John's Essentials

pdf_excel_to_pdf_batch

Excel to PDF (Batch) — Apply the same Excel-to-PDF configuration to up to 20 spreadsheets. Returns a ZIP with per-file subfolders. [category: pdf]

Input Schema

TableJSON Schema

Name	Required	Description	Default
`pdfa`	No	Save in the PDF/A archive format, which embeds everything the file needs to open correctly in decades' time. Off unless you need it; 2b is the version most archives ask for.	none
`files`	Yes	Up to 20 input spreadsheets
`scale`	No	Print size as a percentage, where 100 is life size and less shrinks the sheet to fit more on a page. Leave it blank unless you want a specific percentage - setting any value here turns Fit to page off.
`footer`	No	Per-page footer template. Same tokens as header.
`header`	No	Per-page header template. Tokens: {page}, {pages}, {sheet}, {date}, {filename}.
`sheets`	No	Which sheets to convert: all, or the names or positions you want — Sales,Ledger or 0,2.	all
`margins`	No	default\|narrow\|normal\|wide (Excel's inch presets); default keeps the sheet's own margins. Only applies to .xlsx input; unknown → default.	default
`quality`	No	How sharp the pictures and charts stay in the PDF. Leave blank for the converter's own setting.
`password`	No	Open password for the output PDF (user password).
`bookmarks`	No	Add PDF bookmarks, one per sheet.
`fitToPage`	No	Fit each sheet to a page. 'width' prevents column cutoff; 'one-page' squeezes each sheet onto a single page.	none
`gridlines`	No	Print the faint grid between cells. Leave blank to keep whatever the sheet already does.
`paperSize`	No	a4 (default) \| letter \| legal \| tabloid \| a3. Only applies to .xlsx input (excelize preprocess); unknown values silently become a4.	a4
`splitMode`	No	One PDF containing every sheet, or a ZIP holding one PDF per sheet.	combined
`repeatRows`	No	Print titles — rows that repeat on every page. e.g. '1' or '1-3'.
`orientation`	No	Page orientation. 'auto' picks landscape for sheets with ≥8 data columns.	auto
`showHeaders`	No	Print the A B C column letters and 1 2 3 row numbers down the edges. Leave blank to keep the sheet's own setting.
`permPassword`	No	A second, different password that locks printing, copying and editing. Only takes effect if you also set an open password above.
`watermarkFont`	No	Lettering style for the watermark. Latin alphabet only. Only used when there is watermark text.	Helvetica
`watermarkText`	No	Optional text watermark stamped on every page of the output.
`watermarkColor`	No	Colour of the watermark lettering, as #rgb or #rrggbb. Anything else becomes mid-grey. Only used when there is watermark text.	#808080
`watermarkScale`	No	Size multiplier applied on top of the lettering size. Only used when there is watermark text.
`watermarkOpacity`	No	How solid the watermark looks: 1 is fully solid, 0.3 is a faint ghost. This is a fraction, not a percent. Only used when there is watermark text.
`watermarkFontSize`	No	Height of the watermark lettering in points. Only used when there is watermark text.
`watermarkPosition`	No	Where the watermark sits on the page. Only used when there is watermark text.	c
`watermarkRotation`	No	Angle of the watermark in whole degrees; 45 is the classic diagonal. Only used when there is watermark text.

Schema Changelog

Changes observed during successful MCP inspections.

Changed3 schema fields changedSep 26, 2026
- changedInput schema / properties / footer / x-ui / unset_label
```
Previous value: -"No footer"New value: +"Sheet's own footer"
```
- changedInput schema / properties / header / x-ui / unset_label
```
Previous value: -"No header"New value: +"Sheet's own header"
```
- changedInput schema / properties / repeatRows / x-ui / unset_label
```
Previous value: -"No rows repeated"New value: +"Sheet's own print titles"
```

