---
name: pdf
description: >
  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.
license: MIT
metadata:
  version: "1.0"
  category: document-generation
---

# 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.

Before delivery, inspect rendered page images and extracted text. For a static
PDF, use `pdftoppm -png -r 120 output.pdf preview/page`; create `preview/` first.
Check clipping, tables, unexpected blank pages, and factual content. Do not
regenerate an unchanged PDF just to repeat QA.

## 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` |