# DOCX

> 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, Google Docs, or general coding tasks unrelated to document generation.

- Skill: `foxl-ai/docx` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 60 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add foxl-ai/docx`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/foxl-ai/docx/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Docs & Writing
- License: Proprietary. LICENSE.txt has complete terms
- Author: foxl-ai (https://skillmd.com/u/foxl-ai)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/foxl-ai/docx

---


# DOCX creation, editing, and analysis

## Overview

A .docx file is a ZIP archive containing XML files.

## Quick Reference

| Task | Approach |
|------|----------|
| Read/analyze content | `officecli view` - see Reading Content below |
| SEE the rendered document | `officecli view <file> screenshot` / `html` - see Rendering below |
| Create new document | Use `docx-js` - see Creating New Documents below |
| Edit existing document | Unpack → edit XML → repack - see Editing Existing Documents below |

### OfficeCLI (the primary read/render tool)

`officecli` is a single self-contained binary that reads and renders .docx
directly. It does NOT need LibreOffice, Word, or any Office install. Verify
it is present before relying on it:

```bash
officecli --version
```

If it is missing, install it (then open a new shell if the binary is still not
found):

```bash
# macOS / Linux
curl -fsSL https://d.officecli.ai/install.sh | bash
# Windows (PowerShell)
irm https://d.officecli.ai/install.ps1 | iex
```

Runs on macOS, Linux and Windows (x64 and arm64 on each, plus musl/Alpine
Linux) - the installer picks the right binary. **Write output next to the
document or into a directory you created, not `/tmp`**: the examples below use
`/tmp` for brevity, but it does not exist on Windows - use `$env:TEMP` there, or
a relative `out\` folder.

Only `.docx` is supported. Legacy binary `.doc` is NOT (see Legacy .doc below).

### Reading Content

```bash
# Plain text (paginate with --start/--end, cap with --max-lines)
officecli view document.docx text
officecli view document.docx text --start 1 --end 50

# Heading hierarchy / document structure
officecli view document.docx outline

# Text WITH formatting annotations (font, size, bold, style; equations as LaTeX)
officecli view document.docx annotated

# Machine-readable tree, one node and its children
officecli get document.docx /body --depth 1 --json

# Find things: CSS-like selectors
officecli query document.docx 'run:contains("TODO")'

# Document problems (overflow, missing alt text, ...)
officecli view document.docx issues --json

# Raw XML access (when you need to hand-edit - see Editing Existing Documents)
python scripts/office/unpack.py document.docx unpacked/
```

### Rendering (this is how you SEE the document)

`officecli` renders the real document layout, so you can look at your own
output and fix what is visibly wrong. Prefer this over converting to PDF.

```bash
# PNG you can open and inspect. -o is REQUIRED for a predictable path;
# without it officecli writes a random temp file and prints the path.
officecli view document.docx screenshot -o /tmp/page1.png

# Specific pages (docx uses --page; comma list or range)
officecli view document.docx screenshot --page 1,3,5 -o /tmp/pages.png
officecli view document.docx screenshot --page 2-5 -o /tmp/pages.png

# Contact sheet: every page tiled into ONE image
officecli view document.docx screenshot --grid -o /tmp/contact.png
officecli view document.docx screenshot --grid 4 -o /tmp/contact.png

# Bigger raster (default 1600x1200)
officecli view document.docx screenshot --screenshot-width 1920 -o /tmp/page.png

# Static HTML snapshot (assets inlined, single file)
officecli view document.docx html -o /tmp/document.html

# Live preview that auto-refreshes on every officecli edit
officecli watch document.docx        # http://localhost:26315
officecli unwatch document.docx
```

**`screenshot` writes ONE PNG, never a numbered series.** A `--page` range is
composed into that single image, and `--grid` tiles it. There is no
`page-01.png, page-02.png` output mode - if you want one file per page, run
the command once per page with a different `-o`.

PNG capture needs a headless browser on the machine (Playwright / Chrome /
Edge / Firefox, auto-detected). The renderer itself is built in; only the
capture step needs the browser. `--render native` (real Word rasterization)
is Windows-only and errors elsewhere with `native_unavailable`.

### Verification Loop

After writing a .docx, look at it before declaring success:

1. `officecli validate document.docx` - schema check (structure only)
2. `officecli view document.docx issues --json` - content/format problems
3. `officecli view document.docx screenshot --grid -o /tmp/check.png` - then
   READ the image and list what is wrong
4. Fix, re-render, re-read. Do not declare success on the first pass.