Changed6 schema fields changedSep 26, 2026

addedInput schema / properties / footer / x-ui

Added value: +{
+  "unset_label": "No footer"
+}

addedInput schema / properties / header / x-ui

Added value: +{
+  "unset_label": "No header"
+}

addedInput schema / properties / password / x-ui

Added value: +{
+  "unset_label": "No password"
+}

addedInput schema / properties / permPassword / x-ui

Added value: +{
+  "unset_label": "Same as the open password"
+}

addedInput schema / properties / repeatRows / x-ui

Added value: +{
+  "unset_label": "No rows repeated"
+}

addedInput schema / properties / watermarkText / x-ui

Added value: +{
+  "unset_label": "No watermark"
+}

Changed3 schema fields changedSep 24, 2026
- addedInput schema / properties / gridlines / x-ui / unset_label
```
Added value: +"Sheet's own setting"
```
- addedInput schema / properties / quality / x-ui / unset_label
```
Added value: +"Converter's setting"
```
- addedInput schema / properties / showHeaders / x-ui / unset_label
```
Added value: +"Sheet's own setting"
```
Changed4 schema fields changedSep 23, 2026
- addedInput schema / properties / scale / x-ui
```
Added value: +{
+  "unit": "%"
+}
```
- addedInput schema / properties / watermarkFontSize / x-ui
```
Added value: +{
+  "unit": "pt"
+}
```
- addedInput schema / properties / watermarkRotation / x-ui
```
Added value: +{
+  "unit": "deg"
+}
```
- addedInput schema / properties / watermarkScale / x-ui
```
Added value: +{
+  "unit": "x"
+}
```

Changed26 schema fields changedSep 11, 2026

changedInput schema / properties / gridlines / description

Previous value: -"Show gridlines. Empty leaves the sheet's own setting."New value: +"Print the faint grid between cells. Leave blank to keep whatever the sheet already does."

changedInput schema / properties / gridlines / enum

Previous value: -[
-  "",
-  "true",
-  "false"
-]New value: +[
+  "true",
+  "false"
+]

addedInput schema / properties / gridlines / x-ui

Added value: +{
+  "labels": {
+    "false": "Hide gridlines",
+    "true": "Show gridlines"
+  }
+}

addedInput schema / properties / margins / x-ui

Added value: +{
+  "labels": {
+    "default": "Keep the sheet's own margins",
+    "narrow": "Narrow",
+    "normal": "Normal",
+    "wide": "Wide"
+  }
+}

changedInput schema / properties / pdfa / description

Previous value: -"Archival PDF/A output. 2b is the safe default."New value: +"Save in the PDF/A archive format, which embeds everything the file needs to open correctly in decades' time. Off unless you need it; 2b is the version most archives ask for."

addedInput schema / properties / pdfa / x-ui

Added value: +{
+  "labels": {
+    "1b": "PDF/A-1b",
+    "2b": "PDF/A-2b (most asked for)",
+    "3b": "PDF/A-3b",
+    "none": "Ordinary PDF"
+  }
+}

changedInput schema / properties / permPassword / description

Previous value: -"Owner password for permission restrictions. Optional."New value: +"A second, different password that locks printing, copying and editing. Only takes effect if you also set an open password above."

addedInput schema / properties / permPassword / title
```
Added value: +"Owner password"
```

changedInput schema / properties / quality / description

Previous value: -"Output compression quality preset."New value: +"How sharp the pictures and charts stay in the PDF. Leave blank for the converter's own setting."

changedInput schema / properties / quality / enum

Previous value: -[
-  "",
-  "low",
-  "medium",
-  "high"
-]New value: +[
+  "low",
+  "medium",
+  "high"
+]

addedInput schema / properties / quality / x-ui

Added value: +{
+  "labels": {
+    "high": "Best quality (no downsizing)",
+    "low": "Smallest file (96 DPI pictures)",
+    "medium": "Balanced (150 DPI pictures)"
+  }
+}

changedInput schema / properties / scale / description

Previous value: -"Print scaling percent. Overrides fitToPage when set."New value: +"Print size as a percentage, where 100 is life size and less shrinks the sheet to fit more on a page. Leave it blank unless you want a specific percentage - setting any value here turns Fit to page off."

addedInput schema / properties / scale / x-show-when

Added value: +{
+  "fitToPage": [
+    "none"
+  ]
+}

addedInput schema / properties / sheets / default
```
Added value: +"all"
```

changedInput schema / properties / sheets / description

Previous value: -"Sheet selection: 'all', comma-separated names (e.g. 'Sales,Ledger'), or comma-separated 0-based indexes (e.g. '0,2'). Non-selected sheets are hidden before conversion."New value: +"Which sheets to convert: all, or the names or positions you want — Sales,Ledger or 0,2."

changedInput schema / properties / showHeaders / description

Previous value: -"Show row/column headers (A/B/C + 1/2/3). Empty leaves the sheet's own setting."New value: +"Print the A B C column letters and 1 2 3 row numbers down the edges. Leave blank to keep the sheet's own setting."

