v1.0 to v1.0

- Create, read, edit, fill, or reformat PDF files. Use this skill for PDF output.

- CREATE (generate from scratch): "make a PDF", "generate a report", "write a proposal",

- "create a resume", "beautiful PDF", "professional document", "cover page",

- "polished PDF", "client-ready document".

- FILL (complete form fields): "fill in the form", "fill out this PDF",

- "complete the form fields", "write values into PDF", "what fields does this PDF have".

- REFORMAT (apply design to an existing doc): "reformat this document", "apply our style",

- "convert this Markdown/text to PDF", "make this doc look good", "re-style this PDF".

- This skill uses a token-based design system: color, typography, and spacing are derived

- from the document type and flow through every page. The output is print-ready.

- For a PDF companion to a Word document, render that DOCX through ../docx/SKILL.md

- so both deliverables retain the same content and layout.

- # pdf

-

- Three tasks. One skill.

-

- ## Environment and delivery

-

- Set `SKILL_DIR` to the absolute directory containing this file (the `pdf/`

- subdirectory of the Office package). Resolve reference paths relative to it.

-

- Run `bash "$SKILL_DIR/scripts/make.sh" check` once per session before CREATE/REFORMAT.

- It verifies an actual Chromium launch. If needed, install dependencies with

- `bash "$SKILL_DIR/scripts/make.sh" fix` in an activated Python virtual environment; on Linux,

- Chromium may also need `npx playwright install-deps chromium`.

- FILL and read-only inspection need Python and `pypdf`, not the browser pipeline.

- Read only the guide and scripts relevant to the selected route. Explicit user

- or template formatting takes precedence over the design defaults.

-

- For a user-requested rendered preview or visual review,

- use `pdftoppm -png -r 120 output.pdf preview/page` (create `preview/` first) and

- inspect the images.

-

- ## Read `design/design.md` before any CREATE or REFORMAT work.

-

- ---

-

- ## Route table

-

- | User intent | Route | Scripts used |

- |---|---|---|

- | Generate a new PDF from scratch | **CREATE** | `palette.py` → `cover.py` → `render_cover.js` → `render_body.py` → `merge.py` |

- | Fill / complete form fields in an existing PDF | **FILL** | `fill_inspect.py` → `fill_write.py` |

- | Reformat / re-style an existing document | **REFORMAT** | `reformat_parse.py` → then full CREATE pipeline |

-

- **Rule:** when in doubt between CREATE and REFORMAT, ask whether the user has an existing document to start from. If yes → REFORMAT. If no → CREATE.

-

- ---

-

- ## Route A: CREATE

-

- Full pipeline — content → design tokens → cover → body → merged PDF.

-

- ```bash

- bash "$SKILL_DIR/scripts/make.sh" run \

- --title "Q3 Strategy Review" --type proposal \

- --author "Strategy Team" --date "October 2025" \

- --accent "#2D5F8A" \

- --content content.json --out report.pdf

- ```

-

- **Doc types:** `report` · `proposal` · `resume` · `portfolio` · `academic` · `general` · `minimal` · `stripe` · `diagonal` · `frame` · `editorial` · `magazine` · `darkroom` · `terminal` · `poster`

-

- | Type | Cover pattern | Visual identity |

- |---|---|---|

- | `report` | `fullbleed` | Dark bg, dot grid, Playfair Display |

- | `proposal` | `split` | Left panel + right geometric, Syne |

- | `resume` | `typographic` | Oversized first-word, DM Serif Display |

- | `portfolio` | `atmospheric` | Near-black, radial glow, Fraunces |

- | `academic` | `typographic` | Light bg, classical serif, EB Garamond |

- | `general` | `fullbleed` | Dark slate, Outfit |

- | `minimal` | `minimal` | White + single 8px accent bar, Cormorant Garamond |

- | `stripe` | `stripe` | 3 bold horizontal color bands, Barlow Condensed |

- | `diagonal` | `diagonal` | SVG angled cut, dark/light halves, Montserrat |

- | `frame` | `frame` | Inset border, corner ornaments, Cormorant |

- | `editorial` | `editorial` | Ghost letter, all-caps title, Bebas Neue |

- | `magazine` | `magazine` | Warm cream bg, centered stack, hero image, Playfair Display |

- | `darkroom` | `darkroom` | Navy bg, centered stack, grayscale image, Playfair Display |

- | `terminal` | `terminal` | Near-black, grid lines, monospace, neon green |

- | `poster` | `poster` | White bg, thick sidebar, oversized title, Barlow Condensed |

-

- Cover extras (inject into tokens via `--abstract`, `--cover-image`):

- - `--abstract "text"` — abstract text block on the cover (magazine/darkroom)

- - `--cover-image "url"` — hero image URL/path (magazine, darkroom, poster)

- **Color overrides — always choose these based on document content:**

- - `--accent "#HEX"` — override the accent color; `accent_lt` is auto-derived by lightening toward white

- - `--cover-bg "#HEX"` — override the cover background color

- **Accent color selection guidance:**

- You have creative authority over the accent color. Pick it from the document's semantic context — title, industry, purpose, audience — not from generic "safe" choices. The accent appears on section rules, callout bars, table headers, and the cover: it carries the document's visual identity.

