Agent skill

Document Python Direct

by HKUDS in HKUDS/OpenSpace

Use direct Python execution for reliable spreadsheet and document/PDF generation operations

MITAuto-check passedDocuments & Office

Install Document Python Direct

skills CLI
$ npx skills add HKUDS/OpenSpace --skill document-python-direct -a claude-code

Project install by default; add -g for ~/.claude/skills/.

GitHub CLI
$ gh skill install HKUDS/OpenSpace document-python-direct --agent claude-code

Project scope by default; add --scope user for a personal install. Needs GitHub CLI 2.90.0 or later (public preview).

Manual copy
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/HKUDS/OpenSpace.git skills-src && mkdir -p .claude/skills && cp -r skills-src/benchmarks/gdpval/skills/spreadsheet-direct-python-merged-f07ee1 .claude/skills/document-python-direct && rm -rf skills-src

Use ~/.claude/skills/ instead of .claude/skills for a personal install. The folder must contain SKILL.md.

Claude Code skills documentation · loads skills from .claude/skills/

Facts

Skill name
document-python-direct
GitHub stars
7.7k
Token cost
~2.1k tokens
SKILL.md length
630 words
Files
2
Skills in repo
199
Repo updated
First seen
Licence
MIT

At a glance

Use direct Python execution for reliable spreadsheet and document/PDF generation operations

  • Works in 8 steps: Prefer file-based execution for complex… → Import only needed libraries to reduce… → Print clear success/error messages for… → …
  • Tasks that involve Excel spreadsheets
  • SKILL.md covers When to Use This Skill, Why Direct Execution?, How to Use and Spreadsheet Examples, plus 6 more sections
  • Calls python3 and pip

What it does

Document Python Direct is an agent skill from HKUDS/OpenSpace. Use direct Python execution for reliable spreadsheet and document/PDF generation operations

Its SKILL.md is about 2.1k tokens, which your agent loads only when the skill is triggered. The skill folder holds 1 other file.

It sits in Documents & Office, covering Excel spreadsheets and PDF. It works with Python and openpyxl. The repository describes itself as: "OpenSpace: The Skill Management Layer for AI Agents" -- https://open-space.cloud/. The licence is MIT.

When your agent uses it

  • Tasks that involve Excel spreadsheets
  • Tasks that involve PDF

Example prompts

  • “/document-python-direct”

Requirements

  • Python 3

Workflow steps

8 steps, taken from the first numbered list in SKILL.md.

  1. Prefer file-based execution for complex scripts: write to .py file first, then execute via run_shell
  2. Import only needed libraries to reduce execution time
  3. Print clear success/error messages for debugging
  4. Save intermediate results for complex multi-step transformations
  5. Test with small data before scaling to large spreadsheets or documents
  6. Use pandas for data manipulation and openpyxl for formatting when both are needed
  7. Clean up temporary script files after execution if they won't be reused
  8. Use PDF libraries appropriate to your needs: reportlab for complex layouts, fpdf2 for simple documents

What it can do on your machine

Read from SKILL.md and the folder at commit 3827781. It shows what the files ask for, not the result of running them.

  • Tool permissions

    Pre-approves nothing: there is no allowed-tools line, so your agent's usual permission prompts apply.

    From allowed-tools in the SKILL.md frontmatter.

  • Runs code

    Shell commands in SKILL.md call:

    • python3
    • pip

    From the folder's file list and the shell code blocks in SKILL.md.

  • Network

    No URLs in SKILL.md. Its commands use pip, which can reach the network depending on how they are called.

    From URLs in SKILL.md, links to its own repository left out.

  • Credentials

    Names no API keys, tokens, secrets or passwords.

    From names ending in _API_KEY, _TOKEN, _SECRET, _KEY or _PASSWORD in SKILL.md.

Context cost

Document Python Direct loads about 2.1k tokens when it runs. Until then it costs about 29 tokens; SKILL.md has 630 words of instructions outside code blocks.

Always · name and description, kept in context so the agent knows when to use it
~29
When it runs · the whole SKILL.md, loaded when a task matches
~2.1k

Estimates: characters ÷ 4, the usual rule of thumb; real counts depend on the model's tokenizer. Scripts and assets cost tokens only if the agent reads them.

