| name | utility-command-cross-check |
| description | Use when user types /utility-command-cross-check or asks for this novel workflow command. Cross-check a project file created by a workflow command against the current command instructions and suggest revisions when the file format is stale. |
/utility-command-cross-check
Treat text after /utility-command-cross-check as $ARGUMENTS.
User Input: $ARGUMENTS
Objective
Check whether an existing project file created by a workflow command still follows the current command instructions. Use this when the package workflow has changed and the user's novel files may need format updates.
Execution Steps
1. Choose Command And Target
Ask which command to cross-check if $ARGUMENTS does not name one.
Accept command names with or without leading slash:
planner/plannerwriter chapter 3comics-planner/utility-character-sheets-prompt/utility-meta
Normalize the command name by removing the leading slash.
If multiple novels exist under ./stories/, ask which novel to use.
If the command creates or updates multiple files, ask which file or range to check unless the user already specified it.
2. Identify Current Expected Format
Use the current workflow instruction for the named command as the source of truth.
If running from the package repository, you may read:
src/commands/[command].md
When the command uses templates, also read the relevant template:
[user_agent]/templates/**src/templates/** if running from the package repository
If the package repository is not available, infer the expected format from the active command or skill instruction already available in the user's assistant environment.
3. Find Project Files Created By That Command
Use this target map:
/constitution -> ./memory/constitution.md/specify -> ./stories/[novel-name]/specification.md and ./stories/[novel-name]/knowledge//clarify -> ./stories/[novel-name]/specification.md and any updated files in ./stories/[novel-name]/knowledge//planner -> ./stories/[novel-name]/creative-plan.md and ./stories/[novel-name]/tracking//task-manager -> ./stories/[novel-name]/tasks.md/writer -> selected chapter file(s) in ./stories/[novel-name]/content//editor -> selected chapter file(s) in ./stories/[novel-name]/content//reviewer -> ./stories/[novel-name]/tasks.md, ./stories/[novel-name]/knowledge/, ./stories/[novel-name]/tracking/, and reviewed chapter files when relevant/utility-meta -> ./stories/[novel-name]/meta.json/utility-track-init and /utility-track -> files in ./stories/[novel-name]/tracking//utility-timeline -> ./stories/[novel-name]/tracking/timeline.json/utility-relations -> ./stories/[novel-name]/tracking/relationships.json/comics-planner -> ./stories/[novel-name]/comics-plan.md/comics-task -> ./stories/[novel-name]/comics-task.md/comics-chapter-pages-prompt -> selected page prompt file(s) in ./stories/[novel-name]/comic//comics-revise-prompt -> selected revised prompt file(s) in ./stories/[novel-name]/comic/ or ./stories/[novel-name]/sheets//utility-character-sheets-prompt -> selected file(s) in ./stories/[novel-name]/sheets/characters//utility-settings-sheets-prompt -> selected file(s) in ./stories/[novel-name]/sheets/place//utility-object-sheets-prompt -> selected file(s) in ./stories/[novel-name]/sheets/object//utility-npc-sheets-prompt -> selected file(s) in ./stories/[novel-name]/sheets/npc/
For utilities that do not create a persistent file by default, explain that there is no standard project file to cross-check and ask the user for a specific file if needed.
4. Compare File Format
Compare the project file against the current command's required output shape:
- Required headings and section order
- Required metadata fields
- Required status markers, pacing tags, tables, or lists
- Required JSON keys and nesting
- File naming conventions
- Required side-effect files, such as
knowledge/ or tracking/
- Newer workflow additions that older files may miss
Do not treat story-specific content differences as stale format. Only flag content when it conflicts with the command's structural requirements or required workflow state.
For /specify, specifically check whether specification.md uses the current lean format:
- Contains Definition, Logline, Core Premise, Core Purpose, Story Promise, Core Cast Snapshot, World Snapshot, Knowledge Map, and Open Clarifications when needed
- Keeps character, world, location, faction, magic/technology, glossary, strategic reversal, and voice details brief in the specification
- Uses the Knowledge Map to point to
./knowledge/character-profiles.md, ./knowledge/character-voices.md, ./knowledge/locations.md, ./knowledge/world-setting.md, ./knowledge/glossary.md, and ./knowledge/strategic-reversals.md
- Does not use an old "Full Specification" section as the home for all detailed canon
- Has
./stories/[novel-name]/knowledge/ with character-profiles.md, character-voices.md, locations.md, world-setting.md, glossary.md, and strategic-reversals.md
character-voices.md includes Banter Role, Exposition Role, Humor Style, Pressure Response, and Status Behavior fields- Important names still marked
[TBD], [TENTATIVE], unnamed, or generic are documented as unresolved rather than silently invented
For /planner, specifically check whether creative-plan.md uses the current format:
- Definition, created date, updated date, current saga/arc position, and planning mode
- Nested
Saga -> Arc -> Chapters hierarchy, or Arc -> Chapters when there is no saga
- Structural Approach
- Pacing & Tension as compact bullets that list chapter(s)
- Any required section or field may use
[N/A] — [brief reason] if truly not applicable
- Strategic Reversal / Contest Design as a concise arc section, using
[N/A] — [brief reason] when not applicable
- Foreshadowing Plan
- Character Arc Mapping
- Chapter headings nested under the active arc with pacing tag
- Chapter Summary, Flow, and Continuity Notes
- Unnamed important arcs, factions, places, systems, abilities, artifacts, and concepts use
[TBD] or [TENTATIVE], or include name options when the user asked for naming help
- Batch plan sections with Adds To and Definition
For /task-manager, specifically check whether tasks.md uses the current format:
