dgm-md-to-pdf-chapter-polisher

DGM Markdown-to-PDF Chapter Polisher

Use this skill when the task is to turn several Markdown working files for one paper chapter into a coherent, publication-oriented chapter draft and export it as a single-chapter PDF.

This is a chapter-level skill, not a full-paper skill.

It is designed for Markdown-first academic workflows where a chapter starts as modular research files such as:

• 01_xxx.md
• 02_xxx.md
• 03_xxx.md
• optional figures
• optional figure notes or captions
• optional reference or audit notes

When to use

Trigger this skill when the user asks to:

• merge several Markdown working files into one chapter
• polish a chapter into journal-style academic prose
• turn modular notes into a paper-facing chapter draft
• create a chapter export version
• generate a single-chapter PDF
• tighten overlap and repetition across several chapter source files

Typical chapter types:

• review / related work
• method
• evaluation design
• results
• discussion

Typical outputs:

• manuscript/sections/<chapter_name>.md
• manuscript/sections/<chapter_name>_export.md
• manuscript/sections/<chapter_name>_export.html when useful
• output/pdfs/<chapter_name>.pdf

What this skill is especially for

This skill is not a generic summarizer.

It should behave like a careful academic chapter polisher that:

• preserves the chapter's intellectual structure
• removes obvious overlap and repetition
• rewrites note-like text into coherent academic prose
• keeps claims no stronger than the source material supports
• produces a PDF-ready chapter without requiring the full paper to be finished

Core rules

• Work chapter by chapter, not full-paper by default.
• Read all chapter source files before merging.
• Identify overlap before rewriting.
• Preserve unique content even when compressing repeated ideas.
• Keep the chapter moderately polished, not overcompressed.
• Maintain stable terminology across the merged chapter.
• Do not hallucinate citations.
• Do not invent missing results, experiments, or findings.
• Preserve subsection numbering if it already exists and is useful.
• Use figure placeholders or figure references conservatively and only where structurally justified.
• Keep a clear distinction between:
  • working notes
  • merged working draft
  • polished export

Standard workflow

1. Inspect the source set.
   • Identify the chapter folder or the explicit file list.
   • Separate primary source files from support files such as captions, figures, notes, and audits.
2. Map the structure.
   • Determine the intended section logic and subsection hierarchy.
   • Note repeated claims, repeated transitions, and conflicting terminology.
3. Merge into a working chapter draft.
   • Combine the source files into a single coherent Markdown chapter.
   • Keep the structure explicit.
   • Remove obvious duplication.
4. Rewrite into paper-style prose.
   • Convert note language into academic prose.
   • Improve transitions across subsections.
   • Keep paragraph length and density balanced.
5. Add figure handling.
   • Insert figure placeholders or direct figure references where they improve chapter flow.
   • Keep captions separate if the repo workflow prefers separate caption files.
6. Create export-ready chapter files.
   • Prepare a polished export Markdown file.
   • Create HTML only if it improves PDF conversion reliability.
7. Generate the single-chapter PDF.
   • Write the final PDF to output/pdfs/.
   • Validate heading hierarchy, spacing, margins, and figure placement.

Preferred chapter assembly logic

When merging modular source files:

• start from the strongest existing outline
• preserve the chapter's intended order
• merge repeated motivation paragraphs
• compress repeated definitions
• avoid repeating the same claim in slightly different language
• keep one best version of each transition
• keep caveats and non-claims explicit

When the source material is uneven:

• prefer a structurally clean draft over maximal source retention
• keep unresolved points visible with TODO: rather than smoothing over real gaps

Style target

Target style:

• journal-style academic writing
• cohesive and readable
• moderately polished
• not too compressed
• not too verbose
• stable terminology
• strong paragraph transitions
• no product language
• no casual working-note voice in the final export

Figure handling

Support both patterns:

• placeholder style: [Figure X about here]
• direct Markdown image references when the chapter export already uses local figure paths

If figures already exist:

• place them where they carry structural load
• do not over-explain what the figure already shows
• keep captions concise and academically worded

PDF guidance

This skill should coordinate with $pdf when final rendering and layout matter.

PDF expectations:

• single chapter only
• clean heading hierarchy
• readable margins and line width
• consistent spacing
• figures and captions aligned with chapter flow
• suitable for sharing as a chapter draft

Output discipline

Preferred outputs:

• merged working draft in manuscript/sections/
• polished export draft in manuscript/sections/
• optional HTML export in manuscript/sections/
• final PDF in output/pdfs/

If the source set is not ready for polishing:

• still produce a merged working draft
• state what blocked a stronger export
• do not fake completeness

Repository-specific guidance

This skill is designed for the decision-grade-memory workflow:

• modular chapter inputs first
• chapter-level assembly and polish second
• PDF export third
• full paper assembly later

Use it when chapter cohesion and export readiness matter more than raw ideation.

Supporting files

Use the companion templates in this skill when useful:

• templates/chapter_workflow.md
• templates/export_checklist.md
• templates/chapter_output_map.md