PDF to Word Converter

SKILL.md

---
name: pdf-to-word-docx
version: 1.1.0
description: PDF to Word converts PDF to editable Word/DOCX with AI-powered layout analysis and table recognition, built on ComPDF Conversion SDK to better preserve tables, multi-column layouts, lists, and images for downstream editing. It fits requests such as “pdf to word,” “convert pdf to docx,” “pdf to editable word,” “pdf to office,” “keep layout in word,” and “convert report to docx.” Example queries include “Convert this PDF contract to editable Word while keeping the tables intact,” “Turn this report into DOCX and preserve the multi-column layout,” and “Export this PDF to Word for further editing.”
homepage: https://www.compdf.com
metadata:
  clawdbot:
    emoji: "📑"
    requires:
      env: []
    files: ["scripts/*"]
compatibility: Requires Windows or macOS. Python with ComPDFKitConversion package (pip install ComPDFKitConversion). AI model (~525MB) auto-downloaded on first run.
---

# PDF to Word Converter

## Purpose
- Wraps the `ComPDFKitConversion` Python SDK into a reusable local conversion workflow, supporting PDF / image to Word, PPT, Excel, HTML, RTF, Image, TXT, JSON, Markdown, and CSV (10 output formats in total).

## Agent Skills Standard Compatibility
- This Skill uses an Anthropic Agent Skills-compatible directory structure: `pdf-to-word-docx/`.
- The entry point is `SKILL.md`; helper scripts are placed in `scripts/`.
- The document uses `$ARGUMENTS` and `${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}` conventions for distribution and execution in Claude Code / Agent Skills-compatible environments.

## Input / Output
- Input: The target format (`word`/`excel`/`ppt`/`html`/`rtf`/`image`/`txt`/`json`/`markdown`/`csv`), the PDF or image path, and the output path are passed via Skill arguments or the command line. An optional PDF password and conversion parameters may also be provided.
- Supported input file types:
  - PDF files (`.pdf`)
  - Image files (`.jpg`/`.jpeg`/`.png`/`.bmp`/`.tif`/`.tiff`/`.webp`/`.jp2`/`.gif`/`.tga`)
- Output: A file in the corresponding format (`.docx`, `.pptx`, `.xlsx`, `.html`, `.rtf`, image, `.txt`, `.json`, `.md`, `.csv`), or a clear error message.

## Prerequisites
- Supports Windows and macOS.
- The conversion SDK must be installed first:
  ```bash
  pip install ComPDFKitConversion
  ```
- On first run, the script automatically downloads `license.xml` from the ComPDF server and caches it in the `scripts/` directory:
  ```text
  https://download.compdf.com/skills/license/license.xml
  ```
- The script reads the `<key>...</key>` field from `license.xml` and uses that key for `LibraryManager.license_verify(...)` authentication — it does not pass the XML file path directly to the SDK.
- To use a custom license, place your own `license.xml` in the `scripts/` directory; the script will use it directly without downloading.
- During SDK initialization, the `resource` directory is always set to the directory containing `pdf-to-word-docx.py`, i.e., the `scripts/` directory itself.
- When `--enable-ocr` or `--enable-ai-layout` (enabled by default) is used, the Skill also requires `scripts/documentai.model`. If the file does not exist, the script will automatically download it from:
  ```text
  https://download.compdf.com/skills/model/documentai.model
  ```
- To reuse an existing model file, you can override the default model path via an environment variable:
  ```bash
  export COMPDF_DOCUMENT_AI_MODEL="/path/to/documentai.model"
  ```

## Workflow
1. Confirm the Python package is installed:
   ```bash
   python -m pip show ComPDFKitConversion
   ```
2. The script automatically downloads `license.xml` on first run; the `scripts/` directory is used directly as the SDK `resource` path.
3. In Agent Skills / Claude Code environments, prefer using the Skill's built-in script path variable:
   ```bash
   python "${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/scripts/pdf-to-word-docx.py" word input.pdf output.docx
   python "${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/scripts/pdf-to-word-docx.py" ppt input.pdf output.pptx
   python "${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/scripts/pdf-to-word-docx.py" excel input.pdf output.xlsx
   ```
4. For more control, append common parameters:
   ```bash
   python "${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/scripts/pdf-to-word-docx.py" excel input.pdf output.xlsx --page-ranges "1-3,5" --excel-all-content --excel-worksheet-option for-page
   python "${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/scripts/pdf-to-word-docx.py" word input.pdf output.docx --enable-ocr --page-layout-mode flow
   ```
5. On startup, the script ensures `scripts/license.xml` exists (downloading it automatically from the ComPDF server if missing), reads the `<key>` field for SDK authentication, and uses the `scripts/` directory as the `resource` path.
6. If `--enable-ocr` or `--enable-ai-layout` (enabled by default) is active, the script checks whether `scripts/documentai.model` exists; if not, it downloads the file automatically before initializing the Document AI model.
7. Check the return code; if it is not `SUCCESS`, handle license, password, resource, model, or input file issues according to the error name.

