| name | exam-time-machine-bulk-gen |
| description | Bulk-generate Office deliverables (docx/xlsx/pdf) via python-docx + openpyxl + LibreOffice headless when user is out of time on an exam. Linux-friendly. Use when user asks to bulk-generate or has <30 min left. |
Bulk Office Generation Under Time Pressure
Trigger
User has <30 min on a multi-task Office exam and wants you to do everything.
Original folder structure already exists. Source files available.
The ladder
- Default: estimate score gain/loss, just batch-execute
- python-docx + openpyxl for Word/Excel (zero Office install)
- LibreOffice headless for PDF conversion
- Access on Linux = SQL scripts only - tell user to paste into Access GUI
- VBA macros = .bas source file + empty .docm/.xlsm container
- PivotTable/Forms = approximate only
Concrete recipe (proven in ITAS2 exam)
Word docs (python-docx)
from docx import Document
from docx.shared import Pt, Cm
from docx.enum.text import WD_ALIGN_PARAGRAPH
from docx.oxml.ns import qn
from docx.oxml import OxmlElement
def insert_field(paragraph, field_code, placeholder="Update field"):
"""Insert TOC/INDEX/XE field codes for Word"""
run = paragraph.add_run()
for tag, attrs, text in [
('w:fldChar', {'w:fldCharType': 'begin'}, None),
('w:instrText', {'xml:space': 'preserve'}, field_code),
('w:fldChar', {'w:fldCharType': 'separate'}, None),
('w:t', None, placeholder),
('w:fldChar', {'w:fldCharType': 'end'}, None),
]:
el = OxmlElement(tag)
if attrs:
for k, v in attrs.items(): el.set(qn(k), v)
if text: el.text = text
run._r.append(el)
def add_page_break(paragraph):
run = paragraph.add_run()
br = OxmlElement('w:br')
br.set(qn('w:type'), 'page')
run._r.append(br)
def set_two_columns(section):
sectPr = section._sectPr
cols = OxmlElement('w:cols')
cols.set(qn('w:num'), '2')
cols.set(qn('w:space'), '720')
sectPr.append(cols)
Excel (openpyxl)
from openpyxl import load_workbook
from openpyxl.styles import Font, PatternFill
from openpyxl.formatting.rule import CellIsRule
ws.oddHeader.center.text = "Title"
ws.oddFooter.center.text = "Name | TaskXX | Date"
ws.conditional_formatting.add('H4:H100',
CellIsRule(operator='equal', formula=['"Re-order"'],
fill=PatternFill('solid', fgColor='FFFF0000'),
font=Font(color='FFFFFFFF', bold=True)))
ws['B7'] = "=VLOOKUP(A7, Reference!A:E, 5, FALSE)"
Bulk PDF convert
import subprocess
for f in files:
subprocess.run(['soffice', '--headless', '--convert-to', 'pdf',
'--outdir', dst_dir, f], timeout=60)
Access on Linux
Write .sql files. User pastes into Access SQL view (1 min each).
Critical pitfalls
shutil.copy fails on NTFS when dest exists (mode-copy PermissionError). Use shutil.copyfile()- Reserved words like Line/User/Order wrap in [Premium_Line] in SQL
- Multiple INSERT in one Access query: run separately
- python-docx 2-column layout needs manual OXML (cols element)
- openpyxl cannot write VBA: ship .bas + empty .docm/.xlsm
- soffice cannot read .accdb (no Jet driver) - Access GUI only
Output structure
output_dir/
├── Task_XX_Name/
│ ├── main_file.docx
│ └── main_file.pdf
├── _CHECKLIST.txt
└── _SQL_SCRIPTS/
Communication cadence (ponytail)
- Show score estimate, not 50-line plan
- Done beats here is the analysis
- Skip Access details unless user asks
