Convert documents and files to Markdown using markitdown. Use when converting PDF, Word (.docx), PowerPoint (.pptx), Excel (.xlsx, .xls), HTML, CSV, JSON, XML, images (with EXIF/OCR), audio (with transcription), ZIP archives, YouTube URLs, or EPubs to Markdown format for LLM processing or text analysis.
Install
npx skillscat add intellectronica/agent-skills/skills-markdown-converter Install via the SkillsCat registry.
We need to produce a 2-3 sentence plain-text summary, objective, factual, no marketing language, no superlatives, no calls to action. Must be at most 60 words. Must not wrap in quotes. Must be only the summary text. We need to explain what the skill does, what problem it solves, when to use it. So something like: "The skill converts various file formats such as PDF, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, HTML, CSV, JSON, XML, images, audio, ZIP archives, YouTube URLs, and EPubs into Markdown text.
Markdown Converter
Convert files to Markdown using uvx markitdown — no installation required.
Basic Usage
# Convert to stdout
uvx markitdown input.pdf
# Save to file
uvx markitdown input.pdf -o output.md
uvx markitdown input.docx > output.md
# From stdin
cat input.pdf | uvx markitdownSupported Formats
- Documents: PDF, Word (.docx), PowerPoint (.pptx), Excel (.xlsx, .xls)
- Web/Data: HTML, CSV, JSON, XML
- Media: Images (EXIF + OCR), Audio (EXIF + transcription)
- Other: ZIP (iterates contents), YouTube URLs, EPub
Options
-o OUTPUT # Output file
-x EXTENSION # Hint file extension (for stdin)
-m MIME_TYPE # Hint MIME type
-c CHARSET # Hint charset (e.g., UTF-8)
-d # Use Azure Document Intelligence
-e ENDPOINT # Document Intelligence endpoint
--use-plugins # Enable 3rd-party plugins
--list-plugins # Show installed pluginsExamples
# Convert Word document
uvx markitdown report.docx -o report.md
# Convert Excel spreadsheet
uvx markitdown data.xlsx > data.md
# Convert PowerPoint presentation
uvx markitdown slides.pptx -o slides.md
# Convert with file type hint (for stdin)
cat document | uvx markitdown -x .pdf > output.md
# Use Azure Document Intelligence for better PDF extraction
uvx markitdown scan.pdf -d -e "https://your-resource.cognitiveservices.azure.com/"Notes
- Output preserves document structure: headings, tables, lists, links
- First run caches dependencies; subsequent runs are faster
- For complex PDFs with poor extraction, use
-dwith Azure Document Intelligence