Markdown Converter

OrganizationPopular

Team-Commonly

markdown-converter

Convert binary documents (PDF, DOCX, XLSX, PPTX, HTML, EPUB, images) to clean LLM-friendly Markdown using Microsoft's `markitdown` Python tool. Use when a user attaches a binary file and you need to read its contents.

Overview

Publisher	Team-Commonly
Repository	`commonly`
Skill name	`markdown-converter`
Stars	1.3K
Forks	187
Bundled files	Instructions only
License	Apache-2.0
Links	Skill source Repository Homepage

Markdown instructions
A SKILL.md file the model loads on demand, so it only costs tokens when a request actually matches.
Works with any LLM
AI skills are plain Markdown, not provider-specific code, so this works with GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model.
Self-contained
Everything the model needs lives in the instructions — no extra files to sync.
Open source
Published by Team-Commonly on GitHub. Read the source before you install it.

Installation

Install the Markdown Converter AI skill in TypingMind to use it with any LLM, or drop it into another agent that reads SKILL.md.

Install in TypingMind

TypingMind installs a skill straight from its GitHub folder — it reads SKILL.md, bundles the resource files, and stores the result locally.

Open the app and go to Plugins → Skills.
Choose "Install from GitHub".
Paste the skill folder URL below and confirm.
Enable the skill in any chat where you want it available.

Store

Installed

Skills

Add skills

Import one or more skills from a public GitHub folder or a local .skill or .zip archive, or SKILL.md file.

From GitHub URLFrom .skill, .zip, or SKILL.md

GitHub repo or folder

https://github.com/Team-Commonly/commonly/tree/main/backend/commonly-bundled-skills/markdown-converter

Points to a single skill folder, or any folder that contains multiple skills. Public repos only.

CancelContinue

Plugins → Skills → Add skill → From GitHub URL, then paste the folder URL and press Continue.

Install in another agent

Any agent that reads the Agent Skills format can use this skill — copy the folder into that agent's skills directory.

Claude Code — .claude/skills

git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/Team-Commonly/commonly.git /tmp/commonly
mkdir -p .claude/skills
cp -r /tmp/commonly/backend/commonly-bundled-skills/markdown-converter .claude/skills/markdown-converter

Restart Claude Code after copying so it picks up the new skill.

Use it in TypingMind

Enable Markdown Converter in any TypingMind chat and the model takes it from there. Its name and description sit in the system prompt, and the moment a request matches, the model loads the full instructions itself — you never invoke it by hand, and it costs no tokens until it is actually used.

The model loads Markdown Converter on its own as soon as a request matches it.

Works with any AI model

AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so Markdown Converter is not tied to the model it was written for. Install it once in TypingMind and use it with GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama, or a local model you run yourself — all on your own API keys.

Loaded only when it is needed
The system prompt carries just the name and description. The instructions are fetched on the first matching request, so an idle skill costs nothing.
Switch models mid-chat
Because the skill is instructions rather than code, changing model does not break it — the next model reads the same SKILL.md.

Skill instructions

This is the SKILL.md content the model loads. Read it before installing — a skill is instructions your model will follow.

markdown-converter — binary doc → markdown for agent input

markitdown is installed via pip3 install markitdown and is on PATH. It extracts text content from a wide range of binary formats and emits clean markdown that's efficient for LLM context.

Supported input formats

PDF, DOCX, XLSX, PPTX, HTML, EPUB, images (with OCR), CSV, JSON, audio transcripts, ZIP archives.

Basic usage

bash
# Convert a single file to markdown on stdout
markitdown /workspace/$(basename "$PWD")/input.pdf

# Save to a markdown file
markitdown /workspace/$(basename "$PWD")/input.docx > /workspace/$(basename "$PWD")/input.md

# Convert and pipe directly into another tool
markitdown /workspace/$(basename "$PWD")/spec.xlsx | head -200

Reading a user-attached file

Files attached by users are downloaded to the agent workspace by the gateway. Once you have a workspace path:

bash
# 1. Convert the binary to markdown
markitdown /workspace/$(basename "$PWD")/uploads/report.pdf > /tmp/report.md

# 2. Read the markdown into your context
cat /tmp/report.md

Then summarize, answer questions about it, or feed sections back to the user.

Useful flags

Flag	Effect
`--use-docintel <ENDPOINT>`	Use Azure Doc Intelligence (requires API key) for OCR-heavy PDFs
`-o <file>`	Write to file instead of stdout

When NOT to use markdown-converter

For producing documents (md → DOCX/PDF/XLSX) → use officecli or pandic-office instead.
For PDF manipulation (extract specific pages, merge files) → use the pdf skill.

Troubleshooting

OCR-heavy scanned PDF returns garbage — markitdown uses basic text extraction. If the PDF is image-only, the result will be empty or unhelpful. Mention this limitation to the user.
XLSX with charts — markitdown extracts cell data but ignores embedded charts. For chart inspection, render the workbook to HTML first via officecli view <file> html.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Markdown Converter AI skill do?

Why use Markdown Converter on TypingMind?

Because you install it once and use it with any model. Markdown Converter is plain Markdown rather than provider-specific code, so the same skill runs on GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model — and you can switch model mid-chat without it breaking. TypingMind runs on your own API keys, so you pay providers directly instead of a per-seat subscription, and your skills and chats stay in your own storage.

How do I install Markdown Converter in TypingMind?

Open Plugins → Skills → Install from GitHub in TypingMind and paste https://github.com/Team-Commonly/commonly/tree/main/backend/commonly-bundled-skills/markdown-converter. TypingMind reads its SKILL.md and installs it as a skill you can enable per chat.

Which AI models can use Markdown Converter?

Any model you connect in TypingMind. AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, and local models can all load this skill when a request matches it.

How many AI models can I use with Markdown Converter?

As many as you like. As long as a model supports skills, you can use Markdown Converter with it — GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama and more — all on TypingMind with your own API keys.

Is the Markdown Converter AI skill free?

Yes. It is published on GitHub by Team-Commonly under the Apache-2.0 license. You only pay your own AI provider for the tokens you use.

What are AI skills?

An AI skill is a reusable instruction bundle that teaches an AI model how to do one specific task. It follows the open Agent Skills format: a SKILL.md file with a name and description, plus any scripts, templates or reference files the model may need. The model reads the instructions only when your request matches the skill, so an installed skill costs nothing until it is used.

How are AI skills different from plugins or MCP servers?

A plugin or MCP server gives a model new tools to call — code that runs somewhere and returns a result. An AI skill gives the model knowledge and process instead: how to approach a task, which steps to follow, what good output looks like. Skills are plain Markdown, so they need no server, no API key and no runtime, and they work with any model.

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Overview

Installation

Install in TypingMind

Install in another agent

Use it in TypingMind

Works with any AI model

Skill instructions

markdown-converter — binary doc → markdown for agent input

Supported input formats

Basic usage

Reading a user-attached file

Useful flags

When NOT to use markdown-converter

Troubleshooting

Frequently asked questions

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