---
name: pdf-to-md
description: >
  Convert PDF documents to Markdown bundles using the convert_pdf_to_md tool.
  Handles PDFs from Feishu messages, local workspace files, and produces
  high-quality Markdown with LaTeX formulas and extracted images.
---

# PDF to Markdown Conversion

## When to use

Use this skill when the user asks to convert a PDF to Markdown, extract text
from a PDF, or turn a PDF document into an editable format.

## How it works

The `convert_pdf_to_md` tool (provided by the `cph_hub` MCP server) calls
Alibaba Cloud Document Mind to parse the PDF. It:

- Extracts text in reading order (handles multi-column, scanned, and
  multi-language documents)
- Converts mathematical formulas to **LaTeX** (`$...$` inline, `$$...$$` block)
- Extracts tables as Markdown tables
- Downloads embedded images into the output directory
- Writes a single `document.md` file plus image files

## Workflow

### PDF from a Feishu message

1. Use `feishu_read_context` to find the `file_key` of the PDF attachment.
2. Use `feishu_download_resource` to download it into the workspace.
3. Use `convert_pdf_to_md` with the downloaded file path and an output directory.

### PDF already in the workspace

1. Use `convert_pdf_to_md` directly with the file path and an output directory.

## Important rules

- **Always** use `convert_pdf_to_md` for PDF→Markdown. Do NOT attempt to parse
  PDFs yourself with Read, Bash, Python, or any other method. The tool provides
  accurate formula, table, and image extraction that manual methods cannot
  match.
- If `convert_pdf_to_md` fails because no capability connection is configured,
  tell the user to ask their organization admin to configure the Aliyun
  docmind credential in the admin web UI (组织后台 → 能力).
- The output directory will be created if it does not exist.
- After conversion, use `send_file` to send the generated markdown back to the
  user if they requested it.

## Output

The tool returns a list of generated files:
- `document.md` — the main markdown file
- `*.jpg` / `*.png` — extracted images, referenced from the markdown

## Cost

The conversion is billed per page (0.04 CNY/page ≈ $0.0056/page for the
enhanced formula mode). The cost is automatically recorded on the run's
usage ledger.