**Flush before a non-officecli program reads the file.** officecli keeps a
resident process, so python-docx / a validator / an upload may otherwise read
a stale file on disk:

```bash
officecli save document.docx    # flush, keep resident warm
officecli close document.docx   # flush + release
```

### Tracked Changes

`officecli` reads and applies revisions directly - no LibreOffice, no macro.

```bash
# Read revisions (query selectors are UNPREFIXED - no leading slash)
officecli query document.docx revision
officecli query document.docx 'revision[revision.author=Alice]'
officecli query document.docx 'revision[revision.type=ins]'

# Accept / reject EVERYTHING (set paths DO take the leading slash)
officecli set document.docx /revision --prop revision.action=accept
officecli set document.docx /revision --prop revision.action=reject

# Accept / reject a subset
officecli set document.docx '/revision[@author=Alice]' --prop revision.action=accept
officecli set document.docx '/revision[@type=del]' --prop revision.action=reject

# Turn the tracking MODE on (distinct from the revision data)
officecli set document.docx /settings --prop trackRevisions=true
```

Covers ins, del, format, moveFrom, moveTo, paraMarkIns, rPrChange, pPrChange,
sectPrChange, and the table-property changes. Use `revision.*` keys - the
legacy `trackChange.*` keys were removed with no alias. `revision.action`
cannot be combined with a creation key in one call.

`officecli set` edits IN PLACE. To keep the original and write a clean copy,
use the wrapper (it copies first, applies, then flushes the resident):

```bash
python scripts/accept_changes.py input.docx output.docx
python scripts/accept_changes.py input.docx output.docx --reject
```

### Legacy .doc, and real PDF output

Neither is available through `officecli`, and neither is faked here:

- **`.doc` / `.rtf` (pre-2007 binary or RTF)**: `officecli` supports exactly
  `.docx`, `.xlsx`, `.pptx`. Reading `.doc` needs a format-handler plugin that
  is not published. Ask the user to re-save as `.docx`, or convert it with
  whatever converter the machine actually has (`soffice --headless
  --convert-to docx file.doc` if LibreOffice happens to be installed, or
  `pandoc`). Do NOT assume LibreOffice exists - probe first:
  `command -v soffice` on macOS/Linux,
  `Get-Command soffice -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue` in PowerShell.
- **PDF export**: `officecli view <file> pdf` requires an `exporter` plugin
  that is NOT shipped with the binary and has no published installer, so treat
  PDF as unavailable. If the deliverable must be a PDF, say so and ask how the
  user wants it produced. For *looking at* the document, use `screenshot` /
  `html` above - going through PDF buys nothing.

---

## 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,
        InternalHyperlink, Bookmark, FootnoteReferenceRun, PositionalTab,
        PositionalTabAlignment, PositionalTabRelativeTo, PositionalTabLeader,
        TabStopType, TabStopPosition, Column, SectionType,
        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
// ❌ WRONG - never manually insert bullet characters
new Paragraph({ children: [new TextRun("• Item")] })  // BAD
new Paragraph({ children: [new TextRun("\u2022 Item")] })  // BAD

// ✅ CORRECT - use numbering config with LevelFormat.BULLET
const doc = new Document({
  numbering: {
    config: [
      { reference: "bullets",
        levels: [{ level: 0, format: LevelFormat.BULLET, text: "•", 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. Without both, tables render incorrectly on some platforms.

```javascript
// CRITICAL: Always set table width for consistent rendering
// 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 (percentages break in Google Docs)
  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 }, // Cell padding (internal, not added to width)
          children: [new Paragraph({ children: [new TextRun("Cell")] })]
        })
      ]
    })
  ]
})
```

**Table width calculation:**

Always use `WidthType.DXA` — `WidthType.PERCENTAGE` breaks in Google Docs.

```javascript
// Table width = sum of columnWidths = content width
// US Letter with 1" margins: 12240 - 2880 = 9360 DXA
width: { size: 9360, type: WidthType.DXA },
columnWidths: [7000, 2360]  // Must sum to table width
```

**Width rules:**
- **Always use `WidthType.DXA`** — never `WidthType.PERCENTAGE` (incompatible with Google Docs)
- Table width must equal the sum of `columnWidths`
- Cell `width` must match corresponding `columnWidth`
- Cell `margins` are internal padding - they reduce content area, not add to cell width
- For full-width tables: use content width (page width minus left and right margins)

### 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
// CRITICAL: PageBreak must be inside a Paragraph
new Paragraph({ children: [new PageBreak()] })

// Or use pageBreakBefore
new Paragraph({ pageBreakBefore: true, children: [new TextRun("New page")] })
```

### Hyperlinks

```javascript
// External link
new Paragraph({
  children: [new ExternalHyperlink({
    children: [new TextRun({ text: "Click here", style: "Hyperlink" })],
    link: "https://example.com",
  })]
})