- | Context | Suggested accent range |

- |---|---|

- | Legal / compliance / finance | Deep navy `#1C3A5E`, charcoal `#2E3440`, slate `#3D4C5E` |

- | Healthcare / medical | Teal-green `#2A6B5A`, cool green `#3A7D6A` |

- | Technology / engineering | Steel blue `#2D5F8A`, indigo `#3D4F8A` |

- | Environmental / sustainability | Forest `#2E5E3A`, olive `#4A5E2A` |

- | Creative / arts / culture | Burgundy `#6B2A35`, plum `#5A2A6B`, terracotta `#8A3A2A` |

- | Academic / research | Deep teal `#2A5A6B`, library blue `#2A4A6B` |

- | Corporate / neutral | Slate `#3D4A5A`, graphite `#444C56` |

- | Luxury / premium | Warm black `#1A1208`, deep bronze `#4A3820` |

- **Rule:** choose a color that a thoughtful designer would select for this specific document — not the type's default. Muted, desaturated tones work best; avoid vivid primaries. When in doubt, go darker and more neutral.

- **content.json block types:**

- | Block | Usage | Key fields |

- | `h1` | Section heading + accent rule | `text` |

- | `h2` | Subsection heading | `text` |

- | `h3` | Sub-subsection (bold) | `text` |

- | `body` | Justified paragraph; supports `<b>` `<i>` markup | `text` |

- | `bullet` | Unordered list item (• prefix) | `text` |

- | `numbered` | Ordered list item — counter auto-resets on non-numbered blocks | `text` |

- | `callout` | Highlighted insight box with accent left bar | `text` |

- | `table` | Data table — accent header, alternating row tints | `headers`, `rows`, `col_widths`?, `caption`? |

- | `image` | Embedded image scaled to column width | `path`/`src`, `caption`? |

- | `figure` | Image with auto-numbered "Figure N:" caption | `path`/`src`, `caption`? |

- | `code` | Monospace code block with accent left border | `text`, `language`? |

- | `math` | Display math — LaTeX syntax via matplotlib mathtext | `text`, `label`?, `caption`? |

- | `chart` | Bar / line / pie chart rendered with matplotlib | `chart_type`, `labels`, `datasets`, `title`?, `x_label`?, `y_label`?, `caption`?, `figure`? |

- | `flowchart` | Process diagram with nodes + edges via matplotlib | `nodes`, `edges`, `caption`?, `figure`? |

- | `bibliography` | Numbered reference list with hanging indent | `items` [{id, text}], `title`? |

- | `divider` | Accent-colored full-width rule | — |

- | `caption` | Small muted label | `text` |

- | `pagebreak` | Force a new page | — |

- | `spacer` | Vertical whitespace | `pt` (default 12) |

-

- **chart / flowchart schemas:**

- ```json

- {"type":"chart","chart_type":"bar","labels":["Q1","Q2","Q3","Q4"],

- "datasets":[{"label":"Revenue","values":[120,145,132,178]}],"caption":"Q results"}

-

- {"type":"flowchart",

- "nodes":[{"id":"s","label":"Start","shape":"oval"},

- {"id":"p","label":"Process","shape":"rect"},

- {"id":"d","label":"Valid?","shape":"diamond"},

- {"id":"e","label":"End","shape":"oval"}],

- "edges":[{"from":"s","to":"p"},{"from":"p","to":"d"},

- {"from":"d","to":"e","label":"Yes"},{"from":"d","to":"p","label":"No"}]}

-

- {"type":"bibliography","items":[

- {"id":"1","text":"Author (Year). Title. Publisher."}]}

- ```

-

- ---

- ## Route B: FILL

- Fill form fields in an existing PDF without altering layout or design.

- ```bash

- # Step 1: inspect

- python3 "$SKILL_DIR/scripts/fill_inspect.py" --input form.pdf

- # Step 2: fill

- python3 "$SKILL_DIR/scripts/fill_write.py" --input form.pdf --out filled.pdf \

- --values '{"FirstName": "Jane", "Agree": "true", "Country": "US"}'

- ```

- | Field type | Value format |

- | `text` | Any string |

- | `checkbox` | `"true"` or `"false"` |

- | `dropdown` | Must match a choice value from inspect output |

- | `radio` | Must match a radio value (often starts with `/`) |

-

- Always run `fill_inspect.py` first to get exact field names.

-

- ---

-

- ## Route C: REFORMAT

-

- Parse an existing document → content.json → CREATE pipeline.

-

- ```bash

- bash "$SKILL_DIR/scripts/make.sh" reformat \

- --input source.md --title "My Report" --type report --out output.pdf

- ```

-

- **Supported input formats:** `.md` `.txt` `.pdf` `.json`

-

- ---

-

- ## Environment

- ```bash

- bash "$SKILL_DIR/scripts/make.sh" check # verify all deps

- bash "$SKILL_DIR/scripts/make.sh" fix # auto-install missing deps

- bash "$SKILL_DIR/scripts/make.sh" demo # build a sample PDF

- ```

- | Tool | Used by | Install |

- |---|---|---|

- | Python 3.9+ | all `.py` scripts | system |

- | `reportlab` | `render_body.py` | `pip install reportlab` |

- | `pypdf` | fill, merge, reformat | `pip install pypdf` |

- | Node.js 18+ | `render_cover.js` | system |

- | `playwright` + Chromium | `render_cover.js` | `npm install -g playwright && npx playwright install chromium` |