Use when tasks involve reading, creating, or reviewing PDF files where rendering and layout matter; prefer visual checks by rendering pages (Poppler) and use Python tools such as reportlab, pdfplumber, and pypdf for generation and extraction.
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Install
Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.
npx skills add https://github.com/openai/skills --skill pdf- 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 pdf 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.
PDF Skill
When to use
- Read or review PDF content where layout and visuals matter.
- Create PDFs programmatically with reliable formatting.
- Validate final rendering before delivery.
Workflow
- Prefer visual review: render PDF pages to PNGs and inspect them.
- Use
pdftoppmif available. - If unavailable, install Poppler or ask the user to review the output locally.
- Use
- Use
reportlabto generate PDFs when creating new documents. - Use
pdfplumber(orpypdf) for text extraction and quick checks; do not rely on it for layout fidelity. - After each meaningful update, re-render pages and verify alignment, spacing, and legibility.
Temp and output conventions
- Use
tmp/pdfs/for intermediate files; delete when done. - Write final artifacts under
output/pdf/when working in this repo. - Keep filenames stable and descriptive.
Dependencies (install if missing)
Prefer uv for dependency management.
Python packages:
uv pip install reportlab pdfplumber pypdf
If uv is unavailable:
python3 -m pip install reportlab pdfplumber pypdf
System tools (for rendering):
# macOS (Homebrew)
brew install poppler
# Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt-get install -y poppler-utils
If installation isn't possible in this environment, tell the user which dependency is missing and how to install it locally.
Environment
No required environment variables.
Rendering command
pdftoppm -png $INPUT_PDF $OUTPUT_PREFIX
Quality expectations
- Maintain polished visual design: consistent typography, spacing, margins, and section hierarchy.
- Avoid rendering issues: clipped text, overlapping elements, broken tables, black squares, or unreadable glyphs.
- Charts, tables, and images must be sharp, aligned, and clearly labeled.
- Use ASCII hyphens only. Avoid U+2011 (non-breaking hyphen) and other Unicode dashes.
- Citations and references must be human-readable; never leave tool tokens or placeholder strings.
Final checks
- Do not deliver until the latest PNG inspection shows zero visual or formatting defects.
- Confirm headers/footers, page numbering, and section transitions look polished.
- Keep intermediate files organized or remove them after final approval.
FAQ
What does the pdf skill do?
Use when tasks involve reading, creating, or reviewing PDF files where rendering and layout matter; prefer visual checks by rendering pages (Poppler) and use Python tools such as reportlab, pdfplumber, and pypdf for generation and extraction.
How do I install pdf?
Run npx skills add https://github.com/openai/skills --skill pdf 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/pdf/ (personal) or .claude/skills/pdf/ (project).
Which AI agents can use pdf?
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 pdf safe to install?
Security partners have reviewed it: Gen Agent Trust Hub passed; Socket passed; Snyk flagged items to review; Runlayer flagged items to review; ZeroLeaks passed. As with any skill, read the SKILL.md and bundled scripts before installing.
Who maintains pdf?
It is published by openai in openai/skills, and it is an official skill from the maker of the technology it covers. It has 13,441 recorded installs.
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