convert-to-md

name	convert-to-md
description	Convert non-markdown files in 00-inbox/convert-queue/ (.pdf, .docx, .txt, .rtf) to .md and move them to 00-inbox/ for processing. Use when [OWNER] says "convert files", "convierte archivos", or wants to ingest documents into the vault.

Convert Files to Markdown

Scan 00-inbox/convert-queue/ for convertible files and transform them into .md so they can flow through the normal process inbox workflow. Source files are never deleted — they move to processed/.

Workflow

1. Check dependencies first. Before doing anything else, verify the required tools are installed:

   • Run which pandoc — needed for .docx and .rtf
   • Run which pdftotext — needed for .pdf
   • If either is missing and files of that type exist in the queue, output the exact install command and stop:
     • pandoc missing: sudo apt install pandoc (Linux) / brew install pandoc (Mac)
     • pdftotext missing: sudo apt install poppler-utils (Linux) / brew install poppler (Mac)
   • Do not attempt partial conversion if a required tool is absent.

2. Scan the queue. List all files in 00-inbox/convert-queue/ (not in processed/):

   • Supported: .pdf, .docx, .txt, .rtf
   • Ignore: .md files, dotfiles, .gitkeep, subdirectories
   • If no supported files found, report "Queue is empty" and stop.

3. Convert each file using the method for its type:

   Extension	Command
   .docx	pandoc "[file]" -o "00-inbox/[basename].md"
   .rtf	pandoc "[file]" -o "00-inbox/[basename].md"
   .pdf	pdftotext "[file]" "00-inbox/[basename].md"
   .txt	cp "[file]" "00-inbox/[basename].md"

   • Preserve original filename — only change the extension. Report Q1.docx → 00-inbox/Report Q1.md
   • If the destination .md already exists in 00-inbox/, append -2, -3, etc. to avoid collisions.
   • If a conversion command fails (non-zero exit), record it as a failure and continue with the next file.

4. Move originals to processed. After each successful conversion:

   mv "[file]" "00-inbox/convert-queue/processed/[filename]"
   

   Failed conversions stay in convert-queue/ untouched.

5. Output the report (format below). Stop. Do not auto-trigger process inbox.

Output report format

# Convert-to-MD Report — YYYY-MM-DD

**Scanned:** N files
**Converted:** N
**Failed:** N

## ✅ Converted

- `Report Q1.docx` → `00-inbox/report-q1.md`
- `notes.txt` → `00-inbox/notes.md`

## ❌ Failed

- `scan.pdf` — pdftotext error: [error message]

## ⚠️ Missing tools

- `pandoc` not found — run: `sudo apt install pandoc`

Rules

• NEVER delete source files. Move to 00-inbox/convert-queue/processed/ only.
• Preserve original filename. Only the extension changes.
• If a required tool is missing, output the exact install command and stop — do not attempt workarounds.
• Do not auto-process the converted files. Let Eduardo trigger process inbox separately.
• Handle spaces in filenames — always quote paths in shell commands.