docx · git:20260404.579d601 · 2026-04-04 · sha256 00acfe0d1002e888
docx git:20260404.579d601A
Immutable. This exact content is served forever at /api/v1/blob/00acfe0d1002e888.
---
name: docx
description: "Use this skill whenever the user wants to create, read, edit, or manipulate Word documents (.docx files). Triggers include: any mention of \"Word doc\", \"word document\", \".docx\", or requests to produce professional documents with formatting like tables of contents, headings, page numbers, or letterheads. Also use when extracting or reorganizing content from .docx files, inserting or replacing images in documents, performing find-and-replace in Word files, working with tracked changes or comments, or converting content into a polished Word document. If the user asks for a \"report\", \"memo\", \"letter\", \"template\", or similar deliverable as a Word or .docx file, use this skill. Do NOT use for PDFs, spreadsheets, or general coding tasks unrelated to document generation."
dependencies:
commands:
- python3
- node
tools:
- skillScriptTool
- skillFileTool
platforms:
- macos
- linux
- windows
---
> **Important:** All `scripts/` paths are relative to this skill directory.
> Use `run_skill_script` tool to execute scripts, or run with: `cd {this_skill_dir} && python scripts/...`
# DOCX creation, editing, and analysis
## Prerequisites
- **docx** (`npm install -g docx`): new document creation
- **LibreOffice** (`soffice`): `.doc` -> `.docx` conversion, tracked-changes acceptance, and PDF export
- **pandoc**: text extraction
- **pdftoppm** (poppler-utils): document-to-image workflows
- If `pdftoppm` is unavailable, a Python fallback path may use `pdf2image`.
- On Windows, dependencies must be installed and available in `PATH`; if missing, report the dependency issue and stop (do not keep retrying).
## Overview
A .docx file is a ZIP archive containing XML files.
## Quick Reference
| Task | Approach |
|------|----------|
| Read/analyze content | `pandoc` or unpack for raw XML |
| Create new document | Use `docx-js` - see Creating New Documents below |
| Edit existing document | Unpack → edit XML → repack - see Editing Existing Documents below |
### Converting .doc to .docx
Legacy `.doc` files must be converted before editing:
```bash
python scripts/office/soffice.py --headless --convert-to docx document.doc
```
### Reading Content
```bash
# Text extraction with tracked changes
pandoc --track-changes=all document.docx -o output.md
# Raw XML access
python scripts/office/unpack.py document.docx unpacked/
```
### Converting to Images
```bash
python scripts/office/soffice.py --headless --convert-to pdf document.docx
pdftoppm -jpeg -r 150 document.pdf page
```
### Accepting Tracked Changes
To produce a clean document with all tracked changes accepted (requires LibreOffice):
```bash
python scripts/accept_changes.py input.docx output.docx
```
---
## Creating New Documents
Generate .docx files with JavaScript, then validate. Install: `npm install -g docx`
### Setup
```javascript
const { Document, Packer, Paragraph, TextRun, Table, TableRow, TableCell, ImageRun,
Header, Footer, AlignmentType, PageOrientation, LevelFormat, ExternalHyperlink,
TableOfContents, HeadingLevel, BorderStyle, WidthType, ShadingType,
VerticalAlign, PageNumber, PageBreak } = require('docx');
const doc = new Document({ sections: [{ children: [/* content */] }] });
Packer.toBuffer(doc).then(buffer => fs.writeFileSync("doc.docx", buffer));
```
### Validation
After creating the file, validate it. If validation fails, unpack, fix the XML, and repack.
