Knowledge Base
Upload text documents to your agent so it can use them as reference when answering questions. Uploaded files land in a knowledge/ folder inside the agent’s workspace, and the agent’s instructions tell it to check that folder before answering questions about your domain, product, or documents.
The Knowledge Base is available for OpenClaw and Hermes agents.
How It Works
When you upload a document to the Knowledge tab:
- The file is stored in the agent’s workspace
knowledge/folder - The agent is instructed (via its managed AGENTS.md guidance) to list and read that folder whenever a question may be covered by your uploaded material
- The agent quotes or summarizes the relevant files instead of guessing
This means your agent can answer questions about your specific domain, products, or documentation — without fine-tuning or retraining any model. Retrieval is file-based: the agent reads the documents directly rather than using a vector index.
Setup
Open the Knowledge tab
Go to your agent’s dashboard and click the Knowledge tab.
Upload a file
Click Upload and select a text file from your computer, or paste content directly. Files attached in the agent chat are also saved to the knowledge folder.
Supported formats:
.txt— Plain text.md— Markdown
Limits:
- Maximum 50 KB per text file
- Maximum 10 knowledge files per agent
- The agent must be running to receive uploads
Preview your files
After uploading, you can click on any file to preview its contents directly in the dashboard.
Done
New uploads are visible to the agent immediately. If your agent was hatched before this feature shipped, restart it once so its instructions pick up the knowledge folder guidance.
Managing Files
Preview
Click on any uploaded file in the Knowledge tab to see its contents.
Delete
Click the Delete button next to any file to remove it. The agent will stop using that file’s content for future responses.
Tips for Best Results
- Be specific — Upload focused documents rather than massive dumps. A 10-page product FAQ works better than a 500-page manual.
- Use clear headings — Markdown files with clear section headers help the agent skim to the relevant passages.
- Keep files updated — If your information changes, delete the old file and upload an updated version.
- Test it — After uploading, ask your agent questions that should be answered by the document to verify it’s working.
Examples
Good use cases for the Knowledge Base:
- Product documentation — Upload your product FAQ, feature list, or user guide
- Company policies — HR policies, code of conduct, standard procedures
- Technical reference — API docs, configuration guides, troubleshooting steps
- Domain expertise — Research papers, market analysis, industry reports
- Custom instructions — Detailed behavioral guidelines beyond the personality prompt