Latex To Word Workflow

LaTeX → Word (Zotero optional)

Resources

| Path | Role | |---|---| | assets/reference.docx | Generic A4 template (copy into the project; do not edit the asset) | | scripts/*.py | Audit, style map, native cross-refs, package checks | | scripts/validate_with_word.ps1 | Optional Windows COM open probe — only if the user asks | | examples/minimal/ | Smoke-test manuscript | | references/first-run-setup.md | Environment, template, smoke test | | references/cross-references.md | SEQ/REF promote, numbering limits | | references/ecosystem-notes.md | Related GitHub tools (load only when extending) | | requirements.txt | python-docx, lxml |

Modes (pick one)

• Zotero live: Pandoc + official zotero.lua only — never --citeproc. User finishes in Word (prefs → Refresh → bibliography).
• Static CSL: --citeproc --bibliography --csl.

Never combine --citeproc with zotero.lua.

Platform

| Capability | Notes | |---|---| | Agent build + package checks | Pandoc 3+, Python + requirements.txt, LaTeX/BibTeX — any OS | | Word / Zotero UI | User opens DOCX by default (F9, Zotero Refresh, visual check) | | Word COM | Optional. Mention it; run validate_with_word.ps1 only if the user asks and Windows Word is available | | Live Zotero at build | Zotero + BBT; filter: https://retorque.re/zotero-better-bibtex/exporting/zotero.lua | | Local BBT API | http://127.0.0.1:23119/better-bibtex/json-rpc (set NO_PROXY=* only if proxy breaks localhost) |

If setup is unknown, finish references/first-run-setup.md first. Detect before install; confirm with user.

Routine pipeline

1. Preflight sources

• Complete entry point (all \input/\include); prefer labels fig: / tab: / eq:.
• Figures: Word cannot embed PDF. Change \includegraphics to PNG/JPEG before Pandoc. A same-stem .png next to figure.pdf is not used automatically. Treat image-conversion warnings as failures.
• Prefer labels on every numbered float/equation you will cross-ref. Promoter uses LaTeX counter order (unlabeled numbered objects still advance numbers).
• Audit keys:

python scripts/check_citation_keys.py --tex main.tex --bib references.bib --skip-zotero
python scripts/check_citation_keys.py --tex main.tex --bib references.bib

Pass every file with \cite. PowerShell: expand globs before Python.

1. Compile LaTeX + BibTeX; stop on errors.

1. Pandoc on the complete entry. Set --resource-path to real image dirs (e.g. .;figures). Distinct outputs per mode.

# Static
pandoc main.tex -f latex -t docx --wrap=none --citeproc --bibliography=references.bib --csl=journal.csl --metadata reference-section-title=References --resource-path=.;figures --reference-doc=reference.docx -o out/static.docx

# Zotero live (no --citeproc). Optional: --metadata zotero_csl_style=apa
pandoc main.tex -f latex -t docx --wrap=none --lua-filter=zotero.lua --resource-path=.;figures --reference-doc=reference.docx -o out/zotero_live.docx

Do not use pandoc-crossref as a substitute for this skill’s native SEQ/REF promote when the goal is editable Word renumbering.

1. Styles → native cross-refs (once per rebuild):

python scripts/format_generated_docx.py out/doc.docx
python scripts/promote_native_crossrefs.py out/doc.docx out/doc_native.docx --tex main.tex

Default caption text: English Fig. / Table / Eq..

1. Agent package checks (no Word UI unless the user asked for COM):

python scripts/validate_docx.py out/doc_native.docx --tex main.tex --expect-zotero N
python scripts/check_cross_references.py --tex main.tex --docx out/doc_native.docx --require-native-word-fields

• N = live citation field count; omit --expect-zotero for static CSL. Optional: --expect-zotero-keys key1 key2 to require those BBT keys inside field JSON.
• With --tex, source table/image counts are enforced against the DOCX (use --no-enforce-tex-counts only to diagnose). Explicit .pdf includes fail unless --allow-pdf-figures.
• REF targets must exist as bookmarks; duplicate bookmark names fail.
• Fails on unresolved [@...]. Report pass/fail; not delivery-ready until step 6.

1. User acceptance in Word — give the DOCX path; ask the user to:

• Open (no repair dialog). If Word claims corruption on first live open, rebuild once.
• Live mode: Document Preferences (set style) OK before bulk Refresh, then Add/Edit Bibliography.
• Select All → F9.
• Spot-check equations, figures, captions, tables, cites, bibliography, breaks vs PDF.

If the user asks for an automated open check on Windows:

powershell -File scripts/validate_with_word.ps1 -Path out/doc_native.docx

Do not run COM by default; do not automate Zotero clicks.

Style mapping

| Content | Style | |---|---| | Prose | Body Text | | Image-only para | Figure | | Captions | Caption | | Table cells | Table Body | | Reference list | Bibliography |

Map styles only; do not rewrite Zotero field runs. Headings: References, Bibliography, 参考文献, 引用文献.

Hard rules

• New DOCX package only; never splice XML without relationships.
• Canonical BBT keys; never invent keys; resolve by DOI/title.
• Cross-file refs → full entry; audit after style postprocess.
• Missing/PDF-only figures → fix before accepting build.

Boundaries

• Live Zotero needs BBT at build; static does not.
• Do not stack promotes; rebuild from Pandoc.
• Equation promote needs --tex and matching display-math vs OMML counts.
• Numbers come from LaTeX env order (figure/table/equation/…, not starred; multi-line align rows). Unlabeled numbered equations still advance the counter so a later labeled eq is Eq. (2). Compare complex layouts to PDF.
• Caption promote requires Caption style or Fig./Table/图/表 prefix near the bookmark.
• \setcounter may be ignored; link integrity ≠ PDF numbering.
• Agent checks are structural; final acceptance is user-in-Word (COM only on request).
• Bib audit is simple; complex .bib may need manual review.

Source & license

This open-source skill is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

• Author: hajimi-kun
• Source: hajimi-kun/latex-to-word-workflow
• License: MIT

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.