Markdown Pdf Export

Read references/preset-selection.md if you need to justify or refine the preset choice.

Preferred workflow

1. Identify the markdown source files and expected PDF filenames.
2. If the user wants repeatability, copy the bundled script and wrapper into the target workspace:
   • scripts/export_markdown_pdf.ps1
   • scripts/export_markdown_pdf.cmd
   • one or more CSS presets from assets/
   • assets/export-config.example.json adapted into a project-local config file
3. Populate the config with document entries, titles, and presets.
4. Run the script from the target workspace.
5. Verify the PDF outputs and keep the setup in place for future reruns.

If the user only wants a one-time export, you may run the script directly without copying it, but the default recommendation is still to leave a reusable setup behind.

Config model

The bundled script expects a JSON config file with this shape:

{
  "defaults": {
    "workDir": ".",
    "resourcePath": ".",
    "preset": "default",
    "virtualTimeBudget": 5000
  },
  "documents": [
    {
      "input": "document.md",
      "output": "document.pdf",
      "title": "Document Title",
      "preset": "default"
    }
  ]
}

Use:

• preset for the built-in CSS options
• css only when the user explicitly wants a custom stylesheet
• resourcePath when images or local assets are referenced outside the markdown's own directory

Styling rules

• Keep styles simple, print-safe, and easy to maintain.
• Favor readable fonts, restrained color, predictable spacing, and page-break-safe images.
• For resumes, emphasize headings, contact blocks, and compact bullet spacing.
• For compact documents, reduce margins and vertical spacing without making the output feel cramped.

Verification rules

After export:

• Confirm the PDF file paths exist.
• Confirm the file sizes are non-zero.
• When feasible, extract a small text sample from the PDF to confirm the content is not an error page.

Resources in this skill

• scripts/export_markdown_pdf.ps1 - generic reusable export script
• scripts/export_markdown_pdf.cmd - Windows wrapper for the PowerShell script
• assets/default.css - balanced general-purpose print style
• assets/compact.css - tighter layout for short documents
• assets/resume.css - polished resume-oriented style
• assets/export-config.example.json - starter config file
• references/preset-selection.md - when to use each preset and what to tweak