local-pdf-editor

name	local-pdf-editor
description	Edit PDF files locally without Canva API. Use this skill when user provides a PDF file and wants to modify content, extract text, merge/split pages, or update specific sections. Maintains original formatting, spacing, fonts, and layout. Does NOT require Canva. Output goes to the output/ folder. Use for: "edit this PDF", "change page 15", "update text in PDF".

Local PDF Editor Skill

Edit and manipulate PDF files locally without requiring Canva API.

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⚠️ CRITICAL DESIGN PRESERVATION RULES (MANDATORY)

These rules are NON-NEGOTIABLE. Violating them will break the PDF layout.

🚫 NEVER DO THESE THINGS:

1. NEVER add new text boxes - Only modify text in EXISTING locations
2. NEVER add new elements - Only modify EXISTING elements
3. NEVER change font sizes - Unless user EXPLICITLY requests it
4. NEVER change font styles - Unless user EXPLICITLY requests it
5. NEVER change text positions - Unless user EXPLICITLY requests it
6. NEVER change margins/spacing - Unless user EXPLICITLY requests it
7. NEVER change page layouts - Unless user EXPLICITLY requests it
8. NEVER modify headers/footers - Unless user EXPLICITLY requests it
9. NEVER add/remove pages - Unless user EXPLICITLY requests it
10. NEVER modify form fields structure - Only update values

✅ ALWAYS DO THESE THINGS:

1. ALWAYS replace text in existing locations only
2. ALWAYS preserve all formatting (font, size, color, position)
3. ALWAYS analyze PDF structure first before any modification
4. ALWAYS identify editable text vs fixed graphics
5. ALWAYS convert to DOCX for complex edits, then back to PDF
6. ALWAYS verify layout is preserved after modifications

PDF Editing Limitations:

PDFs are designed for viewing, not editing. Direct text editing is LIMITED:

• Can replace text in form fields easily
• Can replace text in simple text blocks
• Complex layouts may require DOCX conversion approach

How to Update Content (CORRECT WAY):

1. Convert PDF to DOCX (preserves layout better)
2. Edit text in DOCX (using docx preservation rules)
3. Convert back to PDF
4. Verify layout is preserved

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CRITICAL: Never Modify Original Files

1. ALWAYS copy the original to output/working/ first
2. ALL edits happen on the copy
3. SAVE results to output/pdf/
4. ORIGINAL file remains untouched

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when:

• User provides a PDF file and wants modifications
• Need to extract text from PDF
• Need to merge or split PDF pages (with explicit permission)
• Need to update specific content while maintaining layout
• User has NOT explicitly asked to use Canva

Capabilities

Read Operations (SAFE - No Risk)

• Extract text from PDF (all pages or specific)
• Extract images from PDF
• Get PDF metadata (pages, size, fonts)
• Analyze PDF structure
• Identify editable vs fixed elements

Write Operations (FOLLOW PRESERVATION RULES)

• Replace text in existing locations (NOT add new text)
• Update form field values (NOT add new fields)
• Merge multiple PDFs (with explicit permission)
• Split PDF into separate files (with explicit permission)

❌ Operations NOT Supported (To Preserve Design)

• Adding new text boxes
• Adding new elements
• Changing fonts/colors/sizes (unless explicitly requested)
• Changing layout or margins
• Adding/removing pages (unless explicitly requested)

Conversion

• PDF to DOCX (for easier editing, recommended approach)
• PDF to images (PNG/JPG)
• PDF to text
• DOCX back to PDF

Running Python Scripts (Virtual Environment)

IMPORTANT: Always use the virtual environment Python:

# Windows
.venv\Scripts\python.exe scripts/local/script_name.py

# macOS/Linux
.venv/bin/python scripts/local/script_name.py

Workflow for Content Modification

Step 1: Create Safe Copy

.venv\Scripts\python.exe scripts/local/safe_copy.py --source "input/document.pdf"

Step 2: Analyze the PDF

.venv\Scripts\python.exe scripts/local/pdf_utils.py "output/working/document_copy.pdf"

Step 3: For Text Modifications

# Convert to DOCX for easier editing
.venv\Scripts\python.exe scripts/local/pdf_to_docx.py --file "output/working/document_copy.pdf"

# Make modifications to the DOCX

# Convert back to PDF
.venv\Scripts\python.exe scripts/local/docx_to_pdf.py --file "output/working/document_copy.docx" --output "output/pdf/document_modified.pdf"

3-Mode Workflow

MODE 1: PLAN

• Analyze the PDF structure
• Document current state (pages, content)
• List proposed changes
• Identify what will NOT change

MODE 2: CLARIFY

• Confirm which content to modify
• Ask about formatting preferences
• Verify output requirements

MODE 3: IMPLEMENT

• Create working copy
• Make modifications
• Save to output folder
• Report results

Research Capabilities

This skill can:

• Search the web for PDF manipulation techniques
• Look up PDF format specifications
• Research best practices for maintaining formatting
• Find solutions to specific PDF challenges

Available Scripts

• pdf_utils.py - Core PDF analysis and manipulation
• safe_copy.py - Create working copies safely

Todo List Tracking (REQUIRED)

ALWAYS use TodoWrite to track progress:

[
  {"content": "Create safe working copy", "status": "in_progress", "activeForm": "Creating safe copy"},
  {"content": "Analyze PDF structure", "status": "pending", "activeForm": "Analyzing PDF"},
  {"content": "Apply modifications", "status": "pending", "activeForm": "Applying changes"},
  {"content": "Save to output/pdf/", "status": "pending", "activeForm": "Saving result"}
]

Output Location

All modified files saved to:

• output/pdf/ - Modified PDFs
• output/working/ - Intermediate files