# Unicli Operate

> Compatibility guide for `unicli operate`. Prefer `unicli browser`, which now exposes the same operator surface plus broker/session diagnostics.

- Skill: `olo-dot-io/unicli-operate` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add olo-dot-io/unicli-operate`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/olo-dot-io/unicli-operate/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: olo-dot-io (https://skillmd.com/u/olo-dot-io)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/olo-dot-io/unicli-operate

---


## When to Use

Prefer `unicli browser` for new work:

```bash
unicli browser open <url>
unicli browser state
unicli browser click <ref>
unicli browser type <ref> <text>
unicli browser find --css <selector>
unicli browser extract
unicli browser tabs
unicli browser frames
```

`unicli operate ...` still works, but it is now the compatibility path over the same implementation.

## Core Workflow

1. `open` -> navigate to URL
2. `state` -> inspect DOM, get `[ref]` numbers for interactive elements
3. interact -> `click`, `type`, `select`, `keys` using ref numbers
4. verify -> `state` again or `get value <ref>` to confirm
5. extract -> `eval` for structured data

**Always `state` before interacting. Never guess ref numbers.**

## All Operate Subcommands

```bash
# Navigation
unicli operate open <url>             # Navigate to URL
unicli operate back                   # Go back in history
unicli operate scroll [direction]     # down, up, bottom, top
unicli operate close                  # Close automation window

# Inspection
unicli operate state                  # DOM tree with [ref] indices
unicli operate screenshot [path]      # Save visual capture

# Get data
unicli operate get title|url          # Page title or URL
unicli operate get text <ref>         # Element text by ref
unicli operate get value <ref>        # Input value (verify after type)
unicli operate get html [selector]    # Page or scoped HTML
unicli operate get attributes <ref>   # Element attributes

# Interaction
unicli operate click <ref>            # Click element
unicli operate type <ref> <text>      # Type into element
unicli operate select <ref> <option>  # Select dropdown
unicli operate keys <key>             # Press key (Enter, Escape, Control+a)
unicli operate upload <ref> <path>    # Upload file
unicli operate hover <ref>            # Hover over element

# Wait
unicli operate wait time <ms>         # Fixed delay
unicli operate wait selector <sel>    # Until element appears
unicli operate wait text <str>        # Until text appears

# Advanced
unicli operate eval <js>              # Execute JS in page
unicli operate network [pattern]      # Captured network requests
unicli operate observe <query>        # Natural language observation
```

## Patterns

```bash
# Browse + extract
unicli operate open "https://news.ycombinator.com" && unicli operate state
unicli operate eval "JSON.stringify([...document.querySelectorAll('.titleline a')].slice(0,5).map(a=>({title:a.textContent,url:a.href})))"

# Fill form (chain to reduce round trips)
unicli operate type 3 "user@example.com" && unicli operate type 5 "pass" && unicli operate click 7

# API discovery
unicli operate open "https://example.com/feed" && unicli operate wait time 3000
unicli operate network                # See captured JSON APIs
```

## Rules

1. Always `state` first -- never guess refs
2. `eval` is read-only -- never `eval "el.click()"`, use `click <ref>`
3. Verify inputs with `get value <ref>` after `type`
4. Re-inspect after navigation -- run `state` after `open` or link clicks
5. Prefer API over DOM -- if `network` reveals JSON APIs, use YAML adapters

## Troubleshooting

| Problem                | Fix                                                               |
| ---------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Browser not connected  | `unicli browser doctor --json`; run its first failing `next_step` |
| Element not found      | `scroll down` then `state`                                        |
| Stale refs after click | `state` to refresh                                                |
| eval returns undefined | Wrap: `"(function(){ return ...; })()"`                           |