pdf-checklist-workflow

Generate structured PDF documents with tables, sections, and scoring using Python libraries in execute_code_sandbox

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PDF Checklist/Report Generation Workflow

This skill provides a reusable pattern for creating structured PDF documents such as checklists, reports, or assessments using Python in a sandboxed environment.

Overview

Use this workflow when you need to:

Generate PDF checklists, reports, or assessments
Create structured documents with tables, sections, and headers
Include scoring criteria or evaluation frameworks
Produce downloadable artifacts for users

Primary method: Use execute_code_sandbox for Python PDF generation Fallback method: If execute_code_sandbox fails, create and run Python scripts via shell commands

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Choose a PDF Library

Select a Python library based on your needs:

Library	Best For	Complexity
`reportlab`	Professional reports, complex layouts	Medium
`fpdf` / `fpdf2`	Simple documents, quick generation	Low
`matplotlib`	Charts, graphs, visual elements	Medium

Step 2: Write PDF Generation Code in execute_code_sandbox

Use the execute_code_sandbox tool with Python code that:

Imports the chosen PDF library
Defines document structure (title, sections, tables)
Adds content (text, tables, scores, criteria)
Saves to a file path like /workspace/output.pdf
Outputs the path using ARTIFACT_PATH: prefix for download

Determine workspace directory dynamically: Before generating PDFs, identify the correct output path:

# Option 1: Use current directory
WORKDIR=$(pwd)

# Option 2: Check common workspace locations
if [ -d "/workspace" ]; then WORKDIR="/workspace"
elif [ -d "$HOME/workspace" ]; then WORKDIR="$HOME/workspace"
else WORKDIR=$(pwd); fi

In Python code, use environment variables or dynamic path detection:

import os
workspace = os.environ.get('WORKSPACE', os.getcwd())
output_path = os.path.join(workspace, 'output.pdf')

Example using fpdf2:

from fpdf import FPDF

class PDFChecklist(FPDF):
    def header(self):
        self.set_font('Arial', 'B', 16)
        self.cell(0, 10, 'Assessment Checklist', 0, 1, 'C')
        self.ln(10)
    
    def section_title(self, title):
        self.set_font('Arial', 'B', 12)
        self.cell(0, 10, title, 0, 1, 'L')
        self.ln(5)
    
    def add_checklist_item(self, item, criteria, score):
        self.set_font('Arial', '', 10)
        self.cell(100, 8, item, 1)
        self.cell(60, 8, criteria, 1)
        self.cell(30, 8, str(score), 1)
        self.ln()

# Create PDF
pdf = PDFChecklist()
pdf.add_page()
pdf.set_auto_page_break(auto=True, margin=15)

# Add sections
pdf.section_title('Evaluation Criteria')
pdf.add_checklist_item('Requirement 1', 'Must meet standard', 5)
pdf.add_checklist_item('Requirement 2', 'Should be complete', 4)

# Save
output_path = '/workspace/checklist.pdf'
pdf.output(output_path)
print(f'ARTIFACT_PATH:{output_path}')

Example using reportlab (more professional):

from reportlab.lib import colors
from reportlab.lib.pagesizes import letter
from reportlab.platypus import SimpleDocTemplate, Paragraph, Spacer, Table, TableStyle
from reportlab.lib.styles import getSampleStyleSheet, ParagraphStyle
from reportlab.lib.units import inch

def create_pdf_report(output_path):
    doc = SimpleDocTemplate(output_path, pagesize=letter)
    styles = getSampleStyleSheet()
    story = []
    
    # Title
    title_style = ParagraphStyle('CustomTitle', parent=styles['Heading1'],
                                  fontSize=18, spaceAfter=30, alignment=1)
    story.append(Paragraph("Assessment Report", title_style))
    story.append(Spacer(1, 0.3*inch))
    
    # Section header
    story.append(Paragraph("Evaluation Summary", styles['Heading2']))
    story.append(Spacer(1, 0.2*inch))
    
    # Data table
    data = [
        ['Criteria', 'Description', 'Score'],
        ['Completeness', 'All sections filled', '8/10'],
        ['Accuracy', 'Information verified', '9/10'],
        ['Clarity', 'Easy to understand', '7/10']
    ]
    
    table = Table(data, colWidths=[2*inch, 2.5*inch, 1*inch])
    table.setStyle(TableStyle([
        ('BACKGROUND', (0, 0), (-1, 0), colors.grey),
        ('TEXTCOLOR', (0, 0), (-1, 0), colors.whitesmoke),
        ('ALIGN', (0, 0), (-1, -1), 'CENTER'),
        ('FONTNAME', (0, 0), (-1, 0), 'Helvetica-Bold'),
        ('BOTTOMPADDING', (0, 0), (-1, 0), 12),
        ('BACKGROUND', (0, 1), (-1, -1), colors.beige),
        ('GRID', (0, 0), (-1, -1), 1, colors.black)
    ]))
    story.append(table)
    
    doc.build(story)
    print(f'ARTIFACT_PATH:{output_path}')

create_pdf_report('/workspace/report.pdf')

