> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://developer.watson-orchestrate.ibm.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Managing tools

Managing tools in your active environment keeps your tools organized, current, and ready to use. Tools represent the capabilities your agents rely on, so proper management is essential for smooth operations.

## Listing tools

To check which tools are in your environment, run the `orchestrate tools list` command. The output shows all available tools and includes details such as their unique names. To get complete information about each tool, use the verbose option. The verbose output returns the list in JSON format with every detail.

```bash BASH theme={null}
orchestrate tools list -v
```

<Expandable title="command flags">
  | Flag               | Type | Required | Description                                    |
  | ------------------ | ---- | -------- | ---------------------------------------------- |
  | `--verbose` (`-n`) | --   | No       | List full details of all tools in JSON format. |
</Expandable>

## Exporting tools

To migrate a tool to another environment or share it with your team, run the `orchestrate tools export` command. Exporting saves time and ensures consistency across environments. This command supports Python, Agentic Workflow, Langflow, and OpenAPI tools imported via CLI.

```bash BASH theme={null}
orchestrate tools export -n <tool-name> -o <zip-output-path>
```

<Expandable title="command flags">
  | Flag              | Type   | Required | Description                                                                                                                         |
  | ----------------- | ------ | -------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
  | `--name` (`-n`)   | string | Yes      | The name of the tool you want to export. If you do not know the unique name, retrieve it from the `orchestrate tools list` command. |
  | `--output` (`-o`) | string | Yes      | Name of the zip file you would like to export the tool to.                                                                          |
</Expandable>

<Note>
  **Note:**

  * When you export an agentic workflow tool it also exports all tools associated with that agentic workflow tool.
</Note>

## Updating tools

To refresh a tool’s configuration, run the `orchestrate tools import` command again with the same tool unique name. This action keeps the tool current and updated.

```bash BASH theme={null}
orchestrate tools import -k <kind of the tool> -f <path the tool file that you want to update> -a <id of the app> -r <path to the requirements.txt file>
```

<Expandable title="command flags">
  | Flag                     | Type   | Required | Description                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
  | ------------------------ | ------ | -------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
  | --kind (-k)              | string | Yes      | The import source format. Possible values: `openapi`, `python`, `mcp`, `flow`, `langflow`                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
  | --file (-f)              | string | No       | The path to a Python file, OpenAPI spec YAML file, or agentic workflow JSON/Python file. Required for  `openapi`, `python` and `flow`                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
  | --app-id (-a)            | string | No       | The app ID of the connection associated with this tool. An application connection represents the server authentication credentials needed to connect to this tool. Not applicable for agentic workflow tools.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
  | --requirements-file (-r) | string | No       | The path to the Python `requirements.txt` file. Required for `python`.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
  | --package\_root (-p)     | string | No       | When specified, the package root will be treated  as the current working directory from which the module specified by `--file` will be invoked. All files and dependencies  included in this folder will be included within the uploaded package. Local dependencies can either be imported  relative to this package root folder or imported using relative imports from the `--file`. This only applies  when the  `--kind=python`. If not specified it is assumed only a single Python file is being uploaded. |
</Expandable>

## Removing tools

To remove a tool you no longer need, run the `orchestrate tools remove` command. Removing unused tools keeps your environment clean and prevents accidental use of outdated tools.

```bash BASH theme={null}
orchestrate tools remove -n my-tool-name
```

<Expandable title="command flags">
  | Flag            | Type   | Required | Description                                                                                                                         |
  | --------------- | ------ | -------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
  | `--name` (`-n`) | string | Yes      | The name of the tool you want to remove. If you do not know the unique name, retrieve it from the `orchestrate tools list` command. |

  <Note>
    **Note:**

    Agentic workflow tools support multi-language configurations. For details on managing translations, see [Managing translations](/tools/flows/multi_language_translations).
  </Note>
</Expandable>