---
title: "trove ms"
description: "Use when you create, list, show, change, pause or archive manuscripts, the living books an agent keeps up to date, with the trove ms commands."
url: https://docs.heytrove.ai/reference/cli/ms
updated: 2026-10-01
---

# trove ms

> Load this page when: you need to create or manage a manuscript from the terminal

## For agents

- Run trove ms show to read a manuscript's instructions before you update the book it maintains.
- Pause a manuscript with trove ms update --pause to free a plan slot without losing it.
- Archive keeps the book. It only stops updates.

A manuscript is a book that an agent keeps up to date from your research sessions. See [Manuscripts](https://docs.heytrove.ai/concepts/manuscripts.md) for the idea.

## Quick reference

| Command | What it does |
| --- | --- |
| `trove ms list` | List your manuscripts |
| `trove ms create` | Create a manuscript |
| `trove ms show` | Show one manuscript with its instructions |
| `trove ms update` | Change fields or status |
| `trove ms archive` | Stop updates and archive |

## trove ms list

Lists your manuscripts and the team manuscripts you can read.

**Usage**

```bash
trove ms list [--active] [--json]
```

**Arguments and flags**

| Flag | Value | Default | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `--active` | none | off | Show only active manuscripts. |

**Output**

```terminal
Team runbook
  ID: cmms123
  Topics: deploys, rollbacks
  Book: cmrun456
```

With `--json` the output is `{ "manuscripts": [...] }`. Each manuscript has `id`, `title`, `description`, `audience`, `topics`, `criteria`, `trigger`, `instructions`, `autoUpdate`, `team`, `locked`, `status`, `itemId`, `createdAt` and `updatedAt`. `status` is `ACTIVE`, `PAUSED` or `ARCHIVED`.

REST equivalent: [Manuscripts API](https://docs.heytrove.ai/reference/api/manuscripts.md#list-manuscripts).

## trove ms create

Creates a manuscript. It uses one of your plan's manuscript slots. Pass `--item-id` to attach it to a book you already have.

**Usage**

```bash
trove ms create TITLE [--description TEXT] [--topics LIST] [--audience TEXT] [--criteria LIST] [--instructions TEXT] [--auto-update] [--item-id ID] [--json]
```

**Arguments and flags**

| Argument or flag | Value | Default | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `TITLE` | text | required | Manuscript title. |
| `--description` | text | none | Description. |
| `--topics` | comma-separated | none | Topics. |
| `--audience` | text | none | Target audience. |
| `--criteria` | comma-separated | none | Acceptance criteria. Say what kind of evidence belongs in the book. |
| `--instructions` | text | none | How the agent writes and maintains the book. |
| `--auto-update` | none | off | Let the agent update the book after each session without asking. |
| `--item-id` | id | none | Attach to an existing book. An archived manuscript on that book is detached. |

**Example**

```bash
trove ms create "Team runbook" --topics "deploys,rollbacks" --auto-update
```

**Output**

```terminal
✓ Created manuscript: Team runbook (ID: cmms123)
  Book: cmrun456
```

With `--json` the output is `{ "manuscript": { ... } }`.

**Errors**

| Message | Fix |
| --- | --- |
| The plan-limit message that lists the manuscripts using your slots | Switch one of them off with `trove ms update --pause`, or upgrade. |
| `Item {id} not found or does not belong to your account.` | Check the `--item-id` value. |
| `Your library is full. Upgrade to add more items.` | A new manuscript also creates a book. Free a slot first. |

REST equivalent: [Manuscripts API](https://docs.heytrove.ai/reference/api/manuscripts.md#create-a-manuscript).

## trove ms show

Shows one manuscript, including its full instructions.

**Usage**

```bash
trove ms show ID [--json]
```

**Output**

With `--json` the output is the manuscript object. Without it, the CLI prints the title, the book, the status, the `Log when:` trigger and the instructions.

**Errors**

| Message | Fix |
| --- | --- |
| `Manuscript not found: {id}` | Check the id with `trove ms list`. |
| `Multiple manuscripts found for book {id} — use the manuscript ID` | Pass the manuscript id, not the book id. |

## trove ms update

Changes a manuscript. Pass at least one field. Text output only.

**Usage**

```bash
trove ms update ID [--title T] [--description D] [--topics LIST] [--audience A] [--criteria LIST] [--instructions TEXT] [--auto-update | --no-auto-update] [--pause | --resume]
```

**Arguments and flags**

| Flag | Value | Default | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `--title` | text | unchanged | New title. |
| `--description` | text | unchanged | New description. |
| `--topics` | comma-separated | unchanged | Topics. |
| `--audience` | text | unchanged | Audience. |
| `--criteria` | comma-separated | unchanged | Acceptance criteria. |
| `--instructions` | text | unchanged | Maintenance instructions. |
| `--auto-update` | none | off | Turn auto-update on. Conflicts with `--no-auto-update`. |
| `--no-auto-update` | none | off | Turn auto-update off. Conflicts with `--auto-update`. |
| `--pause` | none | off | Stop updates and free the plan slot. Conflicts with `--resume`. |
| `--resume` | none | off | Resume updates. Uses a plan slot. Conflicts with `--pause`. |

**Example**

```bash
trove ms update cmms123 --pause
```

**Output**

```terminal
✓ Updated manuscript: Team runbook (ID: cmms123)
Status: PAUSED
```

**Errors**

| Message | Fix |
| --- | --- |
| `At least one of --title, --description, --topics, --audience, --criteria, --instructions, --auto-update/--no-auto-update, --pause, or --resume is required` | Pass a field. |
| `Only the author or a team owner/admin can update this team manuscript.` | Ask the author or a team admin. |

REST equivalent: [Manuscripts API](https://docs.heytrove.ai/reference/api/manuscripts.md#update-a-manuscript).

## trove ms archive

Archives a manuscript. Nothing is deleted. The book stays and updates stop. Text output only.

**Usage**

```bash
trove ms archive ID
```

**Output**

```terminal
✓ Archived manuscript: cmms123
```

REST equivalent: [Manuscripts API](https://docs.heytrove.ai/reference/api/manuscripts.md#archive-a-manuscript).