## documentai.model Download Optimization
- The script preferentially uses the model file pointed to by `COMPDF_DOCUMENT_AI_MODEL`.
- The default model path is `scripts/documentai.model`.
- During automatic download, the file is first written to `documentai.model.part` and then atomically renamed to the final file upon success, preventing partial file corruption.
- On download failure, the script retries automatically with back-off intervals of `2s / 5s / 10s`.

## Invoking Directly as a Skill
- In environments that support Agent Skills, the Skill can be called directly:
  ```text
  /pdf-to-word-docx word input.pdf output.docx
  /pdf-to-word-docx excel input.pdf output.xlsx --excel-worksheet-option for-page
  ```
- When the Skill receives arguments, it passes them through to the script as-is:
  ```bash
  python "${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/scripts/pdf-to-word-docx.py" $ARGUMENTS
  ```
- If the environment does not support direct Skill invocation, fall back to a regular command-line call.

## Supported Output Formats
- `word` → calls `CPDFConversion.start_pdf_to_word`
- `excel` → calls `CPDFConversion.start_pdf_to_excel`
- `ppt` → calls `CPDFConversion.start_pdf_to_ppt`
- `html` → calls `CPDFConversion.start_pdf_to_html`
- `rtf` → calls `CPDFConversion.start_pdf_to_rtf`
- `image` → calls `CPDFConversion.start_pdf_to_image`
- `txt` → calls `CPDFConversion.start_pdf_to_txt`
- `json` → calls `CPDFConversion.start_pdf_to_json`
- `markdown` → calls `CPDFConversion.start_pdf_to_markdown`
- `csv` → reuses `CPDFConversion.start_pdf_to_excel` with table/Excel parameters to produce CSV-friendly output

## Input Source Types
- The script supports **PDF and image** as input sources. The SDK's `start_pdf_to_*` interfaces natively accept image files with no pre-processing required.
- By default, the script auto-detects the input type from the file extension:
  - `.pdf` → `pdf`
  - `.png/.jpg/.jpeg/.bmp/.tif/.tiff/.gif/.webp/.tga` → `image`
- You can also specify the source type explicitly:
  ```bash
  python "${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/scripts/pdf-to-word-docx.py" word input.png output.docx --source-type image
  ```
- `image -> *` and `pdf -> *` share the same set of `CPDFConversion.start_pdf_to_*` interfaces; only the input file type differs.

## Smart Defaults
The script automatically adjusts certain parameters based on the input source and output format to reduce manual configuration:

| Trigger | Automatic Behavior | User-Overridable | Description |
|----------|----------|-------------|------|
| Input source is an **image** (auto-detected or explicit `--source-type image`) | Automatically enables `--enable-ocr` | No (`--enable-ocr` uses `store_true`; there is no `--no-enable-ocr`) | Text in images must be extracted via OCR; without OCR, output will contain only images and no text |
| Output format is **HTML** (`format = html`) | Automatically sets `--page-layout-mode` to `box` (box layout) | Yes — passing `--page-layout-mode flow` explicitly overrides this | Box layout better preserves the original formatting in HTML; specify `flow` explicitly if flow layout is needed |

When triggered, the script prints a notice to `stderr`, for example:
```text
Auto-enabled OCR for image input.
Auto-set page layout mode to BOX for HTML output.
```

## All Parameters

### Positional Parameters
| Parameter | Description |
|------|------|
| `format` | Target format: `word`/`excel`/`ppt`/`html`/`rtf`/`image`/`txt`/`json`/`markdown`/`csv` |
| `input_pdf` | Input file path (PDF or image) |
| `output_path` | Output file path |

### General Parameters
| Parameter | Type | Default | Description |
|------|------|--------|------|
| `--source-type` | Option | `auto` | Input source type: `auto`/`pdf`/`image` |
| `--password` | String | `""` | PDF open password |
| `--page-ranges` | String | None | Page range, e.g. `1-3,5` |
| `--font-name` | String | `""` | Output font name |

### Layout Parameters
| Parameter | Type | Default | Description |
|------|------|--------|------|
| `--enable-ai-layout` | Boolean | **True** | AI layout analysis (disable with `--no-enable-ai-layout`) |
| `--page-layout-mode` | Option | SDK default `flow` (auto-switched to `box` for HTML output) | Page layout: `box` (box layout) / `flow` (flow layout) |