```bash
python scripts/office/validate.py doc.docx
```
### Page Size
```javascript
// CRITICAL: docx-js defaults to A4, not US Letter
// Always set page size explicitly for consistent results
sections: [{
properties: {
page: {
size: {
width: 12240, // 8.5 inches in DXA
height: 15840 // 11 inches in DXA
},
margin: { top: 1440, right: 1440, bottom: 1440, left: 1440 } // 1 inch margins
}
},
children: [/* content */]
}]
```
**Common page sizes (DXA units, 1440 DXA = 1 inch):**
| Paper | Width | Height | Content Width (1" margins) |
|-------|-------|--------|---------------------------|
| US Letter | 12,240 | 15,840 | 9,360 |
| A4 (default) | 11,906 | 16,838 | 9,026 |
**Landscape orientation:** docx-js swaps width/height internally, so pass portrait dimensions and let it handle the swap:
```javascript
size: {
width: 12240, // Pass SHORT edge as width
height: 15840, // Pass LONG edge as height
orientation: PageOrientation.LANDSCAPE // docx-js swaps them in the XML
},
// Content width = 15840 - left margin - right margin (uses the long edge)
```
### Styles (Override Built-in Headings)
Use Arial as the default font (universally supported). Keep titles black for readability.
```javascript
const doc = new Document({
styles: {
default: { document: { run: { font: "Arial", size: 24 } } }, // 12pt default
paragraphStyles: [
// IMPORTANT: Use exact IDs to override built-in styles
{ id: "Heading1", name: "Heading 1", basedOn: "Normal", next: "Normal", quickFormat: true,
run: { size: 32, bold: true, font: "Arial" },
paragraph: { spacing: { before: 240, after: 240 }, outlineLevel: 0 } }, // outlineLevel required for TOC
{ id: "Heading2", name: "Heading 2", basedOn: "Normal", next: "Normal", quickFormat: true,
run: { size: 28, bold: true, font: "Arial" },
paragraph: { spacing: { before: 180, after: 180 }, outlineLevel: 1 } },
]
},
sections: [{
children: [
new Paragraph({ heading: HeadingLevel.HEADING_1, children: [new TextRun("Title")] }),
]
}]
});
```
### Lists (NEVER use unicode bullets)
```javascript
// CORRECT - use numbering config with LevelFormat.BULLET
const doc = new Document({
numbering: {
config: [
{ reference: "bullets",
levels: [{ level: 0, format: LevelFormat.BULLET, text: "\u2022", alignment: AlignmentType.LEFT,
style: { paragraph: { indent: { left: 720, hanging: 360 } } } }] },
{ reference: "numbers",
levels: [{ level: 0, format: LevelFormat.DECIMAL, text: "%1.", alignment: AlignmentType.LEFT,
style: { paragraph: { indent: { left: 720, hanging: 360 } } } }] },
]
},
sections: [{
children: [
new Paragraph({ numbering: { reference: "bullets", level: 0 },
children: [new TextRun("Bullet item")] }),
new Paragraph({ numbering: { reference: "numbers", level: 0 },
children: [new TextRun("Numbered item")] }),
]
}]
});
// Each reference creates INDEPENDENT numbering
// Same reference = continues (1,2,3 then 4,5,6)
// Different reference = restarts (1,2,3 then 1,2,3)
