Markdown to Office Skill

Overview

This skill enables conversion from Markdown to various Office formats using Pandoc - the universal document converter. Convert your Markdown files to professional Word documents, PowerPoint presentations, PDFs, and more while preserving formatting and structure.

How to Use

1. Provide the Markdown content or file
2. Specify the target format (docx, pptx, pdf, etc.)
3. Optionally provide a reference template for styling
4. I'll convert using Pandoc with optimal settings

Example prompts:

• "Convert this README.md to a professional Word document"
• "Turn my markdown notes into a PowerPoint presentation"
• "Generate a PDF from this markdown with custom styling"
• "Create a Word doc from this markdown using company template"

Domain Knowledge

Pandoc Fundamentals

bash
# Basic conversion
pandoc input.md -o output.docx
pandoc input.md -o output.pdf
pandoc input.md -o output.pptx

# With template
pandoc input.md --reference-doc=template.docx -o output.docx

# Multiple inputs
pandoc ch1.md ch2.md ch3.md -o book.docx

Supported Conversions

| From | To | Command | |------|-----|---------| | Markdown | Word | pandoc in.md -o out.docx | | Markdown | PDF | pandoc in.md -o out.pdf | | Markdown | PowerPoint | pandoc in.md -o out.pptx | | Markdown | HTML | pandoc in.md -o out.html | | Markdown | LaTeX | pandoc in.md -o out.tex | | Markdown | EPUB | pandoc in.md -o out.epub |

Markdown to Word (.docx)

Basic Conversion

bash
pandoc document.md -o document.docx

With Template (Reference Doc)

bash
# First create a template by converting sample
pandoc sample.md -o reference.docx

# Edit reference.docx styles in Word, then use it
pandoc input.md --reference-doc=reference.docx -o output.docx

With Table of Contents

bash
pandoc document.md --toc --toc-depth=3 -o document.docx

With Metadata

bash
pandoc document.md \
  --metadata title="My Report" \
  --metadata author="John Doe" \
  --metadata date="2024-01-15" \
  -o document.docx

Markdown to PDF

Via LaTeX (Best Quality)

bash
# Requires LaTeX installation
pandoc document.md -o document.pdf

# With custom settings
pandoc document.md \
  --pdf-engine=xelatex \
  -V geometry:margin=1in \
  -V fontsize=12pt \
  -o document.pdf

Via HTML/wkhtmltopdf

bash
pandoc document.md \
  --pdf-engine=wkhtmltopdf \
  --css=style.css \
  -o document.pdf

PDF Options

bash
pandoc document.md \
  -V papersize:a4 \
  -V geometry:margin=2cm \
  -V fontfamily:libertinus \
  -V colorlinks:true \
  --toc \
  -o document.pdf

Markdown to PowerPoint (.pptx)

Basic Conversion

bash
pandoc slides.md -o presentation.pptx

Markdown Structure for Slides

markdown
---
title: Presentation Title
author: Author Name
date: January 2024
---

# Section Header (creates section divider)

## Slide Title

- Bullet point 1
- Bullet point 2
  - Sub-bullet

## Another Slide

Content here

::: notes
Speaker notes go here (not visible in slides)
:::

## Slide with Image

![Description](image.png){width=80%}

## Two Column Slide

:::::::::::::: {.columns}
::: {.column width="50%"}
Left column content
:::

::: {.column width="50%"}
Right column content
:::
::::::::::::::

With Template

bash
# Use corporate PowerPoint template
pandoc slides.md --reference-doc=template.pptx -o presentation.pptx

YAML Frontmatter

Add metadata at the top of your Markdown:

yaml
---
title: "Document Title"
author: "Author Name"
date: "2024-01-15"
abstract: "Brief description"
toc: true
toc-depth: 2
numbersections: true
geometry: margin=1in
fontsize: 11pt
documentclass: report
---

# First Chapter
...

Python Integration

python
import subprocess
import os

def md_to_docx(input_path, output_path, template=None):
    """Convert Markdown to Word document."""
    cmd = ['pandoc', input_path, '-o', output_path]
    
    if template:
        cmd.extend(['--reference-doc', template])
    
    subprocess.run(cmd, check=True)
    return output_path

def md_to_pdf(input_path, output_path, **options):
    """Convert Markdown to PDF with options."""
    cmd = ['pandoc', input_path, '-o', output_path]
    
    if options.get('toc'):
        cmd.append('--toc')
    
    if options.get('margin'):
        cmd.extend(['-V', f"geometry:margin={options['margin']}"])
    
    subprocess.run(cmd, check=True)
    return output_path

def md_to_pptx(input_path, output_path, template=None):
    """Convert Markdown to PowerPoint."""
    cmd = ['pandoc', input_path, '-o', output_path]
    
    if template:
        cmd.extend(['--reference-doc', template])
    
    subprocess.run(cmd, check=True)
    return output_path

pypandoc (Python Wrapper)

python
import pypandoc

# Simple conversion
output = pypandoc.convert_file('input.md', 'docx', outputfile='output.docx')

# With options
output = pypandoc.convert_file(
    'input.md', 
    'docx',
    outputfile='output.docx',
    extra_args=['--toc', '--reference-doc=template.docx']
)

