pdftk-server
Skill for using the command-line tool pdftk (PDFtk Server) for working with PDF files. Use when asked to merge PDFs, split PDFs, rotate pages, encrypt or decrypt PDFs, fill PDF forms, apply watermarks, stamp overlays, extract metadata, burst documents into pages, repair corrupted PDFs, attach or extract files, or perform any PDF manipulation from the command line.
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Install
Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.
npx skills add https://github.com/github/awesome-copilot --skill pdftk-server- 01
Install
Run the command in your project. The CLI asks which agents to install for.
- 02
Describe the task
Ask your agent for something this skill covers. It loads pdftk-server automatically when relevant.
- 03
Review the result
The agent follows the SKILL.md steps, scripts and references bundled with the skill.
Security audits
Independent scans of the skill's instructions and bundled files.
SKILL.md
The instructions your agent reads when the skill is triggered.
PDFtk Server
PDFtk Server is a command-line tool for working with PDF documents. It can merge, split, rotate, encrypt, decrypt, watermark, stamp, fill forms, extract metadata, and manipulate PDFs in a variety of ways.
When to Use This Skill
- Merging or joining multiple PDF files into one
- Splitting or bursting a PDF into individual pages
- Rotating PDF pages
- Encrypting or decrypting PDF files
- Filling PDF form fields from FDF/XFDF data
- Applying background watermarks or foreground stamps
- Extracting PDF metadata, bookmarks, or form field information
- Repairing corrupted PDF files
- Attaching or extracting files embedded in PDFs
- Removing specific pages from a PDF
- Collating separately scanned even/odd pages
- Compressing or decompressing PDF page streams
Prerequisites
- PDFtk Server must be installed on the system
- Windows:
winget install --id PDFLabs.PDFtk.Server - macOS:
brew install pdftk-java - Linux (Debian/Ubuntu):
sudo apt-get install pdftk - Linux (Red Hat/Fedora):
sudo dnf install pdftk
- Windows:
- Access to a terminal or command prompt
- Verify installation by running
pdftk --version
Step-by-Step Workflows
Merge Multiple PDFs
pdftk file1.pdf file2.pdf cat output merged.pdf
Using handles for more control:
pdftk A=file1.pdf B=file2.pdf cat A B output merged.pdf
Split a PDF into Individual Pages
pdftk input.pdf burst
Extract Specific Pages
Extract pages 1-5 and 10-15:
pdftk input.pdf cat 1-5 10-15 output extracted.pdf
Remove Specific Pages
Remove page 13:
pdftk input.pdf cat 1-12 14-end output output.pdf
Rotate Pages
Rotate all pages 90 degrees clockwise:
pdftk input.pdf cat 1-endeast output rotated.pdf
Encrypt a PDF
Set an owner password and a user password with 128-bit encryption (default):
pdftk input.pdf output secured.pdf owner_pw mypassword user_pw userpass
Decrypt a PDF
Remove encryption using the known password:
pdftk secured.pdf input_pw mypassword output unsecured.pdf
Fill a PDF Form
Populate form fields from an FDF file and flatten to prevent further edits:
pdftk form.pdf fill_form data.fdf output filled.pdf flatten
Apply a Background Watermark
Place a single-page PDF behind every page of the input (input should have transparency):
pdftk input.pdf background watermark.pdf output watermarked.pdf
Stamp an Overlay
Place a single-page PDF on top of every page of the input:
pdftk input.pdf stamp overlay.pdf output stamped.pdf
Extract Metadata
Export bookmarks, page metrics, and document information:
pdftk input.pdf dump_data output metadata.txt
Repair a Corrupted PDF
Pass a broken PDF through pdftk to attempt automatic repair:
pdftk broken.pdf output fixed.pdf
Collate Scanned Pages
Interleave separately scanned even and odd pages:
pdftk A=even.pdf B=odd.pdf shuffle A B output collated.pdf
Troubleshooting
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
pdftk command not found | Verify installation; check that pdftk is in your system PATH |
| Cannot decrypt PDF | Ensure you are providing the correct owner or user password via input_pw |
| Output file is empty or corrupt | Check input file integrity; try running pdftk input.pdf output repaired.pdf first |
| Form fields not visible after fill | Use the flatten flag to merge fields into the page content |
| Watermark not appearing | Ensure the input PDF has transparent regions; use stamp for opaque overlays |
| Permission denied errors | Check file permissions on input and output paths |
References
Bundled reference documents in the references/ folder:
- pdftk-man-page.md - Complete manual reference with all operations, options, and syntax
- pdftk-cli-examples.md - Practical command-line examples for common tasks
- download.md - Installation and download instructions for all platforms
- pdftk-server-license.md - PDFtk Server licensing information
- third-party-materials.md - Third-party library licenses
FAQ
What does the pdftk-server skill do?
Skill for using the command-line tool pdftk (PDFtk Server) for working with PDF files. Use when asked to merge PDFs, split PDFs, rotate pages, encrypt or decrypt PDFs, fill PDF forms, apply watermarks, stamp overlays, extract metadata, burst documents into pages, repair corrupted PDFs, attach or extract files, or perform any PDF manipulation from the command line.
How do I install pdftk-server?
Run npx skills add https://github.com/github/awesome-copilot --skill pdftk-server in your project. The skills CLI detects the agents you use and copies the skill into the right folder. For Claude Code you can also place the skill folder at ~/.claude/skills/pdftk-server/ (personal) or .claude/skills/pdftk-server/ (project).
Which AI agents can use pdftk-server?
Any agent that supports the open Agent Skills format (a folder with a SKILL.md file), including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, Windsurf, Cline, OpenCode and more.
Is pdftk-server safe to install?
Security partners have reviewed it: Gen Agent Trust Hub passed; Socket passed; Snyk passed; Runlayer flagged items to review; ZeroLeaks passed. As with any skill, read the SKILL.md and bundled scripts before installing.
Who maintains pdftk-server?
It is published by github in github/awesome-copilot, and it is an official skill from the maker of the technology it covers. It has 9,980 recorded installs.
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