pdf-gen-fallback-dee20c

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Fallback workflow for document generation when code sandbox returns opaque errors

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PDF Generation Fallback Workflow

Purpose

When execute_code_sandbox returns opaque or unhelpful errors during document/PDF generation, use run_shell with direct python -c execution as a reliable alternative. This pattern includes library availability checks and explicit error handling.

When to Use

execute_code_sandbox fails with unclear error messages during document generation
PDF, report, or document creation tasks are failing unexpectedly
You need more control over the Python execution environment

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Check Library Availability

Before attempting generation, verify required libraries are installed:

run_shell: python -c "import reportlab; print('reportlab OK')"
run_shell: python -c "import fpdf; print('fpdf OK')"
run_shell: python -c "import PyPDF2; print('PyPDF2 OK')"

If a library is missing, install it:

run_shell: pip install reportlab --quiet

2. Execute Generation via run_shell

Instead of execute_code_sandbox, use run_shell with python -c:

run_shell: python -c "
from reportlab.lib.pagesizes import letter
from reportlab.pdfgen import canvas
c = canvas.Canvas('output.pdf', pagesize=letter)
c.drawString(100, 750, 'Document Content')
c.save()
print('PDF generated successfully')
"

3. Handle Errors Explicitly

Wrap generation code with try/except and capture stderr:

run_shell: python -c "
import sys
try:
    # Your generation code here
    from reportlab.pdfgen import canvas
    c = canvas.Canvas('output.pdf')
    c.drawString(100, 750, 'Content')
    c.save()
    print('SUCCESS: PDF created')
    sys.exit(0)
except Exception as e:
    print(f'ERROR: {type(e).__name__}: {e}', file=sys.stderr)
    sys.exit(1)
" 2>&1

4. Verify Output File

After generation, confirm the file was created:

run_shell: ls -la output.pdf
run_shell: file output.pdf

5. Fallback Hierarchy

If the first approach fails, try alternatives in this order:

reportlab - Full-featured PDF generation
fpdf - Simpler PDF library
wkhtmltopdf - HTML to PDF conversion
Direct text/Markdown output as last resort

Example: Complete Workflow

# Step 1: Check library
run_shell: python -c "import reportlab; print('OK')"

# Step 2: Generate with error handling
run_shell: python -c "
import sys
try:
    from reportlab.lib.pagesizes import letter
    from reportlab.pdfgen import canvas
    c = canvas.Canvas('report.pdf', pagesize=letter)
    c.setTitle('Surveillance Report')
    c.drawString(100, 750, 'Revised Surveillance Report')
    c.drawString(100, 730, 'Summary: Key findings documented')
    c.save()
    print('SUCCESS')
except Exception as e:
    print(f'FAILED: {e}', file=sys.stderr)
    sys.exit(1)
"

# Step 3: Verify
run_shell: test -f report.pdf && echo 'File exists' || echo 'File missing'

Troubleshooting

Issue	Solution
Module not found	`pip install <module> --quiet`
Permission denied	Check output directory permissions
Font errors	Use default fonts or install font packages
Encoding issues	Specify encoding explicitly in string operations

Best Practices

Always capture both stdout and stderr for debugging
Exit with proper status codes (0 for success, 1 for failure)
Keep generation code concise when using python -c
For complex generation, write a temporary .py file instead
Test library availability before attempting generation