mpe

name	mpe
description	Reference knowledge for Markdown Preview Enhanced (MPE) VS Code extension. Covers settings, code chunks, file imports (@import), diagram engines (Mermaid, PlantUML, GraphViz, Vega-Lite, Kroki, WaveDrom), reveal.js presentations, export pipelines (PDF, HTML, Pandoc, eBook), and custom CSS styling. Use when the user is working with MPE, asking about MPE features, configuring preview settings, embedding diagrams, building slides, exporting documents, or troubleshooting issues like preview not rendering or export failing. Do not use for general Markdown syntax or other VS Code extensions.
user-invocable	false

MPE Knowledge Hub

Reference knowledge for Markdown Preview Enhanced (MPE), a VS Code extension for advanced Markdown previewing and exporting. MPE uses the crossnote rendering engine.

Routing Table

User Intent	Reference	Quick Hint
Configure VS Code settings / extension options	settings.md	markdown-preview-enhanced.* in settings.json
Execute code in preview / {cmd} blocks / output modes	code-chunks.md	Requires enableScriptExecution: true
Import files, images, or other markdown into a doc	file-imports.md	@ import "path" syntax (no space in actual use)
Embed diagrams (Mermaid, PlantUML, GraphViz, etc.)	diagrams.md	Fenced code blocks with engine name
Build reveal.js presentations / slides	presentations.md	<!-- slide --> separator
Export to PDF, HTML, eBook, or PNG	export.md	Right-click preview > Export
Style the preview / custom CSS / dark mode	custom-css.md	Edit style.less via Customize CSS command

Quick Reference

Top 5 Settings

Setting	Default	Purpose
previewTheme	github-light.css	Preview color scheme
codeBlockTheme	auto.css	Syntax highlight theme
enableScriptExecution	false	Allow {cmd} code chunks
mermaidTheme	default	Mermaid diagram theme
mathRenderingOption	KaTeX	Math engine (KaTeX or MathJax)

Code Chunk Quick Syntax

```python {cmd=true output="markdown"}
print("| Col A | Col B |")
```

Run current chunk: Shift+Enter | Run all chunks: Ctrl+Shift+Enter

File Import Quick Syntax

@ import "path/to/file.md"

(Remove space after @ in actual use -- escaped here to prevent loader execution.)

Common Questions

1. Preview not rendering? Check editorAssociations in settings.json -- VS Code bug #192954 can override MPE. Fix: set "*.md": "default" in editorAssociations.

2. Code chunks not executing? Set enableScriptExecution: true in VS Code settings. Security risk -- only enable in trusted workspaces.

3. Diagrams not showing? PlantUML requires Java on PATH. Mermaid/GraphViz work out of the box. Kroki requires internet (external service).

4. PDF export failing? Puppeteer needs Chrome/Chromium. Set chromePath if auto-detection fails. See export.md.

5. Custom CSS not applying? Run "Markdown Preview Enhanced: Customize Css" from Command Palette. Edits ~/.crossnote/style.less (global) or workspace .crossnote/style.less.

6. Config.js vs settings.json? VS Code settings.json controls extension behavior. Crossnote config.js controls rendering engine. Access config.js from Command Palette: "MPE: Open Crossnote Config".