Help · File format

What is an OpenWiki .mdw document?

An .mdw file is a typed, deterministic OpenWiki document package. It carries the structured knowledge and presentation intent needed for validation, rendering, versioning, and Agent-readable recovery.

Updated August 3, 2026Product documentation

Why OpenWiki uses a package

A loose page can hide where facts, datasets, media, and visual elements came from. The package keeps those typed assets under one deterministic identity so the CLI and Hosted service can validate the same work.

How an .mdw is created

ow a2ui draft init ./artifact --title "Launch plan" --description "Decision-ready launch plan" --language en
ow a2ui draft check ./artifact
ow a2ui draft build ./artifact

How identity is checked

The digest step reports the deterministic package identity and entry count. Rebuilds from equivalent typed input are designed to produce a verifiable result.

ow a2ui digest ./artifact/document.mdw

What .mdw is not

It is not a renamed Markdown file, an arbitrary ZIP upload, raw HTML, or a general executable bundle. Hosted validates the typed format again before accepting it.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Can I open an .mdw in a text editor and change it?

Do not hand-edit the generated package. Reopen it as a draft workspace with ow a2ui draft open, make typed changes, check, and rebuild.

Is .mdw the same as Markdown?

No. Markdown can be source material for prose, but .mdw is the deterministic typed package that OpenWiki Hosted accepts.

Use the real workflow

Publish what your agent creates.

Give every report, document, or plan its own reader-ready page. Comments, review decisions, and formal revisions can flow back from there.