Install Chat Directline
Pick your agent. Every command is ready to paste.
npx skills add microsoft/skills-for-copilot-studio --skill chat-directlineThe open skills CLI detects your agents (Claude Code, Cursor, Codex and 70+ more) and installs to the right folder. Add -g to install globally.
01
Install it
Run the command above, or upload the folder in Claude.
02
Ask naturally
Describe the task. Your agent loads chat-directline when the request matches its description.
03
Name it if needed
If it does not trigger, say “use the chat-directline skill”. In Codex, type $chat-directline.
Chat via DirectLine
Send a single utterance to a published agent via the DirectLine v3 REST API. Use this for agents with no authentication (authenticationmode 1) or manual authentication (authenticationmode 3).
Instructions
Run the script with
--token-endpoint(from detect-mode output) and the utterance from$ARGUMENTS:node ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/../../scripts/chat-with-agent.bundle.js \ --token-endpoint "<tokenEndpoint>" "<utterance>"If the user provided a DirectLine secret instead:
node ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/../../scripts/chat-with-agent.bundle.js \ --directline-secret "<secret>" "<utterance>"Parse the JSON output from stdout.
Normal response (status: "ok")
{
"status": "ok",
"protocol": "directline",
"utterance": "hello",
"conversation_id": "abc123-XYZ",
"directline_token": "eyJ...",
"watermark": "3",
"start_activities": [ ... ],
"activities": [ ... ]
}
Display the agent's response from the activities array:
- Text: activities where
type === "message"— showtext - Suggested actions:
suggestedActions.actionsarray - Adaptive cards:
attachmentswithcontentType === "application/vnd.microsoft.card.adaptive"
Save conversation_id, directline_token, and watermark — needed for follow-ups.
Sign-in required (status: "signin_required")
The agent requires the user to authenticate (manual auth agents):
{
"status": "signin_required",
"protocol": "directline",
"signin_url": "https://...",
"resume_command": "...",
"followup_command": "..."
}
- Show the
signin_urlto the user, ask for the validation code - Send the code:
node ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/../../scripts/chat-with-agent.bundle.js <resume_command with code substituted> - Re-send the utterance:
node ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/../../scripts/chat-with-agent.bundle.js <followup_command>
Use resume_command and followup_command exactly as given.
Multi-turn
Pass all three values from the previous response:
node ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/../../scripts/chat-with-agent.bundle.js \
--token-endpoint "<url>" "<follow-up>" \
--conversation-id "<id>" --directline-token "<token>" --watermark "<watermark>"
directline_tokenis bound to the conversation — do NOT fetch a new token. Always reuse from the previous response.watermarktracks seen activities — pass it to avoid duplicates.- Tokens expire after ~30 minutes. If expired, start a new conversation (omit
--conversation-id).
Error Handling
| Error | Cause | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
Token endpoint rejected |
Agent not published or wrong URL | Verify agent is published |
Conversation not found |
Token expired (>30 min) | Start a new conversation |
Tips for Chat Directline
- • Start a fresh session after installing so your agent picks up the new skill.
- • It is part of a pack with 30 skills. Install only the ones you need with --skill to keep triggers precise.
- • If two skills overlap, mention the one you want by name.
Questions about Chat Directline
What does the Chat Directline skill do?
Send a message to a Copilot Studio agent via DirectLine v3. Use for agents with no auth or manual auth. Requires a token endpoint URL or DirectLine secret.
How do I install Chat Directline?
Run "npx skills add microsoft/skills-for-copilot-studio --skill chat-directline" in your project. The skills CLI installs it for Claude Code, Cursor, Codex and 70+ other agents. In Claude on the web, upload the skill folder as a ZIP under Customize > Skills.
Does Chat Directline work in Cursor and Codex?
Yes. Chat Directline uses the open SKILL.md format, so it works in Claude Code, Claude, Cursor, OpenAI Codex, Gemini CLI, GitHub Copilot and other agents that support agent skills.
Is Chat Directline free?
Chat Directline is open source on GitHub under the MIT license. It is free to install; check the license before commercial use.
Who made Chat Directline?
Chat Directline is published by Microsoft in the microsoft/skills-for-copilot-studio repository, together with 29 other skills.



