Pandoc Convert

Convert documents between 40+ formats using pandoc CLI. Handles Markdown ↔ Word ↔ PDF ↔ HTML ↔ LaTeX ↔ EPUB with smart defaults, professional templates, and comprehensive tooling.

Security Scan

The skill's description and runtime instructions describe a multi-file pandoc toolkit (Python + bash scripts, templates, INSTALL.md, etc.) but the package contains only SKILL.md and the registry metadata omits required binaries — the pieces don't line up.

Purpose & Capability

The stated purpose (document conversion using pandoc and optional Python helpers) is reasonable and coherent for a 'Pandoc Convert' skill. However, the skill metadata declares no required binaries while SKILL.md explicitly lists prerequisites (pandoc, Python 3.8+, LaTeX, wkhtmltopdf, etc.). SKILL.md also claims many repository files (scripts/, templates/, INSTALL.md) that are not present in the package manifest. This mismatch weakens trust in the package's claims.

Instruction Scope

The runtime instructions tell the agent to run local scripts (python scripts/convert.py, ./scripts/batch_convert.sh, ./scripts/validate.sh) and to consult local docs/templates (INSTALL.md, templates/, references/). Since the skill bundle contains only SKILL.md and no scripts or templates, following these instructions would either fail or cause the agent to attempt to fetch/execute missing resources. The instructions do not ask for unrelated credentials or system-wide access, but they assume local files that aren't present.

Install Mechanism

There is no install spec (instruction-only skill), which is low-risk in that nothing is written to disk by an installer. However, SKILL.md references an INSTALL.md and many scripts that imply an installation step; their absence is an inconsistency. Because there is no declared install or source repository, it's unclear how the referenced scripts/templates are meant to be provided.

Credentials

The skill does not request environment variables, credentials, or config paths in the registry metadata. SKILL.md likewise does not instruct the agent to read secrets or unrelated environment variables. This is proportionate to the described functionality (local document conversion).

Persistence & Privilege

The skill does not request always:true and uses default autonomy settings. It does not request system-wide config changes in the provided instructions. There is no evidence of privileged persistence.

Scan Findings in Context

[NO_CODE_FILES_PRESENT] unexpected: The regex-based scanner found no code files to analyze. That is inconsistent with SKILL.md, which describes scripts/convert.py, batch_convert.sh, validate.sh, templates/, INSTALL.md, and many docs. For a skill that instructs running local scripts, the absence of those files is unexpected and reduces trust.

What to consider before installing

Do not install or enable this skill yet. Ask the publisher for the source repository or a complete package so you can inspect the scripts and templates SKILL.md references. Verify that pandoc and Python are actually required and that scripts exist under scripts/. If you plan to let an agent run commands, ensure the repository is trustworthy and that required binaries (pandoc, Python, LaTeX, etc.) are explicitly declared. If the skill will fetch code at runtime, request an explicit and auditable install mechanism (official release URL or package) and review it before allowing execution. Because the current bundle only contains documentation that describes missing files, treat it as incomplete/untrustworthy until those inconsistencies are resolved.

📄 Pandoc Convert (Integrated)

Universal document converter combining unified Python tools with modular bash utilities.

The pandoc-convert skill provides intelligent workflows for converting documents between 40+ formats using pandoc. This integrated version combines:

• Unified Python converter (convert.py) - Single powerful tool for most conversions
• Modular bash utilities (batch_convert.sh, validate.sh) - Specialized workflows
• Comprehensive templates - Both LaTeX academic and modern CSS styles
• Professional documentation - Complete guides, troubleshooting, and references

✨ Key Features

• 40+ Format Support: Markdown, Word, PDF, HTML, LaTeX, EPUB, RST, AsciiDoc, Org-mode, and more
• Dual Toolset: Python for smart conversions + bash for validation/batch processing
• Professional Templates: 12 templates covering academic, business, and web use cases
• Comprehensive Documentation: Format guides, troubleshooting, templates, and quick reference
• Smart Defaults: Optimized settings for each conversion path
• Metadata Preservation: Keep titles, authors, dates across formats
• Error Recovery: Validation and helpful error messages

🔧 Prerequisites

Required

• pandoc (v2.19+ recommended)
• Python 3.8+ (for convert.py helper)

Optional (for extended formats)

• LaTeX (TeX Live, MiKTeX) - Required for PDF output
• wkhtmltopdf - Alternative HTML to PDF converter
• librsvg - SVG support
• epubcheck - EPUB validation

See INSTALL.md for detailed installation instructions per platform.

