pdf-tools

Provides command-line tools for merging, splitting, compressing, rotating, watermarking, password-protecting, extracting text from, and converting PDFs via qpdf, pdftk, Ghostscript.

3|Updated Feb 13, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/jholhewres/goclaw-skills --skill pdf-tools-jholhewres
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: pdf-tools
Source: https://github.com/jholhewres/goclaw-skills/tree/main/skills/pdf-tools
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/jholhewres/goclaw-skills --skill pdf-tools-jholhewres

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill requires qpdf, pdftk, ghostscript, poppler-utils, img2pdf.

What problem does it solve?

This Skill addresses the common need to modify, convert, and optimize PDF documents, which can be cumbersome with standard tools.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Merge/Split PDFs: Combine multiple PDF files into one or break a large PDF into smaller parts.
  • Compress PDFs: Reduce file size for easier sharing and storage.
  • Convert Formats: Transform PDFs to images or images to PDFs.
  • Modify PDFs: Rotate pages, add watermarks, or password-protect documents.
  • Extract Text: Pull text content from PDFs for further processing.
  • Use Case: You have a multi-page PDF report that is too large to email. Use this Skill to compress it, or split it into logical sections.

Quick Start

Use the pdf-tools skill to merge all PDF files in the current directory into a single file named 'merged.pdf'.

Frequently Asked Questions about pdf-tools

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I merge and split PDF files from the command line?▼

You can merge and split PDF files using robust command-line tools like qpdf and pdftk. This allows you to combine multiple documents into a single file or break a large PDF into smaller, manageable sections.

What is the best way to compress a large PDF for email?▼

Compressing a large PDF for email is achieved using ghostscript to reduce file size. This optimization process makes documents easier to share and store without requiring manual editing.

Can I convert PDF documents to images and images to PDFs?▼

You can convert PDF documents to images and images to PDFs using poppler-utils and img2pdf. This supports format transformation for embedding visuals or compiling image sets into a single document.

Does this approach support adding watermarks and password protection to PDFs?▼

Yes, modifying PDFs to add watermarks and password protection is fully supported using pdftk. This secures your documents and applies custom branding directly through the command line.

How do I extract text content from a PDF file?▼

Extracting text content from a PDF file is done using poppler-utils. This pulls the raw text from your documents for further processing, searching, or data migration workflows.

What dependencies do I need to manipulate PDFs on my system?▼

To manipulate PDFs, your system needs qpdf, pdftk, ghostscript, poppler-utils, and img2pdf installed. These command-line utilities provide the underlying functionality for document processing.