How do you operate this tool

As the other answer said, load the nail, the cartridge fully compress and press the trigger. Fist and foremost, this is a gun, the cartridge has to be fully flush when installed correctly, if not it will not work correctly. Before you press the trigger, you mush fully compress the barrel and hold it tight against the item you are fastening. If you do not hold it tight some of the force that drives the nail escapes backward and the nail does not go all the way in. Be sure to check online to view the correct charge to use to drive the nail. It depends on the thickness of the wook and what you are shooting the nail into. As with all guns, after a number of shots, it needs to be cleaned to remove powder residue. Excess residue causes the barrel to stick or not extend fully. I used to flush my old one with WD 40, but I would look into what is appropriate to clean residue from a gun barrel and you should be all set.

The tool is operated by squeezing the single shot trigger.