Safety

Auto-check passed

The automated check found no risky patterns in SKILL.md.

Automated static check — not a guarantee. Review scripts before installing. It scans the text of SKILL.md for risky patterns (piping downloads into a shell, reading credential files, hidden Unicode, destructive commands); files beside SKILL.md are not scanned.

SKILL.md

The full file from HKUDS/OpenSpace at commit 3827781, republished under its MIT licence (© HKUDS). 630 words, ~2,090 tokens.

Download SKILL.mdSave it as .claude/skills/document-python-direct/SKILL.md (or your agent's skills folder). This skill also uses 1 other file; get the full folder from GitHub.
name
document-python-direct
description
Use direct Python execution for reliable spreadsheet and document/PDF generation operations

Direct Python Execution for Document and Spreadsheet Tasks

When to Use This Skill

Use direct run_shell with Python scripts for document operations when:

  • Reading or writing complex Excel files with multiple sheets
  • Generating PDF reports, checklists, or forms
  • Applying formulas, formatting, or data transformations
  • Working with openpyxl, pandas, reportlab, fpdf2, or similar libraries
  • The operation involves multiple steps that could exceed agent step limits
  • You need precise control over error handling and debugging
  • Complex scripts benefit from file-based execution for better reliability

Why Direct Execution?

The shell_agent tool can:

  • Hit maximum step limits on complex multi-step operations
  • Produce unexplained errors on formatting operations
  • Fail on intricate spreadsheet reads/writes due to iterative parsing
  • Fail to parse heredoc syntax correctly, causing 'unknown error' failures

Direct run_shell with Python is more reliable because it:

  • Executes in a single step with no iteration limits
  • Provides clearer, immediate error messages
  • Handles complex operations without step constraints
  • Gives full control over library imports and execution flow
  • Writing scripts to .py files first avoids shell_agent parsing issues with heredocs

How to Use

For complex multi-line scripts, especially when using shell_agent as executor:

bash
# Step 1: Write the Python script to a file
cat > process_document.py << 'EOF'
import openpyxl
from openpyxl import Workbook

# Your spreadsheet code here
wb = openpyxl.load_workbook('file.xlsx')
# ... operations ...
wb.save('output.xlsx')
print('Success')
EOF

# Step 2: Execute the script
python3 process_document.py
Alternative Pattern: Inline Heredoc (Simple Scripts Only)

For short, simple scripts when NOT using shell_agent as the executor:

bash
python3 << 'EOF'
import openpyxl
# Simple operation
wb = openpyxl.load_workbook('file.xlsx')
wb.save('output.xlsx')
print('Done')
EOF

Spreadsheet Examples

Example 1: Read and Transform Excel Data

Write to file first, then execute:

python
import pandas as pd

# Load data from specific sheet
df = pd.read_excel('input.xlsx', sheet_name='Revenue')

# Apply transformations
df['Net_Revenue'] = df['Gross_Revenue'] * (1 - df['Tax_Rate'])

# Save results
df.to_excel('output.xlsx', index=False, sheet_name='Processed')
Example 2: Multi-Sheet Operations with openpyxl
python
from openpyxl import load_workbook

wb = load_workbook('tour_data.xlsx')

# Iterate through sheets
for sheet_name in wb.sheetnames:
    ws = wb[sheet_name]
    for row in ws.iter_rows(min_row=2, max_col=5):
        pass

wb.save('tour_data_processed.xlsx')
Example 3: Complex Formatting Operations
python
from openpyxl import load_workbook
from openpyxl.styles import Font, PatternFill, Alignment

wb = load_workbook('report.xlsx')
ws = wb.active

header_fill = PatternFill(start_color='4472C4', fill_type='solid')
header_font = Font(bold=True, color='FFFFFF')

for cell in ws[1]:
    cell.fill = header_fill
    cell.font = header_font
    cell.alignment = Alignment(horizontal='center')

wb.save('report_formatted.xlsx')

PDF Generation Examples

Example 4: Basic PDF Report with reportlab
python
from reportlab.lib.pagesizes import letter
from reportlab.pdfgen import canvas
from reportlab.lib.styles import getSampleStyleSheet
from reportlab.platypus import SimpleDocTemplate, Paragraph, Spacer

