# PDF > Read, extract, and manipulate PDF files via a bundled Python script. Supports text extraction, table extraction (to markdown/JSON/CSV), metadata/info, PDF-to-image conversion, merge, split, rotate, extract embedded images, and password decrypt. Trigger whenever the user asks to read, inspect, extract, convert, merge, split, or manipulate a PDF file, or says phrases like "read pdf", "extract text from pdf", "pdf to text", "pdf tables", "pdf to image", "merge pdfs", "split pdf", "pdf info", "读 pdf", "看 pdf", "看看这个 pdf", "pdf 说了什么", "打开 pdf", "读一下 pdf", "提取 pdf 文字", "pdf 转图片", "合并 pdf", "拆分 pdf", "pdf 表格", "pdf 内容". Also trigger when the user mentions a .pdf file path and wants to inspect, read, or process it. - Skill: `jie-meng/pdf` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 3 files) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add jie-meng/pdf` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/jie-meng/pdf/raw - Safety review: pending - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Data & Analytics - License: Apache-2.0 - Author: jie-meng (https://skillmd.com/u/jie-meng) - Updated: 2026-09-21 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/jie-meng/pdf --- # When to Use This Skill - User mentions a `.pdf` file and wants to read, extract, or inspect its content - Text extraction: extract text from all or specific pages, with layout preservation - Table extraction: extract tables as markdown, JSON, or CSV - Metadata inspection: page count, title, author, creator, file size, encryption status - PDF to images: render pages as PNG for visual inspection (scanned/image PDFs, charts, diagrams) - Merge: combine multiple PDFs into one - Split: extract page ranges into separate files - Rotate: rotate specific pages - Extract images: extract embedded images from a PDF - Decrypt: remove password protection (when password is known) > **Scanned / image PDFs**: If text extraction returns empty or garbled results, the PDF is likely a scanned document. Use the `to-images` subcommand to convert pages to PNG — the AI agent can then read the content visually. This is more reliable and lightweight than OCR. # Prerequisites - `pypdf` — PDF manipulation (merge, split, rotate, metadata, decrypt, extract images) - `pdfplumber` — text and table extraction - `pypdfium2` (optional) — PDF-to-image conversion (`to-images` subcommand) Pre-flight check: ```bash python3 -c "import pypdf; print('pypdf', pypdf.__version__)" python3 -c "import pdfplumber; print('pdfplumber', pdfplumber.__version__)" # Optional: check image conversion support python3 -c "import pypdfium2; print('pypdfium2', pypdfium2.__version__)" ``` Install if missing: ```bash pip install pypdf pdfplumber pip install pypdfium2 # optional, for to-images ``` # Workflow 1. Determine what the user wants (read text, extract tables, inspect metadata, convert to images, merge, split, etc.) 2. Run the appropriate script subcommand 3. Read the output (text, markdown table, JSON, or confirmation) and present it to the user 4. For multi-step tasks, chain subcommands in sequence All commands use: ```bash python3 scripts/pdf_ops.py [options] ``` The script path is relative to this skill directory. # Command Reference ## Inspect PDF metadata ```bash python3 scripts/pdf_ops.py info document.pdf ``` Shows page count, title, author, subject, creator, producer, creation date, file size, and encryption status. ## Extract text ```bash # Extract text from all pages python3 scripts/pdf_ops.py text document.pdf # Extract text from specific pages (1-based) python3 scripts/pdf_ops.py text document.pdf --pages 1-5 # Extract text from a single page python3 scripts/pdf_ops.py text document.pdf --pages 3 # Combine specific pages and ranges python3 scripts/pdf_ops.py text document.pdf --pages 1,3,5-8 # Extract with layout preservation (keeps spatial arrangement) python3 scripts/pdf_ops.py text document.pdf --layout ``` ## Extract tables ```bash # Extract all tables as markdown (default) python3 scripts/pdf_ops.py tables document.pdf # Extract tables from specific pages python3 scripts/pdf_ops.py tables document.pdf --pages 2-4 # Extract as JSON python3 scripts/pdf_ops.py tables document.pdf --format json # Extract as CSV (one file per table) python3 scripts/pdf_ops.py tables document.pdf --format csv --output-dir ./tables/ ``` ## Convert PDF to images Renders each page as a PNG image. Useful for scanned PDFs, charts, diagrams, or any visual content. ```bash # Convert all pages (output to same directory as PDF) python3 scripts/pdf_ops.py to-images document.pdf # Convert specific pages python3 scripts/pdf_ops.py to-images document.pdf --pages 1-3 # Output to a specific directory python3 scripts/pdf_ops.py to-images document.pdf --output-dir ./pages/ # Control resolution (default: 2.0x scale) python3 scripts/pdf_ops.py to-images document.pdf --scale 3.0 ``` Output files are named `_page_1.png`, `_page_2.png`, etc. ## Merge PDFs ```bash # Merge multiple PDFs into one python3 scripts/pdf_ops.py merge file1.pdf file2.pdf file3.pdf -o merged.pdf # Merge all PDFs in a directory (alphabetical order) python3 scripts/pdf_ops.py merge *.pdf -o combined.pdf ``` ## Split PDF ```bash # Extract specific pages into a new PDF python3 scripts/pdf_ops.py split document.pdf --pages 1-5 -o first_five.pdf # Extract a single page python3 scripts/pdf_ops.py split document.pdf --pages 3 -o page3.pdf # Split into individual pages (one file per page) python3 scripts/pdf_ops.py split document.pdf --each --output-dir ./pages/ ``` ## Rotate pages ```bash # Rotate all pages 90° clockwise python3 scripts/pdf_ops.py rotate document.pdf 90 -o rotated.pdf # Rotate specific pages python3 scripts/pdf_ops.py rotate document.pdf 90 --pages 1,3 -o rotated.pdf # Rotate counter-clockwise python3 scripts/pdf_ops.py rotate document.pdf 270 -o rotated.pdf ``` Valid angles: 90, 180, 270. ## Extract embedded images ```bash # Extract all images to a directory python3 scripts/pdf_ops.py extract-images document.pdf --output-dir ./images/ # Extract from specific pages python3 scripts/pdf_ops.py extract-images document.pdf --pages 1-3 --output-dir ./images/ ``` ## Decrypt a password-protected PDF ```bash python3 scripts/pdf_ops.py decrypt encrypted.pdf --password secret -o decrypted.pdf ``` # Composing Multi-Step Workflows The commands above are building blocks. Combine them to accomplish complex user requests. Examples: **"Read this scanned PDF":** 1. `text` to attempt text extraction — if empty, it's a scanned document 2. `to-images` to render pages as PNGs 3. Read the images visually **"Extract the tables from pages 3-5 and save as CSV":** 1. `tables --pages 3-5 --format csv --output-dir ./tables/` to extract and save **"Merge these three PDFs but only include pages 1-10 from the first one":** 1. `split` to extract pages 1-10 from the first PDF 2. `merge` the split output with the other two PDFs **"What's in this PDF?":** 1. `info` to see page count, title, etc. 2. `text --pages 1` to read the first page for a quick overview # Guidelines - **Read before manipulate**: always `info` or `text --pages 1` first to understand the document - **Large PDFs**: use `--pages` to limit extraction to relevant pages - **Empty text extraction**: if `text` returns nothing, the PDF is likely scanned/image-based — use `to-images` and read visually - **Output files**: `merge`, `split`, `rotate`, and `decrypt` require `-o` for the output path; they never overwrite the input file - **Table extraction**: not all PDFs have machine-readable tables; complex layouts may need visual inspection via `to-images`