# From string
md_content = "# Hello\n\nThis is markdown."
output = pypandoc.convert_text(md_content, 'docx', format='md', outputfile='output.docx')

Best Practices

1. Use Templates: Create a reference document for consistent branding
2. Structure Headers: Use consistent heading levels (## for slides, # for sections)
3. Test Incrementally: Convert small sections first to verify formatting
4. Include Metadata: Use YAML frontmatter for document properties
5. Handle Images: Use relative paths and specify dimensions

Common Patterns

Batch Conversion

python
import subprocess
from pathlib import Path

def batch_convert(input_dir, output_format, output_dir=None):
    """Convert all markdown files in a directory."""
    input_path = Path(input_dir)
    output_path = Path(output_dir) if output_dir else input_path
    
    for md_file in input_path.glob('*.md'):
        output_file = output_path / md_file.with_suffix(f'.{output_format}').name
        subprocess.run([
            'pandoc', str(md_file), '-o', str(output_file)
        ], check=True)
        print(f"Converted: {md_file.name} -> {output_file.name}")

batch_convert('./docs', 'docx', './output')

Report Generator

python
def generate_report(title, sections, output_path, template=None):
    """Generate Word report from structured data."""
    
    # Build markdown
    md_content = f"""---
title: "{title}"
date: "{datetime.now().strftime('%B %d, %Y')}"
---

"""
    for section_title, content in sections.items():
        md_content += f"# {section_title}\n\n{content}\n\n"
    
    # Write temp file
    with open('temp_report.md', 'w') as f:
        f.write(md_content)
    
    # Convert
    cmd = ['pandoc', 'temp_report.md', '-o', output_path, '--toc']
    if template:
        cmd.extend(['--reference-doc', template])
    
    subprocess.run(cmd, check=True)
    os.remove('temp_report.md')

Examples

Example 1: Technical Documentation

python
import subprocess

# Create comprehensive markdown
doc = """---
title: "API Documentation"
author: "Dev Team"
date: "2024-01-15"
toc: true
toc-depth: 2
---

# Introduction

This document describes the REST API for our service.

## Authentication

All API requests require an API key in the header:

Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY

## Endpoints

### GET /users

Retrieve all users.

**Response:**

| Field | Type | Description |
|-------|------|-------------|
| id | integer | User ID |
| name | string | Full name |
| email | string | Email address |

### POST /users

Create a new user.

**Request Body:**

{ "name": "John Doe", "email": "john@example.com" }

## Error Codes

| Code | Meaning |
|------|---------|
| 400 | Bad Request |
| 401 | Unauthorized |
| 404 | Not Found |
| 500 | Server Error |
"""

# Save markdown
with open('api_docs.md', 'w') as f:
    f.write(doc)

# Convert to Word
subprocess.run([
    'pandoc', 'api_docs.md',
    '-o', 'api_documentation.docx',
    '--toc',
    '--reference-doc', 'company_template.docx'
], check=True)

# Convert to PDF
subprocess.run([
    'pandoc', 'api_docs.md',
    '-o', 'api_documentation.pdf',
    '--toc',
    '-V', 'geometry:margin=1in',
    '-V', 'fontsize=11pt'
], check=True)

Example 2: Presentation from Markdown

python
slides_md = """---
title: "Q4 Business Review"
author: "Sales Team"
date: "January 2024"
---

# Overview

## Agenda

- Q4 Performance Summary
- Regional Highlights
- 2024 Outlook
- Q&A

# Q4 Performance

## Key Metrics

- Revenue: $12.5M (+15% YoY)
- New Customers: 250
- Retention Rate: 94%

## Regional Performance

:::::::::::::: {.columns}
::: {.column width="50%"}
**North America**

- Revenue: $6.2M
- Growth: +18%
:::

::: {.column width="50%"}
**Europe**

- Revenue: $4.1M
- Growth: +12%
:::
::::::::::::::

# 2024 Outlook

## Strategic Priorities

1. Expand APAC presence
2. Launch new product line
3. Improve customer onboarding

## Revenue Targets

| Quarter | Target |
|---------|--------|
| Q1 | $13M |
| Q2 | $14M |
| Q3 | $15M |
| Q4 | $16M |

# Thank You

## Questions?

Contact: sales@company.com
"""

with open('presentation.md', 'w') as f:
    f.write(slides_md)

subprocess.run([
    'pandoc', 'presentation.md',
    '-o', 'q4_review.pptx',
    '--reference-doc', 'company_slides.pptx'
], check=True)

Limitations

• Complex Word formatting may not convert perfectly
• PDF conversion requires LaTeX or wkhtmltopdf
• PowerPoint animations not supported
• Some advanced tables may need manual adjustment
• Image positioning can be tricky

Installation

bash
# macOS
brew install pandoc

# Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt-get install pandoc

# Windows
choco install pandoc

# Python wrapper
pip install pypandoc

Resources

• Pandoc User's Guide
• GitHub Repository
• Pandoc Templates
• pypandoc Documentation