# Create PDF document
doc = SimpleDocTemplate('report.pdf', pagesize=letter)
styles = getSampleStyleSheet()
story = []

# Add content
story.append(Paragraph('Monthly Report', styles['Heading1']))
story.append(Spacer(1, 12))
story.append(Paragraph('Generated successfully.', styles['Normal']))

# Build PDF
doc.build(story)
print('PDF created successfully')
Example 5: PDF Checklist with fpdf2
python
from fpdf import FPDF

# Create PDF instance
pdf = FPDF()
pdf.add_page()
pdf.set_font('Arial', 'B', 16)

# Title
pdf.cell(0, 10, 'Safety Checklist', ln=True, align='C')
pdf.ln(10)

# Checklist items
pdf.set_font('Arial', '', 12)
items = ['Check equipment', 'Verify connections', 'Test system', 'Document results']
for i, item in enumerate(items, 1):
    pdf.cell(5, 10, f'[ ] {item}', ln=True)

# Save
pdf.output('checklist.pdf')
print('Checklist PDF generated')
Example 6: Combined Spreadsheet + PDF Workflow
python
import pandas as pd
from reportlab.lib.pagesizes import letter
from reportlab.pdfgen import canvas

# Step 1: Process spreadsheet data
df = pd.read_excel('data.xlsx')
summary = df.describe()

# Step 2: Generate PDF report
c = canvas.Canvas('summary_report.pdf', pagesize=letter)
c.drawString(100, 750, 'Data Summary Report')
c.drawString(100, 730, f'Total Records: {len(df)}')
c.drawString(100, 710, f'Mean Value: {df.iloc[:, 0].mean():.2f}')
c.save()

print('Spreadsheet processed and PDF report generated')

Error Handling Pattern

Write to file first, then execute:

python
import sys
from openpyxl import load_workbook

try:
    wb = load_workbook('data.xlsx')
    ws = wb.active
    
    # Your operations here
    value = ws['A1'].value
    
    wb.save('output.xlsx')
    print(f"Success: Processed {ws.max_row} rows")
    
except Exception as e:
    print(f"Error: {str(e)}", file=sys.stderr)
    sys.exit(1)

Best Practices

  1. Prefer file-based execution for complex scripts: write to .py file first, then execute via run_shell
  2. Import only needed libraries to reduce execution time
  3. Print clear success/error messages for debugging
  4. Save intermediate results for complex multi-step transformations
  5. Test with small data before scaling to large spreadsheets or documents
  6. Use pandas for data manipulation and openpyxl for formatting when both are needed
  7. Clean up temporary script files after execution if they won't be reused
  8. Use PDF libraries appropriate to your needs: reportlab for complex layouts, fpdf2 for simple documents
Show full SKILL.md (266 more words)Show less

When NOT to Use This Skill

  • Simple single-cell reads/writes (use shell_agent or basic commands)
  • Operations that require interactive user input
  • Tasks where you need the agent to iteratively refine the approach
  • Very simple text files (use basic shell commands instead)

Common Libraries

LibraryBest For
openpyxlReading/writing .xlsx files, formatting, formulas
pandasData manipulation, analysis, merging datasets
xlrdReading older .xls files (read-only)
xlsxwriterCreating new .xlsx files with advanced formatting
reportlabProfessional PDF reports with complex layouts
fpdf2Simple PDF generation, checklists, basic documents
python-docxCreating and editing Word documents

Troubleshooting

Issue: Heredoc syntax fails with 'unknown error' when using shell_agent

  • Solution: Write the Python script to a .py file first, then execute it with python3 script.py. This pattern is significantly more reliable than inline heredoc execution when shell_agent is the executor.

Issue: FileNotFoundError

  • Solution: Verify the file path is absolute or relative to the working directory

Issue: PermissionError

  • Solution: Ensure the file is not open in another application

Issue: MemoryError on large files

  • Solution: Process data in chunks using pandas chunksize parameter

Issue: Formatting not applying

  • Solution: Ensure you're modifying cell styles before saving, and use .copy() for style objects

Issue: PDF text encoding errors

  • Solution: Use Unicode-compatible fonts and ensure text is properly encoded (UTF-8)

Issue: PDF library not found

  • Solution: Install required library with pip install reportlab or pip install fpdf2

Issue: Agent fails before tool execution (skill selector returns empty)

  • Solution: Ensure the skill is properly registered and the task matches the skill's description. For document generation tasks, explicitly mention "PDF" or "spreadsheet" in the task description to trigger skill selection.

