local-docx-editor

name	local-docx-editor
description	Edit Word documents (DOCX) locally without Canva API. Use this skill when user provides a DOCX file and wants to modify content, update formatting, or restructure document. Maintains original styles, fonts, spacing, and layout. Does NOT require Canva. Output goes to output/ folder. Use for: "edit this document", "update section 3", "change Word file".

Local DOCX Editor Skill

Edit and manipulate Word documents locally without requiring Canva API.

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⚠️ CRITICAL DESIGN PRESERVATION RULES (MANDATORY)

These rules are NON-NEGOTIABLE. Violating them will break the document design.

🚫 NEVER DO THESE THINGS:

1. NEVER create new text boxes - Word documents rarely use text boxes; only modify existing ones
2. NEVER add new shapes or elements - Only modify EXISTING elements
3. NEVER add new sections from scratch - COPY existing section structure
4. NEVER change font sizes - Unless user EXPLICITLY requests it
5. NEVER change font styles/colors - Unless user EXPLICITLY requests it
6. NEVER change alignments - Unless user EXPLICITLY requests it
7. NEVER change margins or spacing - Unless user EXPLICITLY requests it
8. NEVER change headers/footers - Unless user EXPLICITLY requests it
9. NEVER modify templates/styles - Unless user EXPLICITLY requests it
10. NEVER add/remove table columns - Unless user EXPLICITLY requests it

✅ ALWAYS DO THESE THINGS:

1. ALWAYS replace text within existing paragraphs only
2. ALWAYS preserve all formatting (font, size, color, style, alignment)
3. ALWAYS copy existing paragraph/section structure for new content
4. ALWAYS analyze document structure first before any modification
5. ALWAYS identify body text vs headers/footers/decorative elements
6. ALWAYS maintain existing styles when replacing content

How to Add New Content (CORRECT WAY):

# WRONG - Adds completely new paragraph with default formatting
doc.add_paragraph("New text")

# CORRECT - Find similar paragraph, copy its style, then modify
existing_para = doc.paragraphs[5]  # Find one with similar purpose
# Use its style for new content

How to Update Content (CORRECT WAY):

# WRONG - Might change formatting
paragraph.text = "New text"

# CORRECT - Replace text while preserving runs and formatting
for run in paragraph.runs:
    if "old text" in run.text:
        run.text = run.text.replace("old text", "new text")

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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/docx/
4. ORIGINAL file remains untouched

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when:

• User provides a DOCX/DOC file and wants modifications
• Need to update text while maintaining formatting
• Need to update tables
• Need to update content within existing structure
• User has NOT explicitly asked to use Canva

Capabilities

Read Operations (SAFE - No Risk)

• Extract all text content
• Get document structure (headings, paragraphs)
• Extract images and tables
• Get styles and formatting info
• Identify editable vs structural elements

Write Operations (FOLLOW PRESERVATION RULES)

• Replace text in existing paragraphs (NOT add new paragraphs)
• Update table cells (NOT add/remove columns)
• Replace images in existing image placeholders
• Bulk text replacement across document

❌ Operations NOT Supported (To Preserve Design)

• Adding new text boxes
• Adding new shapes
• Changing fonts/colors/sizes (unless explicitly requested)
• Modifying headers/footers (unless explicitly requested)
• Changing margins or page layout
• Adding/removing table columns

Conversion

• DOCX to PDF
• DOCX to plain text

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

Step 1: Create Safe Copy

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

Step 2: Analyze

.venv\Scripts\python.exe scripts/local/docx_utils.py "output/working/document_copy.docx"

Step 3: Make Modifications

Use docx_utils.py for:

• Find and replace text
• Update specific paragraphs
• Modify table cells

Step 4: Save Result

Save to output/docx/document_modified.docx

3-Mode Workflow

MODE 1: PLAN

• Analyze document structure
• List sections and word counts
• Document proposed changes

MODE 2: CLARIFY

• Confirm content to modify
• Verify formatting requirements
• Check word count targets

MODE 3: IMPLEMENT

• Create working copy
• Apply modifications
• Save to output folder

Maintaining Format Integrity

Preservation Rules

1. Styles - Preserve all named styles
2. Spacing - Line and paragraph spacing
3. Lists - Bullet and numbering styles
4. Tables - Column widths and formatting

Research Capabilities

This skill can:

• Search for Word document best practices
• Look up python-docx documentation
• Research document formatting standards
• Find solutions to specific challenges

Available Scripts

• docx_utils.py - Core DOCX 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 document structure", "status": "pending", "activeForm": "Analyzing document"},
  {"content": "Apply modifications", "status": "pending", "activeForm": "Applying changes"},
  {"content": "Save to output/docx/", "status": "pending", "activeForm": "Saving result"}
]

Output Location

• output/docx/ - Modified documents
• output/working/ - Working copies