changedInput schema / properties / showHeaders / enum

Previous value: -[
-  "",
-  "true",
-  "false"
-]New value: +[
+  "true",
+  "false"
+]

addedInput schema / properties / showHeaders / x-ui

Added value: +{
+  "labels": {
+    "false": "Hide row & column headings",
+    "true": "Show row & column headings"
+  }
+}

changedInput schema / properties / splitMode / description

Previous value: -"combined = one multi-page PDF; per-sheet = ZIP with one PDF per sheet."New value: +"One PDF containing every sheet, or a ZIP holding one PDF per sheet."

addedInput schema / properties / watermarkColor

Added value: +{
+  "default": "#808080",
+  "description": "Colour of the watermark lettering, as #rgb or #rrggbb. Anything else becomes mid-grey. Only used when there is watermark text.",
+  "type": "string"
+}

addedInput schema / properties / watermarkFont

Added value: +{
+  "default": "Helvetica",
+  "description": "Lettering style for the watermark. Latin alphabet only. Only used when there is watermark text.",
+  "enum": [
+    "Helvetica",
+    "Times-Roman",
+    "Courier"
+  ],
+  "type": "string"
+}

addedInput schema / properties / watermarkFontSize

Added value: +{
+  "default": 48,
+  "description": "Height of the watermark lettering in points. Only used when there is watermark text.",
+  "maximum": 1000,
+  "minimum": 1,
+  "type": "integer"
+}

addedInput schema / properties / watermarkOpacity

Added value: +{
+  "default": 0.3,
+  "description": "How solid the watermark looks: 1 is fully solid, 0.3 is a faint ghost. This is a fraction, not a percent. Only used when there is watermark text.",
+  "maximum": 1,
+  "minimum": 0,
+  "type": "number"
+}

addedInput schema / properties / watermarkPosition

Added value: +{
+  "default": "c",
+  "description": "Where the watermark sits on the page. Only used when there is watermark text.",
+  "enum": [
+    "c",
+    "tl",
+    "tc",
+    "tr",
+    "ml",
+    "mr",
+    "bl",
+    "bc",
+    "br"
+  ],
+  "type": "string",
+  "x-ui": {
+    "labels": {
+      "bc": "Bottom centre",
+      "bl": "Bottom left",
+      "br": "Bottom right",
+      "c": "Centre",
+      "ml": "Middle left",
+      "mr": "Middle right",
+      "tc": "Top centre",
+      "tl": "Top left",
+      "tr": "Top right"
+    }
+  }
+}

addedInput schema / properties / watermarkRotation

Added value: +{
+  "default": 45,
+  "description": "Angle of the watermark in whole degrees; 45 is the classic diagonal. Only used when there is watermark text.",
+  "maximum": 180,
+  "minimum": -180,
+  "type": "integer"
+}

addedInput schema / properties / watermarkScale

Added value: +{
+  "default": 1,
+  "description": "Size multiplier applied on top of the lettering size. Only used when there is watermark text.",
+  "maximum": 20,
+  "minimum": 0.01,
+  "type": "number"
+}

First observedSep 5, 2026

TDQS

A4/5.0

Behavior3/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

Annotations already indicate the tool is not read-only, not destructive, and not open-world. The description adds the useful return-structure detail ('Returns a ZIP with per-file subfolders'), but does not disclose side effects, error behavior, or how original files are affected. This adds some value beyond annotations but leaves behavioral gaps.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The description is a single, well-structured sentence with no filler. It front-loads the core action, states the input limit, and closes with the key output format — every word earns its place.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness4/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

For a batch tool with 26 parameters, the description relies appropriately on the schema for parameter details and adds the essential batch-scope and output-format information. It is slightly light on behavioral context, such as how the ZIP output is organized beyond subfolders, but this is minor given the rich schema.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema description coverage is 100%, so the parameters are already fully documented in the schema. The description adds only the high-level notion that the same configuration applies to all files, which is helpful but not required for interpreting individual parameters.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description states a specific verb ('Apply'), resource ('Excel-to-PDF configuration'), and scope ('up to 20 spreadsheets'). It also names the output ('ZIP with per-file subfolders'), making it clearly distinguishable from the single-file sibling tools.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines4/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The description gives clear batch context and an explicit file-count limit ('up to 20'), which tells an agent this is the multi-file variant. It does not explicitly mention the single-file alternative or state when not to use this tool, but the batch framing is sufficiently clear.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

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