PDF Chapter Builder

name: pdf-chapter-builder description: Convert e-book chapters from Markdown to PDF with embedded illustrations. Use when user wants to generate PDFs of individual chapters or all chapters for reading/editing. Invoke when user mentions "build PDF", "convert to PDF", "chapter PDF", or wants to read/review chapters as PDFs.

Purpose

This skill converts Markdown chapter files to PDF format using Pandoc and XeLaTeX, ensuring all illustrations are properly embedded and Unicode characters (including emojis) are supported.

Prerequisites

•Pandoc 3.x or later installed
•MiKTeX (Windows) or TeX Live (Mac/Linux) installed
•Both must be in system PATH

Commands

Convert a Single Chapter

From the project root directory:

bash

cd "E:\Vibe Coding\VibeCoded-Ebook" && pandoc chapters/ch01-the-interloquial-revolution.md -o build/ch01.pdf --pdf-engine=xelatex --resource-path=chapters -H epub-build/table-style.tex

Replace ch01-the-interloquial-revolution.md and ch01.pdf with the appropriate chapter.

Note: The -H epub-build/table-style.tex flag includes custom LaTeX styling for professional table formatting with visible borders and proper spacing.

Convert All Chapters

Run the build script:

powershell

powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "E:\Vibe Coding\VibeCoded-Ebook\build-pdfs.ps1"

Or run this PowerShell script directly:

powershell

$projectRoot = "E:\Vibe Coding\VibeCoded-Ebook"
$chapters = @(
    @{src="ch01-the-interloquial-revolution.md"; out="ch01.pdf"},
    @{src="ch02-interloquial-skills.md"; out="ch02.pdf"},
    @{src="ch03-lets-get-vibe-coding.md"; out="ch03.pdf"},
    @{src="ch04-understanding-ai-partners.md"; out="ch04.pdf"},
    @{src="ch05-git-version-control.md"; out="ch05.pdf"},
    @{src="ch06-first-vibe-coded-project.md"; out="ch06.pdf"},
    @{src="ch07-building-with-python.md"; out="ch07.pdf"},
    @{src="ch08-web-development.md"; out="ch08.pdf"},
    @{src="ch09-infrastructure-deployment.md"; out="ch09.pdf"},
    @{src="ch10-full-stack-integration.md"; out="ch10.pdf"},
    @{src="ch11-from-idea-to-income.md"; out="ch11.pdf"},
    @{src="ch12-advanced-vibe-coding-techniques.md"; out="ch12.pdf"},
    @{src="ch13-building-your-practice.md"; out="ch13.pdf"},
    @{src="ch14-the-future-of-interloquial-practice.md"; out="ch14.pdf"}
)

Set-Location $projectRoot

foreach ($ch in $chapters) {
    $srcPath = "chapters/$($ch.src)"
    $outPath = "build/$($ch.out)"

    if (Test-Path $srcPath) {
        Write-Host "Converting $($ch.src)..." -ForegroundColor Cyan
        # Use xelatex for better Unicode support (handles emojis)
        pandoc $srcPath -o $outPath --pdf-engine=xelatex --resource-path=chapters -H epub-build/table-style.tex 2>&1 | Out-Null

        if (Test-Path $outPath) {
            $size = (Get-Item $outPath).Length / 1KB
            Write-Host "  Created: $($ch.out) ($([math]::Round($size, 1)) KB)" -ForegroundColor Green
        } else {
            Write-Host "  FAILED: $($ch.out)" -ForegroundColor Red
        }
    } else {
        Write-Host "Skipping $($ch.src) - file not found" -ForegroundColor Yellow
    }
}

Write-Host "`nDone! PDFs are in the build/ folder." -ForegroundColor Green

Key Parameters

Parameter	Purpose
`--pdf-engine=xelatex`	Uses XeLaTeX for Unicode support (emojis, special characters)
`--resource-path=chapters`	Tells Pandoc where to find images (relative paths in markdown resolve from here)
`-H epub-build/table-style.tex`	Includes custom LaTeX for professional table formatting with borders

Output Location

All PDFs are generated in the build/ folder, which is gitignored.

Troubleshooting

Images Not Appearing

•Ensure --resource-path=chapters is included
•Verify image files exist at the paths referenced in the markdown

Unicode/Emoji Errors

•Use --pdf-engine=xelatex instead of pdflatex
•Some emojis may show as blank if no suitable font is installed

MiKTeX Update Warning

Run MiKTeX Console and check for updates to suppress the warning.

Missing LaTeX Packages

MiKTeX will auto-download missing packages if "Install missing packages on-the-fly" was set to Yes during installation.

Example Usage

User: "Build PDFs for all chapters"

Action:

powershell

powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "E:\Vibe Coding\VibeCoded-Ebook\build-pdfs.ps1"

User: "Convert chapter 7 to PDF"

Action:

bash

cd "E:\Vibe Coding\VibeCoded-Ebook" && pandoc chapters/ch07-building-with-python.md -o build/ch07.pdf --pdf-engine=xelatex --resource-path=chapters -H epub-build/table-style.tex