{"version":"2.1.290","anchor":"skill-text-above-body-retained-read-binary-file-message-rew","canonical_anchor":"skill-text-above-body-retained-read-binary-file-message-rew","heading":"Skills keep the text above their body, and the binary-file message points to skills","tier":"notice","area":"Elsewhere","scope":"individual","heads_up":false,"url":"https:\/\/changelogs.core-directive.com\/v\/2.1.290\/e\/skill-text-above-body-retained-read-binary-file-message-rew","release_url":"https:\/\/changelogs.core-directive.com\/v\/2.1.290","markdown":"### Skills keep the text above their body, and the binary-file message points to skills\n\nSkills now keep any text that comes before their main body, and reading a binary file suggests using a skill for that file type\n\n**What**\n\nA skill is a packaged set of instructions Claude can load for a particular kind of task. Two related changes:\n\n- Text above the body is kept: skills, including synced skills, now carry a `textAboveBody` field holding whatever comes before the skill's markdown body, stored under the key `#above-body`. Skills also expose `getLoadedSkillMd`, and the `skill_md` wrapper that is built around a skill was restructured.\n\n- Binary-file message: when the Read tool hits a binary file, the error now says to use a skill for that file type if one is available, or a shell command or script that can read the format. It used to say \"Please use appropriate tools for binary file analysis.\"\n\n**Why**\n\nText at the top of a skill file, such as a preamble, is no longer dropped. When Claude cannot read a file directly, it is now pointed at skills you have installed for that format.\n\n- Area: Elsewhere\n- Tier: You'll notice\n- Useful: 2\/5\n- Signal: 2\/5\n- Scope: individual\n- Heads-up: no"}