unzip the skill. Download the ZIP from this page and unzip it into ~/.claude/skills/ or a project's .claude/skills/ folder.
  4. 4Or upload the ZIP in the Claude apps. In the Claude apps, open Settings → Capabilities → Skills and upload the ZIP file.
  5. 5Ask for the job in plain language. Name your data file, the cleaning steps or operation history to apply, and the output you want, such as an exported CSV.

What an agent skill is and what this one lets the agent do

An agent skill is a folder with a SKILL.md file that tells an AI agent when and how to perform a particular task. When the skill is installed and relevant to your request, the agent reads its instructions and follows them.

This skill covers OpenRefine work through the cli-anything-openrefine command-line tool. According to the skill file, the agent can import data into an OpenRefine project, apply operation histories written in JSON, inspect rows, export cleaned data, and undo or redo steps within a session.

  • Import messy data into a project
  • Apply a saved sequence of JSON cleaning operations
  • Inspect rows
  • Export the cleaned result
  • Undo and redo steps in a session

Install the skill from a ZIP file

Download the ZIP for the skill from this page and unzip it. Then place the skill folder in one of two locations: the personal skills folder at ~/.claude/skills/, or a project-specific .claude/skills/ folder inside the project you are working in.

If you use the Claude apps instead of a local folder, open Settings, go to Capabilities, then Skills, and upload the ZIP there.

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

Set up OpenRefine and the CLI before you ask

The skill does not start OpenRefine for you. The file says it works against an OpenRefine server that must already be running and reachable. The cli-anything-openrefine command-line tool also needs to be installed, and it needs a Python environment. The skill file does not specify which Python version or setup steps to use, so follow the CLI's own installation documentation for those details.

The skill file shows the core command form the agent uses, with the --json flag so output is machine-readable:

  • OpenRefine server running and reachable
  • cli-anything-openrefine installed
  • A Python environment for the CLI (details not given in the skill file)
cli-anything-openrefine --json

Trigger the skill with natural requests

You do not need to type the command yourself. Describe the job in plain language and name the data and the outcome you want. The agent should pick up the skill when your request involves OpenRefine, importing messy data, applying cleaning operations, exporting results, or undoing steps.

Be specific about the file, whether OpenRefine is running, and whether you have an operation history already. If you do not have one, say so, because the skill applies operations that are supplied to it and does not write the cleaning logic for you.

  • Import data.csv into a new OpenRefine project and report the row count
  • Apply my saved operation history to the project and export the result as CSV
  • Show me the first 20 rows after cleaning, then undo the last step
  • Redo the last undone operation and export the project

Safety notes: scripts and network access

This skill runs scripts and uses the network, as stated in its file list. It talks to an OpenRefine server, so the data you import passes through that server. The skill file does not fully document how data is handled beyond this, so do not use it with confidential or sensitive datasets unless you have confirmed how that handling works in your setup.

Review the operation history you give the agent before running it, since the skill applies whatever operations it is supplied and does not validate the cleaning logic.

  • The skill runs scripts and makes network calls to a running OpenRefine server
  • Its data-handling behaviour is not fully described in the skill file
  • Check operation histories before applying them, especially on data you cannot easily restore
  • Keep an export of the original file as a backup

What people use it for

  • Importing a large messy CSV into OpenRefine and reporting its size before cleaning
  • Re-running a saved JSON operation history on new batches of similar files
  • Exporting cleaned rows from a session after reviewing a sample of them
  • Undoing and redoing steps in a session while checking the effect of each one

Frequently asked questions

Is the cli-anything-openrefine skill free?

The skill is licensed under Apache-2.0, as listed on this page. OpenRefine itself is a free tool for cleaning messy data. Check the licence file in the source repository for full terms.

Do I need OpenRefine installed to use this skill?

Yes. The skill works against an OpenRefine server that must already be running and reachable. Without a live server the skill cannot import, apply operations or export.

How do I install the OpenRefine agent skill?

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

What does the agent need to run this skill?

It needs a running OpenRefine server, the cli-anything-openrefine command-line tool installed, and a Python environment for the CLI. The skill file does not specify the Python setup, so follow the CLI's installation documentation.

Is it safe to use with confidential data?

Be cautious. The skill runs scripts and uses the network, and its data-handling behaviour is not fully documented in the skill file. Avoid sensitive datasets unless you have confirmed how your setup handles the data.

Will the agent check whether my cleaning steps are correct?

No. The skill only runs the operations you supply in a JSON operation history. It does not explain or validate the cleaning logic, so review your operations before applying them.

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Our verdict

This skill suits data analysts who already use OpenRefine and want an agent to repeat, automate or speed up cleaning steps, and developers who need reproducible operation histories. It is a poor fit if you do not have OpenRefine running, if your data is confidential and you cannot confirm how it is handled, or if you want the agent to decide how the data should be cleaned.

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