Step 3: Execute the Code

Call the tool:

execute_code_sandbox
  code: <your PDF generation code from Step 2>
  language: python

Step 3b: Fallback - Shell-Based Execution

If execute_code_sandbox fails repeatedly (e.g., "unknown error", timeouts), use this fallback:

1. Create the Python script via heredoc:

cat > /tmp/generate_pdf.py << 'EOF'
# Your PDF generation code here
from fpdf import FPDF
import os

workspace = os.environ.get('WORKSPACE', os.getcwd())
output_path = os.path.join(workspace, 'checklist.pdf')

pdf = FPDF()
pdf.add_page()
pdf.set_font('Arial', 'B', 16)
pdf.cell(0, 10, 'Checklist', 0, 1, 'C')
pdf.output(output_path)
print(f'ARTIFACT_PATH:{output_path}')
EOF

2. Install required library if needed:

pip install fpdf2 --quiet 2>/dev/null || pip install fpdf2

3. Execute the script:

python /tmp/generate_pdf.py

4. Verify the output file was created:

ls -lh $(pwd)/*.pdf 2>/dev/null || ls -lh /workspace/*.pdf 2>/dev/null

Important for fallback: When using shell execution, ensure the script outputs the ARTIFACT_PATH so the file can be downloaded. Adjust the path based on where the file was actually created.

Step 4: Verify Output

After execution, verify the PDF was created:

Option A - Use read_file:

read_file
  filetype: pdf
  file_path: /workspace/output.pdf

Option B - Use shell inspection:

run_shell
  command: ls -lh /workspace/*.pdf

Check that:

File exists and has reasonable size (>1KB)
No error messages in execution output
ARTIFACT_PATH was correctly output for download

If using fallback execution, check multiple possible locations:

run_shell
  command: find . -name "*.pdf" -type f -exec ls -lh {} \; 2>/dev/null

Step 5: Handle Common Issues

Issue	Solution
Library not installed	Add `!pip install fpdf2` or `!pip install reportlab` at code start
Font errors	Use standard fonts (Arial, Helvetica, Courier)
File not found	Ensure path is `/workspace/filename.pdf`
Empty PDF	Check that `pdf.output()` or `doc.build()` is called
Encoding issues	Use ASCII text or handle unicode properly
`execute_code_sandbox` fails	Switch to shell-based fallback (Step 3b): create script with heredoc, run with `python`
Wrong workspace path	Use dynamic detection: `os.getcwd()` or `$(pwd)` instead of hardcoded `/workspace/`
Permission errors	Write to current directory or `/tmp/` then move file

Best Practices

Keep it simple first - Start with basic text, add tables/graphics later
Use ARTIFACT_PATH prefix - Ensures the file is downloadable
Test incrementally - Generate a minimal PDF before adding complexity
Include error handling - Wrap file operations in try/except blocks
Set appropriate margins - Prevent content from being cut off
Have a fallback ready - If execute_code_sandbox fails after 2-3 attempts, switch to shell-based execution immediately
Detect workspace dynamically - Don't assume /workspace/; use os.getcwd() or environment variables

Template for Quick Start

# Install library if needed
# !pip install fpdf2

from fpdf import FPDF
 import os

pdf = FPDF()
pdf.add_page()
pdf.set_font('Arial', 'B', 16)
pdf.cell(0, 10, 'Your Title Here', 0, 1, 'C')
pdf.ln(10)
pdf.set_font('Arial', '', 12)
pdf.multi_cell(0, 8, 'Your content here...')
 workspace = os.environ.get('WORKSPACE', os.getcwd())
 output_path = os.path.join(workspace, 'output.pdf')
 pdf.output(output_path)
 print(f'ARTIFACT_PATH:{output_path}')

Shell fallback template:

# Create script
cat > /tmp/pdf_gen.py << 'PYEOF'
from fpdf import FPDF
import os
pdf = FPDF()
pdf.add_page()
pdf.set_font('Arial', 'B', 16)
pdf.cell(0, 10, 'Title', 0, 1, 'C')
workspace = os.environ.get('WORKSPACE', os.getcwd())
pdf.output(os.path.join(workspace, 'output.pdf'))
print(f'ARTIFACT_PATH:{workspace}/output.pdf')
PYEOF
# Run it
pip install fpdf2 -q 2>/dev/null; python /tmp/pdf_gen.py

Related Tools

execute_code_sandbox - Run Python code for PDF generation
read_file - Verify PDF content (type: pdf)
run_shell - Check file existence and size
create_file - Alternative for simple text files if PDF not required

Repository: HKUDS/OpenSpace
Path: benchmarks/gdpval/skills/pdf-checklist-workflow/SKILL.md
Commit: c5a9c4b

Last updated: 2 days ago
First committed: 14 days ago

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