docx_skill

Overview

This skill handles creation, reading, editing, and manipulation of Word .docx documents. It produces polished Word files with correct page size, styles, tables, images, headers/footers, and table of contents. Use it for programmatic generation, precise XML-level edits, tracked changes, comments, and conversions to images or PDF-ready output.

How this skill works

The skill works by creating or unpacking the .docx ZIP container, editing the underlying WordprocessingML XML, and repacking a valid .docx. For new documents it generates content through a docx library, applying explicit page sizes, numbering, table widths, and image metadata. For edits it unpacks the package, lets you make minimal XML changes (with tracked-change markup and smart-quote entities), then repacks and validates the package.

When to use it

• When you need a professionally formatted Word document (.docx): reports, memos, letters, templates.
• When inserting, replacing, or sizing images with required alt text and file type.
• When creating tables that must render consistently across Word and Google Docs.
• When you must apply tracked changes, comments, or precise XML edits with author attribution.
• When converting legacy .doc to .docx or exporting pages as images/PDF.

Best practices

• Always set page size explicitly (docx default is A4; use DXA units for US Letter).
• Never use unicode bullets or literal \n for paragraphs—use numbering configs and separate Paragraph elements.
• For tables set both the table width and each cell width in DXA; use ShadingType.CLEAR and cell margins for padding.
• Specify image type (png/jpg/etc) and include altText title/description/name for each ImageRun.
• Use smart-quote XML entities for new text and use "Claude" as the tracked-change author unless a different name is requested.
• Validate the final .docx and repair or fix XML issues if validation fails.

Example use cases

• Generate a US Letter report with a table of contents, styled headings, and page numbers.
• Replace product images across a document and adjust sizes while preserving captions and alt text.
• Edit contract terms with tracked insertions and deletions attributed to a named author.
• Create a responsive two-column table that renders properly in Word and Google Docs by using DXA widths.
• Unpack a damaged .docx, fix XML runs/spacing, then repack and validate the repaired document.