- Header has total chapters planned, chapters written, and last updated
- No estimated total words, per-chapter word estimates, or effort estimates
- Tasks preserve the planner's
Saga -> Arc -> Chapter order, or Arc -> Chapter when there is no saga
- Chapter tasks are one-line task-management entries:
- [ ] **Chapter [N]: [Title]** — brief chapter explanation
- Chapter tasks do not duplicate planner Summary, Flow, Pacing & Tension, Foreshadowing, Character Arc Mapping, or Continuity Notes
- Batch sections include
Adds To
- Status markers are
[ ], [FOR_REVIEW], and [DONE]
- Contains
## Review & Editing Log, initially No editor/reviewer entries yet. or populated by /editor and /reviewer
- Does not create separate character profile, worldbuilding, review, or editing task items
For /utility-meta, specifically check whether meta.json uses the current format:
- Required keys exist:
title, author, description, status, genre, tags, work-type, language, publishedAt, and updatedAt
status is one of ongoing, completed, or hiatusgenre, tags, and work-type are arrays even when they contain one valuegenre values use the allowed display spelling: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Contemporary, Drama, Fantasy, Historical, Horror, Mystery, Psychological, Romance, Satire, Sci-fi, Short Story, Thriller, Tragedywork-type values use the allowed display spelling: Original Ideas, Original Work, Doujin, AI Assisted, AI-generatedtags values use the allowed Royal Road-style display spelling from /utility-meta- Dates use
YYYY-MM-DD
For /comics-planner, specifically check whether comics-plan.md uses the current format:
- Header has Definition, Created, Updated, Comic Format, Source Chapters, and Layout Guidance Source
- Contains Adaptation Principles
- Comic chapters identify Source, Adaptation Decision, Target Pages, Visual Promise, Continuity Spine, and Required Sheets
- Each page has Purpose, Content, Continuity In, Panels / Scroll Beats, Dialogue Layer, Bubble Rhythm / Placement, Transition Indicator, Continuity Out, Layout Notes, and References
- Source novel chapters are visible for every comic chapter/page
- Continuous pages inherit previous page state: location, time, character positions, clothing/injury state, props, lighting, mood, and unresolved action/dialogue
- Discontinuous pages include a visible transition indicator, such as "Next day," "Few years later," "Elsewhere," "Meanwhile," a location caption, or an establishing beat
- Dialogue Layer shows speaker lines, captions/thoughts, subtext, and line purpose; sparse source prose may add faithful comic-native dialogue without new canon facts
- Bubble Rhythm / Placement uses scene staging to show missed, whispered, interrupted, or off-panel lines without explicit meta-notes about who hears what
For /comics-task, specifically check whether comics-task.md uses the current format:
- Header has Created, Updated, and Source Plan
- Uses chapter sections with page checklist entries
- Each page task has a compact Continuity note: opening state, continues from Page N, transition label, or handoff
- Page status markers are
[ ], [PROMPTED], [REVISED], and [DONE]
- Contains Sheet Tasks and Revision Log
For /comics-chapter-pages-prompt, specifically check whether page prompt files use the current format:
- Frontmatter includes novel, comic_chapter, page, source_chapters, created, updated, and prompt_type
- Headline follows
# Chapter [N] Page [N] — [Prompt Headline]
- Body is clean prompt text, not a table
- Prompt includes sheet references, page/panel or scroll beats, dialogue/caption text, bubble rhythm and placement, scene staging for missed/whispered/interrupted lines, camera/framing, mood, continuity in/out, and transition indicator only when needed
- Prompt matches previous page Continuity Out and next page Continuity In when those exist
- Prompt adds or recommends a bridging page when compression would break scene flow
- Prompt uses dialogue unless deliberate silence is stronger and explained
- Prompt does not use blank/tiny/muffled/indistinct bubbles for important dialogue unless the words are intentionally hidden for mystery or background texture
- Prompt does not include explicit meta-notes such as "Reader sees/hears," "Heard by," or "Not heard by"
For sheet prompt utilities, specifically check whether files use the current format:
- Frontmatter includes novel, sheet_type, subject, created, updated, and prompt_type
- One headline identifies sheet type and subject
- Body is clean prompt text, not a table
- Character sheets include labeled front/side/back views, expressions, and detail callouts
- Setting sheets include key angles, landmarks, scale, lighting, mood, materials, and continuity notes
- Object sheets include multiple views, functional details, materials, scale, variants, and continuity notes
- NPC/general sheets include front/side/back views, variants, anatomy/silhouette, outfit/equipment, behavior, palette, and continuity notes
5. Output Report
Output:
# Command Output Cross-Check: /[command]
| File | Status | Notes |
|------|--------|-------|
| [path] | current | Matches current command format |
| [path] | revise | Missing chapter Flow and compact pacing list |
## Recommended Revisions
1. [Concrete format update]
2. [Concrete format update]
Status values:
current — no meaningful format update neededrevise — file exists but uses an older or incomplete workflow formatmissing — expected file or side-effect file not found
6. Revision Guidance
If a file is stale, suggest revising it before continuing that workflow command.
Do not overwrite automatically unless the user explicitly asks.
If the user asks to revise:
- Preserve the user's story facts, prose, decisions, and custom notes.
- Knowledge files are the canonical rich-detail store. When updating format, preserve existing detail and only restructure, relabel, or add missing fields.
- Only restructure, relabel, or add missing required sections.
- Mark unknown values as
[TBD], [TENTATIVE], or [Needs User Input].
- For JSON files, preserve existing IDs and values unless a key is required by the current template.
