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pdf-to-markdown

Convert PDF files to Markdown format for easier readability and sharing using this MCP server tool. Simplify content transformation with precise file input requirements.

Instructions

Convert a PDF file to markdown

Input Schema

NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
filepathYesAbsolute path of the PDF file to convert

Input Schema (JSON Schema)

{ "properties": { "filepath": { "description": "Absolute path of the PDF file to convert", "type": "string" } }, "required": [ "filepath" ], "type": "object" }

Implementation Reference

  • Handler switch case for pdf-to-markdown tool (grouped with other file converters), validates filepath and calls Markdownify.toMarkdown
    case tools.PDFToMarkdownTool.name: case tools.ImageToMarkdownTool.name: case tools.AudioToMarkdownTool.name: case tools.DocxToMarkdownTool.name: case tools.XlsxToMarkdownTool.name: case tools.PptxToMarkdownTool.name: if (!validatedArgs.filepath) { throw new Error("File path is required for this tool"); } result = await Markdownify.toMarkdown({ filePath: validatedArgs.filepath, projectRoot: validatedArgs.projectRoot, uvPath: validatedArgs.uvPath || process.env.UV_PATH, }); break;
  • Input schema definition for the pdf-to-markdown tool
    export const PDFToMarkdownTool = ToolSchema.parse({ name: "pdf-to-markdown", description: "Convert a PDF file to markdown", inputSchema: { type: "object", properties: { filepath: { type: "string", description: "Absolute path of the PDF file to convert", }, }, required: ["filepath"], }, });
  • src/server.ts:33-37 (registration)
    Tool registration via listTools handler, includes all tools from tools.ts module including pdf-to-markdown
    server.setRequestHandler(ListToolsRequestSchema, async () => { return { tools: Object.values(tools), }; });
  • Core helper method that performs the file-to-markdown conversion using markitdown executable, called by the handler
    static async toMarkdown({ filePath, url, projectRoot = path.resolve(__dirname, ".."), uvPath = "~/.local/bin/uv", }: { filePath?: string; url?: string; projectRoot?: string; uvPath?: string; }): Promise<MarkdownResult> { try { let inputPath: string; let isTemporary = false; if (url) { const response = await fetch(url); let extension = null; if (url.endsWith(".pdf")) { extension = "pdf"; } const arrayBuffer = await response.arrayBuffer(); const content = Buffer.from(arrayBuffer); inputPath = await this.saveToTempFile(content, extension); isTemporary = true; } else if (filePath) { inputPath = filePath; } else { throw new Error("Either filePath or url must be provided"); } const text = await this._markitdown(inputPath, projectRoot, uvPath); const outputPath = await this.saveToTempFile(text); if (isTemporary) { fs.unlinkSync(inputPath); } return { path: outputPath, text }; } catch (e: unknown) { if (e instanceof Error) { throw new Error(`Error processing to Markdown: ${e.message}`); } else { throw new Error("Error processing to Markdown: Unknown error occurred"); } } }
  • Executes the markitdown CLI tool via uv to convert PDF and other files to markdown text
    private static async _markitdown( filePath: string, projectRoot: string, uvPath: string, ): Promise<string> { const venvPath = path.join(projectRoot, ".venv"); const markitdownPath = path.join( venvPath, process.platform === "win32" ? "Scripts" : "bin", `markitdown${process.platform === "win32" ? ".exe" : ""}`, ); if (!fs.existsSync(markitdownPath)) { throw new Error("markitdown executable not found"); } // Expand tilde in uvPath if present const expandedUvPath = expandHome(uvPath); // Use execFile to prevent command injection const { stdout, stderr } = await execFileAsync(expandedUvPath, [ "run", markitdownPath, filePath, ]); if (stderr) { throw new Error(`Error executing command: ${stderr}`); } return stdout; }

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