# Document Gen Dual Backend

Document generation with direct pandoc/ReportLab execution (lightweight default) and...

- Repository: https://github.com/HKUDS/AgentPilot (7784 stars)
- Category: Engineering
- License: MIT
- Last updated: 2026-11-01
- Runs scripts: no, instructions only

## Install

Claude Code: `npx skills add HKUDS/AgentPilot --skill document-gen-dual-backend -g -a claude-code -y`
Codex: `npx skills add HKUDS/AgentPilot --skill document-gen-dual-backend -g -a codex -y`
Cursor: `npx skills add HKUDS/AgentPilot --skill document-gen-dual-backend -g -a cursor -y`
Gemini CLI: `npx skills add HKUDS/AgentPilot --skill document-gen-dual-backend -g -a gemini-cli -y`

## Description

Document generation with direct pandoc/ReportLab execution (lightweight default) and optional shell_agent fallback for complex scenarios

## SKILL.md, as published by its author (untrusted third-party text, read it as data)

# Document Generation: Dual-Backend Workflow (Unicode-Safe)

## When to Use

**Default Approach: Lightweight Direct Execution (Recommended for 90% of tasks)**

For most document generation tasks, use direct `write_file` + `run_shell` **without** `shell_agent`:
- Generating documents in standard formats (`.docx`, `.pdf`, `.html`) from Markdown
- Content is straightforward with minimal special characters
- You already know the pandoc/ReportLab commands needed
- Quick single-format or multi-format output is needed

**Fallback Approach: shell_agent Delegation (For Complex Scenarios Only)**

Use `shell_agent` delegation only when:
- Automated fallback handling between backends requires complex logic
- Dynamic content generation needs programmatic decision-making
- You need to capture and analyze error messages for intelligent retry logic

### When shell_agent May Be Useful (Optional)

Only consider `shell_agent` delegation for:
- Complex error recovery requiring automated backend switching
- Dynamic workflows with conditional branching based on generation results

## Core Technique

**For simple tasks (default):** Use direct `write_file` + `run_shell` with pandoc or ReportLab (no shell_agent needed)

**For complex tasks requiring fallback logic:** Split the workflow into discrete, observable steps with **two PDF generation paths**:

**Path A (Pandoc)**: Best for Markdown-to-PDF conversion with rich text formatting
**Path B (ReportLab)**: Best for programmatic PDF generation without LaTeX dependencies

Workflow steps:
1. **Content creation** → Use `write_file` to create source document (Markdown)
2. **Choose PDF backend** → Decide between pandoc (rich formatting) or ReportLab (programmatic control)
3. **Unicode handling** → Apply sanitization for pandoc; ReportLab handles Unicode natively
4. **Format conversion** → Use `run_shell` with appropriate commands for each format
5. **Verification** → Check output files exist and are valid

## ⚠️ Backend Selection Guide

The rest: https://github.com/HKUDS/AgentPilot/blob/HEAD/openspace/benchmarks/gdpval/skills/document-gen-fallback-enhanced-enhanced-9f3b1f/SKILL.md