### Content Retention Parameters
| Parameter | Type | Default | Description |
|------|------|--------|------|
| `--contain-image` | Boolean | **True** | Retain images (disable with `--no-contain-image`) |
| `--contain-annotation` | Boolean | **True** | Retain annotations (disable with `--no-contain-annotation`) |
| `--contain-page-background-image` | Boolean | **True** | Retain page background images (disable with `--no-contain-page-background-image`) |
| `--formula-to-image` | Boolean | False | Convert formulas to image output |
| `--transparent-text` | Boolean | False | Preserve transparent text |

### Output Control Parameters
| Parameter | Type | Default | Description |
|------|------|--------|------|
| `--output-document-per-page` | Boolean | False | Split output into one document per page |
| `--auto-create-folder` | Boolean | **True** | Automatically create output directory (disable with `--no-auto-create-folder`) |

### OCR Parameters
| Parameter | Type | Default | Description |
|------|------|--------|------|
| `--enable-ocr` | Boolean | False (auto-enabled for image input) | Enable OCR |
| `--ocr-option` | Option | SDK default `all` | OCR scope: `invalid-character`/`scan-page`/`invalid-character-and-scan-page`/`all` |
| `--ocr-language` | Multi-select | `auto` | OCR language(s); multiple languages can be specified simultaneously. Options: `auto`/`chinese`/`chinese-tra`/`english`/`korean`/`japanese`/`latin`/`devanagari`/`cyrillic`/`arabic`/`tamil`/`telugu`/`kannada`/`thai`/`greek`/`eslav` |

### Excel-Specific Parameters
| Parameter | Type | Default | Description |
|------|------|--------|------|
| `--excel-all-content` | Boolean | False | Include all content in Excel output |
| `--excel-csv-format` | Boolean | False | Output Excel result in CSV format |
| `--excel-worksheet-option` | Option | SDK default `for-table` | Worksheet split strategy: `for-table`/`for-page`/`for-document` |

### JSON-Specific Parameters
| Parameter | Type | Default | Description |
|------|------|--------|------|
| `--json-contain-table` | Boolean | **True** | Include table data in JSON output (disable with `--no-json-contain-table`) |

### TXT-Specific Parameters
| Parameter | Type | Default | Description |
|------|------|--------|------|
| `--txt-table-format` | Boolean | **True** | Enable table formatting in TXT output (disable with `--no-txt-table-format`) |

### HTML-Specific Parameters
| Parameter | Type | Default | Description |
|------|------|--------|------|
| `--html-option` | Option | SDK default `single-page` | HTML output mode: `single-page`/`single-page-with-bookmark`/`multiple-page`/`multiple-page-with-bookmark` |

### Image-Specific Parameters
| Parameter | Type | Default | Description |
|------|------|--------|------|
| `--image-type` | Option | SDK default `jpg` | Image output format: `jpg`/`jpeg`/`jpeg2000`/`png`/`bmp`/`tiff`/`tga`/`gif`/`webp` |
| `--image-color-mode` | Option | SDK default `color` | Image color mode: `color`/`gray`/`binary` |
| `--image-scaling` | Float | `1.0` | Image scaling factor |
| `--image-path-enhance` | Boolean | False | Enable image path enhancement |

### Parameter Default Value Rules
- **Parameters that default to True** (`--enable-ai-layout`/`--contain-image`/`--contain-annotation`/`--contain-page-background-image`/`--auto-create-folder`/`--json-contain-table`/`--txt-table-format`) use `BooleanOptionalAction`; pass `--no-xxx` to disable.
- **Parameters that default to False** (`--enable-ocr`/`--formula-to-image`/`--transparent-text`/`--output-document-per-page`/`--excel-all-content`/`--excel-csv-format`/`--image-path-enhance`) use `store_true`; passing the flag enables them.
- **All CLI parameter defaults are fully consistent with the SDK's `ConvertOptions()` defaults** — omitting a parameter is equivalent to using the SDK's original default value.