```
### Tables
**CRITICAL: Tables need dual widths** - set both `columnWidths` on the table AND `width` on each cell.
```javascript
// CRITICAL: Use ShadingType.CLEAR (not SOLID) to prevent black backgrounds
const border = { style: BorderStyle.SINGLE, size: 1, color: "CCCCCC" };
const borders = { top: border, bottom: border, left: border, right: border };
new Table({
width: { size: 9360, type: WidthType.DXA }, // Always use DXA
columnWidths: [4680, 4680], // Must sum to table width (DXA: 1440 = 1 inch)
rows: [
new TableRow({
children: [
new TableCell({
borders,
width: { size: 4680, type: WidthType.DXA }, // Also set on each cell
shading: { fill: "D5E8F0", type: ShadingType.CLEAR }, // CLEAR not SOLID
margins: { top: 80, bottom: 80, left: 120, right: 120 },
children: [new Paragraph({ children: [new TextRun("Cell")] })]
})
]
})
]
})
```
**Width rules:**
- **Always use `WidthType.DXA`** - never `WidthType.PERCENTAGE`
- Table width must equal the sum of `columnWidths`
- Cell `width` must match corresponding `columnWidth`
### Images
```javascript
// CRITICAL: type parameter is REQUIRED
new Paragraph({
children: [new ImageRun({
type: "png", // Required: png, jpg, jpeg, gif, bmp, svg
data: fs.readFileSync("image.png"),
transformation: { width: 200, height: 150 },
altText: { title: "Title", description: "Desc", name: "Name" } // All three required
})]
})
```
### Page Breaks
```javascript
// PageBreak must be inside a Paragraph
new Paragraph({ children: [new PageBreak()] })
```
### Table of Contents
```javascript
// Headings must use HeadingLevel ONLY - no custom styles
new TableOfContents("Table of Contents", { hyperlink: true, headingStyleRange: "1-3" })
```
### Headers/Footers
```javascript
sections: [{
properties: {
page: { margin: { top: 1440, right: 1440, bottom: 1440, left: 1440 } }
},
headers: {
default: new Header({ children: [new Paragraph({ children: [new TextRun("Header")] })] })
},
footers: {
default: new Footer({ children: [new Paragraph({
children: [new TextRun("Page "), new TextRun({ children: [PageNumber.CURRENT] })]
})] })
},
children: [/* content */]
}]
```
### Critical Rules for docx-js
- **Set page size explicitly** - docx-js defaults to A4
- **Landscape: pass portrait dimensions** - docx-js swaps width/height internally
- **Never use `\n`** - use separate Paragraph elements
- **Never use unicode bullets** - use `LevelFormat.BULLET` with numbering config
- **PageBreak must be in Paragraph**
- **ImageRun requires `type`**
- **Always set table `width` with DXA** - never use `WidthType.PERCENTAGE`
- **Tables need dual widths** - `columnWidths` array AND cell `width`
- **Use `ShadingType.CLEAR`** - never SOLID for table shading
- **TOC requires HeadingLevel only**
- **Override built-in styles** - use exact IDs: "Heading1", "Heading2", etc.
- **Include `outlineLevel`** - required for TOC (0 for H1, 1 for H2, etc.)
---
## Editing Existing Documents
**Follow all 3 steps in order.**
### Step 1: Unpack
```bash
python scripts/office/unpack.py document.docx unpacked/
```
Extracts XML, pretty-prints, merges adjacent runs, and converts smart quotes to XML entities. Use `--merge-runs false` to skip run merging.
### Step 2: Edit XML
Edit files in `unpacked/word/`. See XML Reference below for patterns.
**Use "MateClaw" as the author** for tracked changes and comments, unless the user explicitly requests a different name.
**CRITICAL: Use smart quotes for new content:**
```xml
<w:t>Here’s a quote: “Hello”</w:t>
```
| Entity | Character |
|--------|-----------|
| `‘` | ' (left single) |
| `’` | ' (right single / apostrophe) |
| `“` | " (left double) |
| `”` | " (right double) |
**Adding comments:** Use `comment.py` to handle boilerplate:
```bash
python scripts/comment.py unpacked/ 0 "Comment text with & and ’"
python scripts/comment.py unpacked/ 1 "Reply text" --parent 0 # reply to comment 0
python scripts/comment.py unpacked/ 0 "Text" --author "Custom Author"
```
Then add markers to document.xml (see Comments in XML Reference).
### Step 3: Pack
```bash
python scripts/office/pack.py unpacked/ output.docx --original document.docx
```
Validates with auto-repair, condenses XML, and creates DOCX. Use `--validate false` to skip.
**Auto-repair will fix:**
- `durableId` >= 0x7FFFFFFF (regenerates valid ID)
- Missing `xml:space="preserve"` on `<w:t>` with whitespace
### Common Pitfalls
- **Replace entire `<w:r>` elements**: When adding tracked changes, replace the whole `<w:r>...</w:r>` block.
- **Preserve `<w:rPr>` formatting**: Copy the original run's `<w:rPr>` block into your tracked change runs.