📚 Quick Start

Using Python Helper (Recommended)

# Single file conversion
python scripts/convert.py input.md output.pdf

# With custom template
python scripts/convert.py report.md report.pdf --template business --toc

# Batch convert
python scripts/convert.py --batch *.md --format pdf --output-dir ./pdfs

Using Bash Utilities

# Batch convert with validation
./scripts/batch_convert.sh input/*.md pdf output/

# Validate output
./scripts/validate.sh output/document.pdf
./scripts/validate.sh output/book.epub

Direct Pandoc

# Markdown → PDF
pandoc input.md -o output.pdf

# Markdown → Word
pandoc input.md -o output.docx

# Word → Markdown
pandoc input.docx -o output.md --extract-media=./media

🎯 Common Workflows

See references/conversion-guides.md for detailed step-by-step guides:

• Markdown → Professional PDF (business reports, academic papers)
• Word → Markdown (version control friendly)
• Markdown → EPUB (eBooks with validation)
• Multi-file → Single PDF (book compilation)
• Markdown → HTML5 (standalone with CSS)

🎨 Templates

LaTeX Templates (Academic/Professional)

• academic-paper.tex - Manuscript style
• business-letter.tex - Professional correspondence
• technical-report.tex - Technical documentation
• resume.tex - CV/resume formatting
• professional.tex - General-purpose professional
• report-template.tex - Report structure

CSS Templates (Web/Modern)

• github.css - GitHub markdown style
• blog-style.css - Clean blog format
• epub-style.css - eBook styling
• presentation.html - HTML presentations
• ebook.css - Enhanced eBook layout

Reference Documents

• reference-styles.docx - Word style reference

All templates in templates/ directory.

🔧 Tool Reference

convert.py (Python)

Unified conversion tool with smart defaults:

python scripts/convert.py [OPTIONS] INPUT OUTPUT

Options:
  --format FORMAT       Force output format
  --template TEMPLATE   Use named template
  --toc                 Include table of contents
  --number-sections     Number headings
  --title TITLE         Document title
  --author AUTHOR       Document author
  --batch               Batch mode
  --validate            Validate output
  --verbose             Detailed output

batch_convert.sh (Bash)

Batch processing with progress tracking:

./scripts/batch_convert.sh INPUT_DIR FORMAT OUTPUT_DIR [OPTIONS]

# Example
./scripts/batch_convert.sh ./docs/ pdf ./output/ --toc --number-sections

validate.sh (Bash)

Post-conversion validation:

./scripts/validate.sh FILE

# Validates:
# - PDF structure and readability
# - EPUB spec compliance (requires epubcheck)
# - HTML validity
# - File integrity

📊 Format Support

Input Formats

Markdown: markdown, gfm, markdown_mmd Word: docx, odt, rtf Web: html, html5 LaTeX: latex, tex Plain Text: txt, rst, textile, asciidoc Academic: jats, docbook Presentation: pptx eBooks: epub Other: json, csv, org, mediawiki, man

Output Formats

All input formats plus: PDF, EPUB, RevealJS, Beamer

Complete format matrix: references/format-matrix.md

🗂️ Directory Structure

pandoc-convert-integrated/
├── SKILL.md              # This file
├── INSTALL.md            # Detailed installation guide
├── README.md             # Quick start guide
├── scripts/
│   ├── convert.py        # Unified Python converter
│   ├── batch_convert.sh  # Bash batch processor
│   └── validate.sh       # Validation utility
├── templates/
│   ├── *.tex             # LaTeX templates (6)
│   ├── *.css             # CSS templates (3)
│   ├── *.html            # HTML templates (1)
│   └── *.docx            # Word reference (1)
└── references/
    ├── format-guide.md         # Format details
    ├── format-matrix.md        # Compatibility matrix
    ├── conversion-guides.md    # Step-by-step guides
    ├── format-support.md       # Supported features
    ├── quick-reference.md      # Cheat sheet
    ├── templates.md            # Template documentation
    └── troubleshooting.md      # Problem solving

🐛 Troubleshooting

Common Issues

• "pandoc: command not found" → Install pandoc (see INSTALL.md)
• "pdflatex not found" → Install LaTeX distribution
• Unicode broken in PDF → Use --pdf-engine=xelatex
• Images missing → Check paths and use --resource-path
• EPUB validation fails → Run epubcheck for details

See references/troubleshooting.md for comprehensive solutions.

📖 References

• INSTALL.md - Platform-specific installation
• references/format-guide.md - Format capabilities and limitations
• references/conversion-guides.md - Step-by-step workflows
• references/quick-reference.md - One-page cheat sheet
• references/templates.md - Template usage and customization
• references/troubleshooting.md - Extended problem solving

🎯 Best Practices

1. Use YAML frontmatter for metadata (title, author, date)
2. Validate outputs before sharing (especially EPUB/PDF)
3. Version control source (Markdown), not outputs
4. Test templates first before batch processing
5. Back up before batch operations

🚀 Performance

• Use batch_convert.sh for parallel processing of multiple files
• Cache templates in ~/.pandoc/templates/
• Use incremental builds (only reconvert changed files)
• For very large docs (>10MB), increase memory limits

📜 License

This skill is part of OpenClaw. Pandoc itself is GPL-licensed.

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Quick Start: python scripts/convert.py input.md output.pdf
Batch Convert: ./scripts/batch_convert.sh *.md pdf ./output/
Validate: ./scripts/validate.sh output.pdf
Help: See README.md and references/ directory