filens CLI
A local CLI extracts text from documents and scans, searches archives and prepares source material for an agent’s answer.
- 198 ★ on the repository
- Last commit
- MIT
Extended access
Why this level
- The CLI reads local files and creates preview copies; the calling agent may send extracted text to its model.
Install
In your terminal, with SkillFoxx CLI
npx skillfoxx add cli/filens-cliDetects the agents on your machine, shows the access level and pins the version.
Other ways to install
Access and checks
How we reviewExtended accessThe tool runs code or makes network calls and only reads external data.
- The CLI reads local files and creates preview copies; the calling agent may send extracted text to its model.
This is third-party code. Review the repository files before installing.
What it does
filens CLI reads local documents and returns text, structure and available fragment coordinates to an agent. It searches files and nested archives, extracts relevant passages and converts formats. Translation and interpretation remain the calling agent’s responsibility. For source review, the CLI can create a self-contained HTML preview and open it in a browser. The repository also contains a web preview library, while agent use only needs the installed command.
Who it is for. Analysts with local reports and scans who need verifiable source passages for an agent.
Good fit when
- A report directory needs searching for budget overruns and original passages.
- A scan needs local OCR before its content is analyzed.
- Documents are nested in archives and manual extraction impedes searching.
- An answer needs checking against a portable preview without a conversion server.
Not a fit when
- You expect a final semantic answer without a language model.
- Exact preservation of all Office macros and advanced formatting is essential.
- The task requires arbitrary page selection or field-specific questions through natural-language commands.
Example request
Find passages about budget overruns in this reports folder and return original text with filenames, without paraphrasing.Limitations
The full npm package includes Chinese and English OCR models; test your required language on a representative scan. The first preview downloads an additional package, so prepare it ahead of offline work. Generated HTML embeds the source file and remains on disk after the process exits. Native Windows and Linux execution is still marked pending validation; inspect the installed build’s capacity output for supported operations.
How to disable. Stop any compatibility-mode preview server and uninstall the CLI through npm. Review retained HTML copies of documents separately.
FAQ
How do I inspect installed capabilities?
Run `filens capacity --json`. It lists operations and conversion pairs available in that build.
Does preview upload the document?
No. The CLI builds local HTML with the source embedded. Review who receives that file.
How do I prepare offline previews?
Run `filens setup-preview` beforehand, then test a preview without a network connection.
What does summarize return?
Relevant source excerpts for the query. The agent produces a semantic summary or answer from those excerpts.
Why does iWork preview fail in Safari?
Safari and WebKit iWork previews require HTTP compatibility mode. Use `--mode serve` and stop the server after viewing.
Discussion
No questions or reviews yet.
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Comparison with similar tools
Cards that share the main search query, and how they differ.
| Tool | Official | Authentication | Repository stars | Main difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| filens CLI (this card) | no | 198 | ||
| MarkItDown | yes | not required | 194,189 | filens combines local file search, extraction and preview; MarkItDown focuses on converting sources to Markdown. |
| bat | no | 61,109 | A terminal file viewer displays source code with syntax highlighting, line numbers and markers for changes tracked by Git. | |
| fd | no | 44,998 | fd searches files and directories by name, extension or pattern, with configurable handling of hidden paths and Git exclusions. |
README in short
The CLI can detect duplicate files and similar images. Lite adds OCR separately, while Full bundles the required components.