---
## XML Reference
### Schema Compliance
- **Element order in `<w:pPr>`**: `<w:pStyle>`, `<w:numPr>`, `<w:spacing>`, `<w:ind>`, `<w:jc>`, `<w:rPr>` last
- **Whitespace**: Add `xml:space="preserve"` to `<w:t>` with leading/trailing spaces
- **RSIDs**: Must be 8-digit hex (e.g., `00AB1234`)
### Tracked Changes
**Insertion:**
```xml
<w:ins w:id="1" w:author="MateClaw" w:date="2025-01-01T00:00:00Z">
<w:r><w:t>inserted text</w:t></w:r>
</w:ins>
```
**Deletion:**
```xml
<w:del w:id="2" w:author="MateClaw" w:date="2025-01-01T00:00:00Z">
<w:r><w:delText>deleted text</w:delText></w:r>
</w:del>
```
**Inside `<w:del>`**: Use `<w:delText>` instead of `<w:t>`, and `<w:delInstrText>` instead of `<w:instrText>`.
**Minimal edits** - only mark what changes:
```xml
<!-- Change "30 days" to "60 days" -->
<w:r><w:t>The term is </w:t></w:r>
<w:del w:id="1" w:author="MateClaw" w:date="...">
<w:r><w:delText>30</w:delText></w:r>
</w:del>
<w:ins w:id="2" w:author="MateClaw" w:date="...">
<w:r><w:t>60</w:t></w:r>
</w:ins>
<w:r><w:t> days.</w:t></w:r>
```
**Deleting entire paragraphs** - mark the paragraph mark as deleted:
```xml
<w:p>
<w:pPr>
<w:rPr>
<w:del w:id="1" w:author="MateClaw" w:date="2025-01-01T00:00:00Z"/>
</w:rPr>
</w:pPr>
<w:del w:id="2" w:author="MateClaw" w:date="2025-01-01T00:00:00Z">
<w:r><w:delText>Entire paragraph content being deleted...</w:delText></w:r>
</w:del>
</w:p>
```
**Rejecting another author's insertion:**
```xml
<w:ins w:author="Jane" w:id="5">
<w:del w:author="MateClaw" w:id="10">
<w:r><w:delText>their inserted text</w:delText></w:r>
</w:del>
</w:ins>
```
**Restoring another author's deletion:**
```xml
<w:del w:author="Jane" w:id="5">
<w:r><w:delText>deleted text</w:delText></w:r>
</w:del>
<w:ins w:author="MateClaw" w:id="10">
<w:r><w:t>deleted text</w:t></w:r>
</w:ins>
```
### Comments
After running `comment.py`, add markers to document.xml:
**CRITICAL: `<w:commentRangeStart>` and `<w:commentRangeEnd>` are siblings of `<w:r>`, never inside `<w:r>`.**
```xml
<w:commentRangeStart w:id="0"/>
<w:r><w:t>commented text</w:t></w:r>
<w:commentRangeEnd w:id="0"/>
<w:r><w:rPr><w:rStyle w:val="CommentReference"/></w:rPr><w:commentReference w:id="0"/></w:r>
```
### Images
1. Add image file to `word/media/`
2. Add relationship to `word/_rels/document.xml.rels`:
```xml
<Relationship Id="rId5" Type=".../image" Target="media/image1.png"/>
```
3. Add content type to `[Content_Types].xml`:
```xml
<Default Extension="png" ContentType="image/png"/>
```
4. Reference in document.xml:
```xml
<w:drawing>
<wp:inline>
<wp:extent cx="914400" cy="914400"/> <!-- EMUs: 914400 = 1 inch -->
<a:graphic>
<a:graphicData uri=".../picture">
<pic:pic>
<pic:blipFill><a:blip r:embed="rId5"/></pic:blipFill>
</pic:pic>
</a:graphicData>
</a:graphic>
</wp:inline>
</w:drawing>
```