## Recommended Command Examples

### PDF to Word (default parameters, AI layout analysis enabled)
```bash
python "${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/scripts/pdf-to-word-docx.py" word input.pdf output.docx
```

### PDF to Word, box layout, no images, no AI layout analysis
```bash
python "${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/scripts/pdf-to-word-docx.py" word input.pdf output.docx --no-enable-ai-layout --no-contain-image --page-layout-mode box
```

### PDF to Word, retain annotations and background images, one document per page
```bash
python "${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/scripts/pdf-to-word-docx.py" word input.pdf output.docx --output-document-per-page
```

### PDF to Excel, include all content and split worksheets by page
```bash
python "${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/scripts/pdf-to-word-docx.py" excel input.pdf output.xlsx --excel-all-content --excel-worksheet-option for-page
```

### PDF to TXT, with table formatting enabled
```bash
python "${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/scripts/pdf-to-word-docx.py" txt input.pdf output.txt
```

### PDF to HTML, multi-page with bookmarks mode
```bash
python "${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/scripts/pdf-to-word-docx.py" html input.pdf output_dir --html-option multiple-page-with-bookmark
```

### PDF to Image, PNG format, grayscale, 2x scaling
```bash
python "${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/scripts/pdf-to-word-docx.py" image input.pdf output.png --image-type png --image-color-mode gray --image-scaling 2.0
```

### Image to Word (OCR auto-enabled, specify Chinese language)
```bash
python "${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/scripts/pdf-to-word-docx.py" word input.png output.docx --ocr-language chinese
```
> Note: For image input, the script automatically enables OCR — there is no need to pass `--enable-ocr` manually. To specify an OCR language, `--ocr-language` can still be used.

### PDF with OCR enabled (multiple languages)
```bash
python "${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/scripts/pdf-to-word-docx.py" word input.pdf output.docx --enable-ocr --ocr-language chinese english japanese
```

## Trial License and Usage Limits
- The `scripts/license.xml` auto-downloaded from the ComPDF server is a **Trial License**, allowing a maximum of **200 conversions**.
- The script uses a SHA-256 fingerprint to detect whether the current License is the default trial key; **no usage limit applies when using any other License**.
- After each successful conversion using the trial License, the script prints the current used/remaining count to `stderr`, for example:
  ```text
  Trial license: 5/200 conversions used, 195 remaining.
  ```
- When the trial limit is reached (200 conversions), the script refuses to convert and prompts the user to purchase a full License:
  ```text
  Error: Trial license usage limit reached (200 conversions). Please purchase a license at: https://www.compdf.com/contact-sales
  ```
- When the trial License has expired (SDK authentication fails), the error message also includes a purchase link.
- **After purchasing a full License**, place a custom `license.xml` containing the new `<key>` in `scripts/` (overwriting the auto-downloaded trial file) — no script modifications or counter file cleanup are required.

## Confirmed Facts
- `ComPDFKitConversion` has been successfully installed on the local machine.
- The installed package provides 10 conversion methods including `CPDFConversion.start_pdf_to_word/start_pdf_to_ppt/start_pdf_to_excel`.
- `LibraryManager` provides `initialize`, `license_verify`, `release`, `set_document_ai_model`, and `set_ocr_language`.
- Official documentation confirms support for PDF to Word / Excel / PPT / HTML / RTF / Image / TXT / JSON / Markdown.
- The SDK's `start_pdf_to_*` interfaces natively accept image file input (PNG → Word has been verified successfully).
- `enable_ai_layout` defaults to `True` in the SDK; `set_document_ai_model()` must be called first to load the model before use, otherwise a 0xC0000005 crash will occur.
- `--ocr-language` supports specifying multiple languages simultaneously (e.g. `--ocr-language chinese english`).

## Risks / Notes
- The official requirements page states Python `>=3.6`, while the demo page states `<3.11`, but PyPI currently provides a `cp314` wheel in practice; treat the locally installable wheel as the source of truth, but always verify installation in a new environment first.
- If the script cannot download `license.xml` from the server (network issue) and no manual file exists in `scripts/`, or the `<key>` field is empty, the script cannot complete SDK authentication and cannot perform any real conversions.
- `documentai.model` is a large file (approximately 525 MB); there will be a noticeable download delay the first time OCR / AI layout is enabled. Because `--enable-ai-layout` defaults to True, **the model download will be triggered on the very first run**.
- If the runtime environment cannot access `https://download.compdf.com/skills/model/documentai.model`, place `documentai.model` in the `scripts/` directory in advance.
- Do not directly apply the initialization patterns from ComPDF SDKs for other languages to the Python package; this Skill is based on the locally verified `LibraryManager` / `CPDFConversion` API.

