name: libreoffice-reference
description: Look up Office -> PDF processing logic from local LibreOffice and Apache POI source trees, with Obsidian LLM WIKI notes as reusable cache. Use when: investigating how LibreOffice renders a document, how Apache POI models OOXML, aligning MiniPdf output with LibreOffice behavior, debugging a conversion mismatch, choosing a heuristic for docx/xlsx -> PDF, or any time the user asks "how does LibreOffice / POI handle X".
Office Conversion Reference (Local Source + LLM WIKI)
Local LibreOffice and Apache POI source trees are the primary references for Office conversion behavior. Obsidian notes are a reusable LLM WIKI cache for distilled findings, not a substitute for checking source when behavior matters.
Source Roots
| Source | Default path | Environment override | Use for |
|---|
| LibreOffice | D:\git\libreoffice-core | LIBREOFFICE_SOURCE_ROOT | Renderer behavior, import/export filters, page layout, print/PDF output, font/layout decisions. |
| Apache POI | D:\git\poi | POI_SOURCE_ROOT | OOXML object model, schema interpretation, XWPF/XSSF implementation details. |
When the question is "what does LibreOffice produce / how does it render", inspect LibreOffice source first. When the question is "what does this OOXML element mean / how is it modeled", inspect Apache POI source first.
Research Order
- Search the relevant local source tree with
scripts/search-source.ps1 or rg.
- Read the smallest owning implementation or nearby test that controls the behavior.
- Use existing Obsidian notes only as a cache or topic map, then verify important details against source.
- If the finding is reusable, save a short LLM WIKI note with exact source file paths and a concise conclusion.
LLM WIKI
Reusable research notes should go under the Obsidian LLM WIKI so future sessions can avoid repeating expensive source reads.
Resolution order:
-WikiRoot <path> on scripts/save-wiki-note.ps1.$env:OBSIDIAN_LLM_WIKI_ROOT.- Fallback:
<MyDocuments>\Obsidian Vault\LLM WIKI.
Write a wiki note when the result is likely to be reused, for example a confirmed LibreOffice import path, a print-scaling rule, a POI schema interpretation, or a non-obvious mismatch between source and observed output. Keep notes short and cite source-relative files such as sc/source/filter/oox/pagesettings.cxx or poi-ooxml/src/main/java/....
Supplementary Vaults
Local Obsidian vaults contain structured notes on how Office documents are processed into PDF. Use them as cached context and topic maps.
| Vault | Use for |
|---|
LibreOffice-to-PDF | Cached notes about how LibreOffice renders DOCX/XLSX -> PDF (CLI, UNO, PDF export filter, layout, fonts). |
Apache-POI-Word | Cached OOXML notes about Apache POI XWPF/HWPF behavior. |
Office-to-PDF | Cross-tool comparisons / generic conversion notes, when this optional vault exists locally. |
When to consult this skill
Load and consult this skill BEFORE designing a fix or heuristic when the task involves:
- DOCX or XLSX -> PDF rendering parity with LibreOffice
- Page layout, margins, page size, scaling, headers/footers
- Styles, fonts, font fallback, font metrics
- Tables, images, drawings, anchors, wrapping
- PDF export options / behavior
- Any conversion bug where the expected output is "what LibreOffice produces"
Skip when the task is unrelated to Office -> PDF rendering (build scripts, CI, README, etc.).
Vault Locations
Vaults live under a single base directory. Resolution order:
-VaultRoot <path> parameter on a script (explicit override; may be the base directory or a concrete vault directory).$env:OBSIDIAN_VAULT_ROOT environment variable.- Fallback:
<MyDocuments>\Obsidian Vault (i.e. [Environment]::GetFolderPath('MyDocuments') + Obsidian Vault).
Under the resolved base, the vault subfolders are:
<base>\LibreOffice-to-PDF\
<base>\Apache-POI-Word\
<base>\Office-to-PDF\
For compatibility, the scripts also recognize the older LibreOffice folder name LibreOffice-Word-to-PDF if it exists instead.
Resources in this skill
Quick start
# Search LibreOffice source for Calc fit-to-page behavior
.\.github\skills\libreoffice-reference\scripts\search-source.ps1 -Source LibreOffice -Pattern "ScaleToPagesX|fitToPage" -Folder sc
# Search Apache POI source for OOXML model behavior
.\.github\skills\libreoffice-reference\scripts\search-source.ps1 -Source POI -Pattern "XWPFStyle|styleId" -Folder poi-ooxml\src\main\java
# Save a reusable finding to Obsidian LLM WIKI
"Short markdown finding with source file citations" | .\.github\skills\libreoffice-reference\scripts\save-wiki-note.ps1 -Title "Calc fitToPage import" -Source LibreOffice -Topic XLSX
# Search cached LibreOffice notes when useful
.\.github\skills\libreoffice-reference\scripts\search-vault.ps1 -Pattern "sectPr|orientation" -Folder 13-Page-Layout
# Search cached Apache POI notes when useful
.\.github\skills\libreoffice-reference\scripts\list-vault.ps1 -Vault POI -Folder 05-XWPF-Styles
.\.github\skills\libreoffice-reference\scripts\search-vault.ps1 -Vault POI -Pattern "XWPFStyle|styleId"
Then read_file the matching source file or note with the full path. Cite source-relative paths in conclusions, for example sc/source/filter/oox/pagesettings.cxx or poi-ooxml/src/main/java/org/apache/poi/xwpf/usermodel/XWPFStyle.java.
Optional: Obsidian CLI
If the user explicitly wants to interact with the live Obsidian app (open the note, append, search via the app), use the obsidian-cli skill. It needs OBSIDIAN_API_KEY from the Local REST API plugin. For read-only lookups during coding, direct file access is faster and does not require the app to be running.
Output guidance
- Quote the relevant snippet (short) and cite the source-relative file path.
- Keep MiniPdf changes aligned with what LibreOffice source and observed output show. If source, wiki notes, and observed behavior disagree, flag it instead of silently choosing one.
- Do not copy large sections of source or vault notes into the repo; distill findings into the LLM WIKI when they are reusable.