// Internal link (bookmark + reference)
// 1. Create bookmark at destination
new Paragraph({ heading: HeadingLevel.HEADING_1, children: [
  new Bookmark({ id: "chapter1", children: [new TextRun("Chapter 1")] }),
]})
// 2. Link to it
new Paragraph({ children: [new InternalHyperlink({
  children: [new TextRun({ text: "See Chapter 1", style: "Hyperlink" })],
  anchor: "chapter1",
})]})
```

### Footnotes

```javascript
const doc = new Document({
  footnotes: {
    1: { children: [new Paragraph("Source: Annual Report 2024")] },
    2: { children: [new Paragraph("See appendix for methodology")] },
  },
  sections: [{
    children: [new Paragraph({
      children: [
        new TextRun("Revenue grew 15%"),
        new FootnoteReferenceRun(1),
        new TextRun(" using adjusted metrics"),
        new FootnoteReferenceRun(2),
      ],
    })]
  }]
});
```

### Tab Stops

```javascript
// Right-align text on same line (e.g., date opposite a title)
new Paragraph({
  children: [
    new TextRun("Company Name"),
    new TextRun("\tJanuary 2025"),
  ],
  tabStops: [{ type: TabStopType.RIGHT, position: TabStopPosition.MAX }],
})

// Dot leader (e.g., TOC-style)
new Paragraph({
  children: [
    new TextRun("Introduction"),
    new TextRun({ children: [
      new PositionalTab({
        alignment: PositionalTabAlignment.RIGHT,
        relativeTo: PositionalTabRelativeTo.MARGIN,
        leader: PositionalTabLeader.DOT,
      }),
      "3",
    ]}),
  ],
})
```

### Multi-Column Layouts

```javascript
// Equal-width columns
sections: [{
  properties: {
    column: {
      count: 2,          // number of columns
      space: 720,        // gap between columns in DXA (720 = 0.5 inch)
      equalWidth: true,
      separate: true,    // vertical line between columns
    },
  },
  children: [/* content flows naturally across columns */]
}]

// Custom-width columns (equalWidth must be false)
sections: [{
  properties: {
    column: {
      equalWidth: false,
      children: [
        new Column({ width: 5400, space: 720 }),
        new Column({ width: 3240 }),
      ],
    },
  },
  children: [/* content */]
}]
```

Force a column break with a new section using `type: SectionType.NEXT_COLUMN`.

### Table of Contents

```javascript
// CRITICAL: 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 } } // 1440 = 1 inch
  },
  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; use US Letter (12240 x 15840 DXA) for US documents
- **Landscape: pass portrait dimensions** - docx-js swaps width/height internally; pass short edge as `width`, long edge as `height`, and set `orientation: PageOrientation.LANDSCAPE`
- **Never use `\n`** - use separate Paragraph elements
- **Never use unicode bullets** - use `LevelFormat.BULLET` with numbering config
- **PageBreak must be in Paragraph** - standalone creates invalid XML
- **ImageRun requires `type`** - always specify png/jpg/etc
- **Always set table `width` with DXA** - never use `WidthType.PERCENTAGE` (breaks in Google Docs)
- **Tables need dual widths** - `columnWidths` array AND cell `width`, both must match
- **Table width = sum of columnWidths** - for DXA, ensure they add up exactly
- **Always add cell margins** - use `margins: { top: 80, bottom: 80, left: 120, right: 120 }` for readable padding
- **Use `ShadingType.CLEAR`** - never SOLID for table shading
- **Never use tables as dividers/rules** - cells have minimum height and render as empty boxes (including in headers/footers); use `border: { bottom: { style: BorderStyle.SINGLE, size: 6, color: "2E75B6", space: 1 } }` on a Paragraph instead. For two-column footers, use tab stops (see Tab Stops section), not tables
- **TOC requires HeadingLevel only** - no custom styles on heading paragraphs
- **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 (`&#x201C;` etc.) so they survive editing. Use `--merge-runs false` to skip run merging.

### Step 2: Edit XML

Edit files in `unpacked/word/`. See XML Reference below for patterns.

**Use "Claude" as the author** for tracked changes and comments, unless the user explicitly requests use of a different name.

**Use the Edit tool directly for string replacement. Do not write Python scripts.** Scripts introduce unnecessary complexity. The Edit tool shows exactly what is being replaced.

