# Pandoc Common Issues

> Sub-skill of pandoc: Common Issues (+1).

- Skill: `vamseeachanta/pandoc-common-issues` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add vamseeachanta/pandoc-common-issues`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/vamseeachanta/pandoc-common-issues/raw
- Safety review: PASS (external: skill-scanner WARNING, skillspector PASS)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Docs & Writing
- Author: vamseeachanta (https://skillmd.com/u/vamseeachanta)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/vamseeachanta/pandoc-common-issues

---


# Common Issues (+1)

## Common Issues


#### PDF Engine Not Found

```bash
# Check if xelatex is installed
which xelatex

# Install on Ubuntu
sudo apt-get install texlive-xetex

# Use pdflatex instead
pandoc doc.md -o doc.pdf --pdf-engine=pdflatex
```

#### Missing LaTeX Packages

```bash
# Install specific package (TeX Live)
tlmgr install <package-name>

# Install common packages
sudo apt-get install texlive-latex-extra texlive-fonts-extra

# Check which package provides a file
tlmgr search --file <filename>
```

#### Unicode Characters in PDF

```bash
# Use XeLaTeX for Unicode support
pandoc doc.md -o doc.pdf \
    --pdf-engine=xelatex \
    -V mainfont="DejaVu Sans"
```

#### Images Not Found

```bash
# Use resource path
pandoc doc.md -o doc.pdf \
    --resource-path=.:images:assets

# Or use absolute paths in markdown
![Caption](/absolute/path/to/image.png)
```

#### Citations Not Processing

```bash
# Ensure --citeproc is included
pandoc doc.md -o doc.pdf \
    --citeproc \
    --bibliography=refs.bib

# Check BibTeX file syntax
biber --tool refs.bib
```


## Debug Mode


```bash
# Verbose output
pandoc doc.md -o doc.pdf --verbose

# Show intermediate LaTeX
pandoc doc.md -t latex > debug.tex

# Check Pandoc version and features
pandoc --version

# List supported formats
pandoc --list-input-formats
pandoc --list-output-formats
```