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

# Store a skill in a local folder

> Sync an Advanced Designer skill to a local folder for version control, snapshots, or as the source for a new skill — including ADPROJ project file support.

Save a skill to a local folder so you can manage it in a version control system (such as Git), keep a static snapshot, or use it as the source for a new skill. Locally stored skills sync with the **Skill Catalog**: edits saved in Advanced Designer are mirrored to the local folder.

## Sync a skill with a local folder

You can set up sync when you create the skill, or on an existing skill.

* **At creation** — when creating a new skill, select **Create local folder to sync**. Advanced Designer creates the skill and the local folder together.
* **On an existing skill** — select the skill in the **Skill Catalog** and click the sync folder button.

A synced skill appears in the **Skill Catalog** with a sync icon; hover the skill to see the local folder path in the tooltip. Edits saved in the cloud are mirrored to the local folder. To bring a synced skill into a version-control system, point your VCS at the local folder.

To stop syncing, select the skill in the **Skill Catalog** and click the sync folder button again.

## Save a one-time snapshot

To save a static snapshot — a one-time export with no ongoing sync — select the skill in the **Skill Catalog** and click the folder download button.

## Create a new skill from a local folder

Use a locally stored skill as the source for a new skill in the **Skill Catalog**.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the Create Skill from Local Folder dialog">
    On the [start page](/vantage/documentation/advanced-designer/getting-started#create-a-new-skill), choose **Create Skill from Local Folder** — also available from the main menu.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select the project file">
    Specify the path to the Advanced Designer project file (ADPROJ).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Resolve any name conflicts">
    If a skill of the same name already exists in the **Skill Catalog**, Advanced Designer asks whether to replace it or create a new one. If the name matches a framework skill, you can only create a new skill — framework skills cannot be replaced.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  Local folders are intended for development workflows. The folder includes the structure of any data catalogs the skill uses, but **not** the data catalog records. To transfer records along with a skill, [export the skill](/vantage/documentation/skill-catalog/export-skill) instead of saving it locally.
</Note>

## Related topics

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="Getting started" icon="play" href="/vantage/documentation/advanced-designer/getting-started">
    See where the local-folder commands sit on the start page.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Export a skill" icon="file-export" href="/vantage/documentation/skill-catalog/export-skill">
    Package a skill (with data catalog records) as a ZIP archive.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Skill versions" icon="code-branch" href="/vantage/documentation/advanced-designer/skill-versions">
    Manage published versions of a skill.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>