## Resource Navigation
- License file: `License.txt`
- Script: `scripts/pdf-to-word-docx.py`
- SDK authentication file: `scripts/license.xml` (auto-downloaded from `https://download.compdf.com/skills/license/license.xml` if missing)
- SDK authentication source: the `<key>` field in `license.xml`
- SDK resource path: `scripts/`
- OCR / AI layout model: `scripts/documentai.model` (auto-downloaded if missing)
- Purchase a full License: `https://www.compdf.com/contact-sales`
- Official documentation:
  - `https://www.compdf.com/guides/conversion-sdk/python/overview`
  - `https://www.compdf.com/guides/conversion-sdk/python/pdf-to-word`
  - `https://www.compdf.com/guides/conversion-sdk/python/pdf-to-excel`
  - `https://www.compdf.com/guides/conversion-sdk/python/pdf-to-ppt`
  - `https://www.compdf.com/guides/conversion-sdk/python/apply-license`

## Acceptance Checklist
- [ ] `python -m pip show ComPDFKitConversion` shows the installed package
- [ ] Running `python "${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/scripts/pdf-to-word-docx.py" --help` or an equivalent local command produces normal output
- [ ] The script auto-downloads `scripts/license.xml` if missing, then extracts the license key from the `<key>` field for authentication
- [ ] The script uses the `scripts/` directory as the SDK resource path
- [ ] The script recognizes all 10 target formats: `word`/`excel`/`ppt`/`html`/`rtf`/`image`/`txt`/`json`/`markdown`/`csv`
- [ ] The script accepts both PDF and image files (`.png`/`.jpg`/`.jpeg`/`.bmp`/`.tif`/`.tiff`/`.gif`/`.webp`/`.tga`) as input
- [ ] When `--enable-ocr` or `--enable-ai-layout` (enabled by default) is active and `documentai.model` is missing, the script auto-downloads the model
- [ ] When `license.xml` cannot be obtained (download fails and no manual file exists) or authentication fails, a clear error is output rather than a silent failure
- [ ] The 7 parameters that default to True can be disabled with `--no-xxx`
- [ ] `--ocr-language` supports specifying multiple languages simultaneously
- [ ] After a conversion using the trial License, the usage count increments
- [ ] When the trial License reaches 200 conversions, the script refuses to convert and outputs a purchase link
- [ ] When using a non-trial License, no usage limit applies
- [ ] For image input, even if `--enable-ocr` is not passed, the script automatically enables OCR and prints a notice to `stderr`
- [ ] For HTML output, even if `--page-layout-mode` is not passed, the script automatically uses `box` (box layout) and prints a notice to `stderr`
- [ ] For HTML output, explicitly passing `--page-layout-mode flow` overrides the automatic box layout behavior

## Distribution Notes
- This Skill does not depend on any machine-specific absolute paths.
- When distributing to other users, the following directory structure is sufficient:
  ```text
  pdf-to-word-docx/
  ├── SKILL.md
  ├── License.txt
  └── scripts/
      └── pdf-to-word-docx.py
  ```
- Users place this directory under their own skills root directory and the Skill is ready to use.
- `license.xml` is auto-downloaded at runtime; no need to include it in the distribution package.

## Common Pitfalls
- `scripts/license.xml` is missing and cannot be auto-downloaded (network unavailable or server error): the script will error out before authentication. If you are in an offline environment, place `license.xml` manually in the `scripts/` directory.
- `scripts/license.xml` is missing the `<key>` field or its value is empty: the script will error out before authentication.
- SDK resource files required by the SDK are absent from the `scripts/` directory: conversion may fail after `LibraryManager.initialize()`.
- A password-protected PDF is provided without `--password`: this will trigger `PDF_PASSWORD_ERROR`.
- OCR / AI layout is enabled but `documentai.model` is not present locally and the network is unavailable: the model download will fail; place the file in the `scripts/` directory manually in advance.
- When the Excel output strategy is unclear, prefer passing `--excel-worksheet-option` explicitly to avoid unexpected result structures.
- When converting images to other formats, the script already enables OCR automatically; if the output still contains no text, check whether `documentai.model` is complete and whether the OCR language matches.
- Once the trial License usage limit is exhausted, a full License must be purchased to continue; purchase link: `https://www.compdf.com/contact-sales`.

## Copyright

This Skill is built on top of the [ComPDFKit Conversion SDK](https://www.compdf.com).

```
© 2014-2026 PDF Technologies, Inc., a KDAN Company. All Rights Reserved.
```

- **SDK Name**: ComPDFKitConversion
- **SDK Author**: PDF Technologies, Inc.
- **License Type**: Commercial License (Commercial / Proprietary) — non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-sublicensable, revocable
- **Official Website**: https://www.compdf.com
- **Contact**: support@compdf.com
- **Terms of Service**: https://www.compdf.com/terms-of-service
- **Privacy Policy**: https://www.compdf.com/privacy-policy

> **Important**: Under the ComPDFKit Terms of Service, distributing the documentation, sample code, or source code of the ComPDFKit Conversion SDK to third parties is prohibited. Please ensure you have obtained a valid ComPDFKit License before using this Skill.