© HKUDS, MIT. Rendered from Markdown: HTML in the file is shown as text, images as links, and headings moved down two levels. Raw file

Files

SKILL.md and 1 other file in benchmarks/gdpval/skills/spreadsheet-direct-python-merged-f07ee1 of HKUDS/OpenSpace.

  • SKILL.md
  • .skill_id

Open the folder on GitHubat commit 3827781

Compare with similar skills

Document Python Direct next to the 5 skills that share the most tags, products or categories with it. Stars are the repository's; “used in” counts other GitHub owners with a copy.

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Works with

Questions about Document Python Direct

What does Document Python Direct do?

Use direct Python execution for reliable spreadsheet and document/PDF generation operations. Document Python Direct is an agent skill from HKUDS/OpenSpace.

When should I use Document Python Direct?

Document Python Direct fits situations like: tasks that involve Excel spreadsheets; tasks that involve PDF.

How do I install Document Python Direct in Claude Code?

Run `npx skills add HKUDS/OpenSpace --skill document-python-direct -a claude-code`. Or copy the skill folder (benchmarks/gdpval/skills/spreadsheet-direct-python-merged-f07ee1 in HKUDS/OpenSpace) into .claude/skills/document-python-direct in your project. Claude Code loads it when a task matches its description.

How do I install Document Python Direct in Codex?

Run `npx skills add HKUDS/OpenSpace --skill document-python-direct -a codex`. Or copy the skill folder (benchmarks/gdpval/skills/spreadsheet-direct-python-merged-f07ee1 in HKUDS/OpenSpace) into .agents/skills/document-python-direct in your project. Codex loads it when a task matches its description.

Can I use Document Python Direct in Cursor, Gemini CLI or GitHub Copilot?

Cursor, Gemini CLI, GitHub Copilot and OpenCode also load SKILL.md folders. With the skills CLI, run `npx skills add HKUDS/OpenSpace --skill document-python-direct -a cursor` (or -a gemini-cli, github-copilot or opencode for the others). To copy it by hand, put the folder in .cursor/skills/document-python-direct, .gemini/skills/document-python-direct, .github/skills/document-python-direct and .opencode/skills/document-python-direct in your project.

What does Document Python Direct need to run?

Going by SKILL.md and its folder, Document Python Direct needs the command-line tools its instructions call (python3 and pip). Our summary lists: Python 3.

Does Document Python Direct access the network?

SKILL.md contains no URLs. Its commands use pip, which can reach the network depending on how they are called. This is read from the text; nothing was executed.

Is Document Python Direct safe to install?

Our automated static check of SKILL.md found no risky patterns, such as piping downloads into a shell, reading credential files or hidden Unicode. It is not a guarantee. Review the folder before installing.

What licence does Document Python Direct use?

Document Python Direct is published under the MIT licence (the repository's licence). It allows redistribution, so the full SKILL.md is shown on this page.

How many tokens does Document Python Direct use?

About 2.1k tokens (SKILL.md is roughly 8.4k characters). Agents keep only the skill's name and description in context until a task matches; then they load SKILL.md in full.

What are the alternatives to Document Python Direct?

Skills that share tags, products or a category with Document Python Direct: Cc Streaming Export Safety (doccker/cc-use-exp, 1.1k stars), Streaming Export Safety (doccker/cc-use-exp, 1.1k stars), Mineru (Nebutra/MinerU-Skill, 122 stars) and Markdown Exporter (bowenliang123/markdown-exporter, 271 stars). The comparison table on this page puts their stars, adoption, token cost, safety result and licence side by side.

Who maintains Document Python Direct?

HKUDS (a GitHub organization) maintains it in HKUDS/OpenSpace, which has 7,743 GitHub stars. The repository holds 199 skills in this directory. The repository was last updated on August 12, 2026.

Source: HKUDS/OpenSpace on GitHub. Facts on this page come from the repository at the commit we read; the author's words are quoted as theirs.