DOCX to HTML Converter

This skill provides a straightforward method to convert Microsoft Word (.docx) documents into clean, semantic HTML, making them suitable for various web-based and AI-driven applications.

Compatibility

• Python 3 (for the conversion wrapper)
• Node.js with mammoth installed (core conversion engine)

To install Node.js dependencies, run once from the scripts/ directory:

npm install

Use Cases

• Browser-Based Viewing: Convert DOCX documents for display in web browsers without requiring Microsoft Word.
• AI-Ready Content: Prepare DOCX content for LLMs for tasks like summarization, Q&A, and semantic search.
• Web Integration: Integrate Word document content into web applications, CMS, or online editors.
• Data Extraction: Extract structured data (tables, lists, headings) from DOCX files for automated reporting and analysis.
• Search and Indexing: Enable full-text and vector search by converting DOCX content into easily indexable HTML.

Workflow

1. Locate DOCX File: Identify the path to the .docx file to convert.

2. Run Conversion Script: Execute the Python wrapper from the skill's scripts/ directory:

   python3 <skill-dir>/scripts/convert.py <input_path.docx> <output_path.html>
   

   Replace <skill-dir> with the actual path where this skill is installed.

3. Verify Output: Open the generated .html file in a browser and check:

   • Headings (<h1>, <h2>, etc.) appear at the correct hierarchy levels
   • Tables render with the expected rows and columns
   • Lists appear as bullet or numbered items (not plain text)
   • Bold, italic, and inline formatting are preserved
   • Images are visible (embedded as base64 by default)

4. Process HTML: Use the resulting HTML for further tasks like summarization, indexing, or display.

Bundled Resources

• scripts/docx-converter.js: Core Node.js conversion logic using mammoth.js.
• scripts/convert.py: Python wrapper for invoking the Node.js converter.
• scripts/package.json: Node.js dependency manifest (includes mammoth).

Technical Details

The conversion leverages mammoth.js, which prioritizes semantic meaning over visual replication:

• Semantic Conversion: Document structure maps to proper HTML — headings become <h1>/<h2>, lists become <ul>/<ol>, etc.
• Basic Styling: Bold, italics, and common paragraph styles are preserved.
• Image Embedding: Images are extracted and embedded as base64 data URIs in the HTML output.

Troubleshooting

Limitations

• Advanced or highly specific styling from the original DOCX may not be perfectly replicated in the HTML output.
• Features like tracked changes, comments, or complex layout elements may be simplified or omitted.