**CRITICAL: Use smart quotes for new content.** When adding text with apostrophes or quotes, use XML entities to produce smart quotes:
```xml
<!-- Use these entities for professional typography -->
<w:t>Here&#x2019;s a quote: &#x201C;Hello&#x201D;</w:t>
```
| Entity | Character |
|--------|-----------|
| `&#x2018;` | ‘ (left single) |
| `&#x2019;` | ’ (right single / apostrophe) |
| `&#x201C;` | “ (left double) |
| `&#x201D;` | ” (right double) |

**Adding comments:** Use `comment.py` to handle boilerplate across multiple XML files (text must be pre-escaped XML):
```bash
python scripts/comment.py unpacked/ 0 "Comment text with &amp; and &#x2019;"
python scripts/comment.py unpacked/ 1 "Reply text" --parent 0  # reply to comment 0
python scripts/comment.py unpacked/ 0 "Text" --author "Custom Author"  # custom author name
```
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

**Auto-repair won't fix:**
- Malformed XML, invalid element nesting, missing relationships, schema violations

### Common Pitfalls

- **Replace entire `<w:r>` elements**: When adding tracked changes, replace the whole `<w:r>...</w:r>` block with `<w:del>...<w:ins>...` as siblings. Don't inject tracked change tags inside a run.
- **Preserve `<w:rPr>` formatting**: Copy the original run's `<w:rPr>` block into your tracked change runs to maintain bold, font size, etc.

---

## 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="Claude" 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="Claude" 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="Claude" w:date="...">
  <w:r><w:delText>30</w:delText></w:r>
</w:del>
<w:ins w:id="2" w:author="Claude" 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/list items** - when removing ALL content from a paragraph, also mark the paragraph mark as deleted so it merges with the next paragraph. Add `<w:del/>` inside `<w:pPr><w:rPr>`:
```xml
<w:p>
  <w:pPr>
    <w:numPr>...</w:numPr>  <!-- list numbering if present -->
    <w:rPr>
      <w:del w:id="1" w:author="Claude" w:date="2025-01-01T00:00:00Z"/>
    </w:rPr>
  </w:pPr>
  <w:del w:id="2" w:author="Claude" w:date="2025-01-01T00:00:00Z">
    <w:r><w:delText>Entire paragraph content being deleted...</w:delText></w:r>
  </w:del>
</w:p>
```
Without the `<w:del/>` in `<w:pPr><w:rPr>`, accepting changes leaves an empty paragraph/list item.

**Rejecting another author's insertion** - nest deletion inside their insertion:
```xml
<w:ins w:author="Jane" w:id="5">
  <w:del w:author="Claude" w:id="10">
    <w:r><w:delText>their inserted text</w:delText></w:r>
  </w:del>
</w:ins>
```

**Restoring another author's deletion** - add insertion after (don't modify their 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="Claude" w:id="10">
  <w:r><w:t>deleted text</w:t></w:r>
</w:ins>
```

### Comments

After running `comment.py` (see Step 2), add markers to document.xml. For replies, use `--parent` flag and nest markers inside the parent's.

**CRITICAL: `<w:commentRangeStart>` and `<w:commentRangeEnd>` are siblings of `<w:r>`, never inside `<w:r>`.**

```xml
<!-- Comment markers are direct children of w:p, never inside w:r -->
<w:commentRangeStart w:id="0"/>
<w:del w:id="1" w:author="Claude" w:date="2025-01-01T00:00:00Z">
  <w:r><w:delText>deleted</w:delText></w:r>
</w:del>
<w:r><w:t> more 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>

<!-- Comment 0 with reply 1 nested inside -->
<w:commentRangeStart w:id="0"/>
  <w:commentRangeStart w:id="1"/>
  <w:r><w:t>text</w:t></w:r>
  <w:commentRangeEnd w:id="1"/>
<w:commentRangeEnd w:id="0"/>
<w:r><w:rPr><w:rStyle w:val="CommentReference"/></w:rPr><w:commentReference w:id="0"/></w:r>
<w:r><w:rPr><w:rStyle w:val="CommentReference"/></w:rPr><w:commentReference w:id="1"/></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>
```

---

## Dependencies

- **officecli**: reading, rendering (PNG/HTML), tracked changes, validation.
  `curl -fsSL https://d.officecli.ai/install.sh | bash` - verify with
  `officecli --version`. This is the primary tool.
- **a headless browser** (Playwright / Chrome / Edge / Firefox): only needed
  for `view ... screenshot`; auto-detected.
- **docx**: `npm install -g docx` (creating new documents with docx-js)
- **python**: `scripts/office/{unpack,pack,validate}.py` for raw-XML editing

Not required: LibreOffice, Word, Poppler/`pdftoppm`, pandoc. If a task genuinely
needs a legacy `.doc` conversion or a real PDF, see "Legacy .doc, and real PDF
output" above - check what the machine has instead of assuming.

