Guide · Agent skill
How to use the Draft Gmail from Google Doc agent skill
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
This guide explains the recipe-draft-email-from-doc agent skill, a short set of instructions that lets an AI agent read a Google Doc and use its text as the body of a Gmail message. It is written for readers who have not used agent skills before. By the end you will know what the skill does, how to install it, how to ask an agent to use it, and what to check before anything is sent.
Draft Gmail from Google Docgoogleworkspace/cli · Apache-2.0 Download the skill Quick start
- 1Download and unzip the skill. Download the ZIP from this page and unzip it so that SKILL.md sits in a recipe-draft-email-from-doc folder.
- 2Place the folder. Move the folder into ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use, or into a project's .claude/skills/ folder. Alternatively, upload it under Settings → Capabilities → Skills in the Claude apps.
- 3Install and authenticate gws. Make sure the gws command-line tool is installed and that Google Workspace authentication is configured for Google Docs and Gmail.
- 4Load the required skills. Confirm that the gws-docs and gws-gmail skills are also loaded, since the recipe depends on them.
- 5Make a plain-language request. Ask the agent to send the content of a named Google Doc to a recipient with a subject line.
- 6Review the draft content. Check the text the agent copied from the document and the recipient address before approving the send.
What an agent skill is and what this one does
An agent skill is a folder containing a SKILL.md file. The file holds instructions that an AI agent can load when a task matches the skill's description. This skill is one of these instruction files, and it is a recipe for a common office task: taking the text of a Google Doc and sending it as an email.
The SKILL.md file is a set of instructions only. The reading and sending is done by the gws command-line tool, which the agent calls on your behalf.
- Fetches the document with gws docs documents get.
- Copies the text from the body content of the document.
- Sends the email with gws gmail +send, using the text as the message body.
Install the skill from the ZIP download
Download the ZIP for this skill from this page and unzip it. The skill is a folder that contains SKILL.md. Place that folder in one of these locations:
You can also upload the skill in the Claude apps under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
- Personal install: unzip into ~/.claude/skills/ so it is available across your projects.
- Project install: unzip into the .claude/skills/ folder inside a specific project.
- Claude apps: upload the skill under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
Set up the prerequisites before you trigger it
The recipe will not work on its own. The source lists the following requirements, and each must be in place before you ask the agent to run it.
- The gws command-line tool must be installed (the skill requires the gws binary).
- Google Workspace authentication must be configured for gws, with access to Google Docs and Gmail.
- The skills gws-docs and gws-gmail must also be loaded, because the recipe lists them as prerequisites.
Ask the agent for the task in plain language
You do not need a special command to use the skill. Describe what you want in ordinary words that mention the Google Doc and Gmail, and include the recipient and subject. The agent uses the skill when your request matches its description.
Good requests name the document, the recipient and the subject. For example, you might write: send the content of my weekly update Google Doc to the team list with the subject Newsletter Update. Include the document ID if you have it, because the recipe fetches the document by its documentId.
- Name the source: the Google Doc, by title or ID.
- Name the recipient email address.
- Name the subject line you want.
- Ask the agent to show you the email before it sends, if you want a check.
Review the steps the recipe follows
The recipe gives the agent three steps. Knowing them helps you judge what the agent is doing and where it might go wrong.
- Step 1: get the document content with gws docs documents get, passing the document ID.
- Step 2: copy the text from the body content of the document.
- Step 3: send the email with gws gmail +send, using the --to, --subject and --body options.
gws docs documents get --params '{"documentId": "DOC_ID"}'
gws gmail +send --to recipient@example.com --subject 'Newsletter Update' --body 'CONTENT_FROM_DOC'Safety notes before you let it send
This skill runs scripts and uses the network. The recipe calls a command-line tool that reads your Google Doc and sends mail through Gmail, so treat it as an action with real effects. The recipe sends the email rather than saving a draft, so a mistake reaches the recipient's inbox.
The text of the document is passed to gws as a command argument and sent over the network to Gmail. Do not use this skill with documents that contain sensitive or confidential content.
- Verify every recipient address before the agent sends.
- Read the body the agent has prepared before you approve the send.
- Do not use it for confidential or sensitive documents.
- Check that gws is authenticated with the Google account you intend to send from.
Tips for reliable results
Keep the Google Doc simple. The recipe copies the text from the body content, so plain prose sends more predictably than complex layouts. Test with your own email address first, using a dummy document, so you can see how the message looks before sending to a real list.
- Send a test to yourself before a real newsletter.
- Use a short, clear subject line.
- If the send fails, first confirm that gws is installed and authenticated.
What people use it for
- Sending a weekly team update that is written in a Google Doc to a known mailing list.
- Emailing a newsletter draft to a small group of reviewers before wider distribution.
- Routine status emails that are written collaboratively in a shared Google Doc.
Frequently asked questions
How do I install the draft Gmail from Google Doc agent skill?
Download the ZIP from this page and unzip it. Place the folder in ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use, in a project's .claude/skills/ folder, or upload it in the Claude apps under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
What do I need before this skill works?
You need the gws command-line tool installed, Google Workspace authentication configured for gws with access to Google Docs and Gmail, and the gws-docs and gws-gmail skills loaded. Without the gws tool installed and authenticated, the recipe will fail.
Is this skill free to use and what is its licence?
The skill is licensed under Apache-2.0, as listed for the googleworkspace/cli repository. This page does not state pricing, so check the source repository for any cost of the gws tool or Google services.
Does the agent save a draft or send the email immediately?
The recipe sends the email with gws gmail +send rather than saving a draft. Check the recipient and body before you approve the request, because a mistake reaches the recipient's inbox.
Is it safe to use with confidential documents?
Not according to the source. The document text is passed as a command argument and sent over the network to Gmail, so avoid using it with sensitive or confidential content.
Are there alternatives if this skill does not fit my needs?
If you do not want an agent to send mail, you can copy the text from the Google Doc into Gmail yourself. The source does not compare this skill with other tools, so evaluate alternatives on your own terms.
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Our verdict
This skill suits teams that write updates in Google Docs and developers who already use the gws CLI and want to automate a routine send, provided they check each email before it goes out. It is a poor fit for sensitive documents, for recipients you have not verified, or for anyone without gws installed and authenticated with Google Workspace.
Download the skill