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baoyu-format-markdown skill

/skills/baoyu-format-markdown

This skill formats plain text or markdown with frontmatter, headings, bold, lists, and code blocks to produce clean, well-structured {filename}-formatted.md.

npx playbooks add skill jimliu/baoyu-skills --skill baoyu-format-markdown

Review the files below or copy the command above to add this skill to your agents.

Files (7)
SKILL.md
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---
name: baoyu-format-markdown
description: Formats plain text or markdown files with frontmatter, titles, summaries, headings, bold, lists, and code blocks. Use when user asks to "format markdown", "beautify article", "add formatting", or improve article layout. Outputs to {filename}-formatted.md.
---

# Markdown Formatter

Transforms plain text or markdown files into well-structured markdown with proper frontmatter, formatting, and typography.

## Script Directory

Scripts in `scripts/` subdirectory. Replace `${SKILL_DIR}` with this SKILL.md's directory path.

| Script | Purpose |
|--------|---------|
| `scripts/main.ts` | Main entry point with CLI options (uses remark-cjk-friendly for CJK emphasis) |
| `scripts/quotes.ts` | Replace ASCII quotes with fullwidth quotes |
| `scripts/autocorrect.ts` | Add CJK/English spacing via autocorrect |

## Preferences (EXTEND.md)

Use Bash to check EXTEND.md existence (priority order):

```bash
# Check project-level first
test -f .baoyu-skills/baoyu-format-markdown/EXTEND.md && echo "project"

# Then user-level (cross-platform: $HOME works on macOS/Linux/WSL)
test -f "$HOME/.baoyu-skills/baoyu-format-markdown/EXTEND.md" && echo "user"
```

┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┬───────────────────┐
│                           Path                           │     Location      │
├──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┼───────────────────┤
│ .baoyu-skills/baoyu-format-markdown/EXTEND.md            │ Project directory │
├──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┼───────────────────┤
│ $HOME/.baoyu-skills/baoyu-format-markdown/EXTEND.md      │ User home         │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┴───────────────────┘

┌───────────┬───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  Result   │                                  Action                                   │
├───────────┼───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Found     │ Read, parse, apply settings                                               │
├───────────┼───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Not found │ Use defaults                                                              │
└───────────┴───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

**EXTEND.md Supports**: Default formatting options | Summary length preferences

## Usage

Claude performs content analysis and formatting (Steps 1-6), then runs the script for typography fixes (Step 7).

## Workflow

### Step 1: Read Source File

Read the user-specified markdown or plain text file.

### Step 1.5: Detect Content Type & Confirm

**Content Type Detection:**

| Indicator | Classification |
|-----------|----------------|
| Has `---` YAML frontmatter | Markdown |
| Has `#`, `##`, `###` headings | Markdown |
| Has `**bold**`, `*italic*` | Markdown |
| Has `- ` or `1. ` lists | Markdown |
| Has ``` code blocks | Markdown |
| Has `> ` blockquotes | Markdown |
| None of above | Plain text |

**Decision Flow:**

┌─────────────────┬────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  Content Type   │                     Action                     │
├─────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Plain text      │ Proceed to Step 2 (format to markdown)         │
├─────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Markdown        │ Use AskUserQuestion to confirm optimization    │
└─────────────────┴────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

**If Markdown detected, ask user:**

```
Detected existing markdown formatting. What would you like to do?

1. Optimize formatting (Recommended)
   - Add/improve frontmatter, headings, bold, lists
   - Run typography script (spacing, emphasis fixes)
   - Output: {filename}-formatted.md

2. Keep original formatting
   - Preserve existing markdown structure
   - Run typography script (spacing, emphasis fixes)
   - Output: {filename}-formatted.md

3. Typography fixes only
   - Run typography script on original file in-place
   - No copy created, modifies original file directly
```

**Based on user choice:**
- **Optimize**: Continue to Step 2-8 (full workflow)
- **Keep original**: Skip Steps 2-5, copy file → Step 6-8 (run script on copy)
- **Typography only**: Skip Steps 2-6, run Step 7 on original file directly

### Step 2: Analyze Content Structure

Identify:
- Existing title (H1 `#`)
- Paragraph separations
- Keywords suitable for **bold**
- Parallel content convertible to lists
- Code snippets
- Quotations

### Step 3: Check/Create Frontmatter

Check for YAML frontmatter (`---` block). Create if missing.

**Meta field handling:**

| Field | Processing |
|-------|------------|
| `title` | See Step 4 |
| `slug` | Infer from file path (e.g., `posts/2026/01/10/vibe-coding/` → `vibe-coding`) or generate from title |
| `summary` | Generate engaging summary (100-150 characters) |
| `coverImage` | Check if `imgs/cover.png` exists in same directory; if so, use relative path (also accepted: `featureImage`) |

### Step 4: Title Handling

**Logic:**
1. If frontmatter already has `title` → use it, no H1 in body
2. If first line is H1 → extract to frontmatter `title`, remove H1 from body
3. If neither exists → generate candidate titles

**Title generation flow:**

1. Generate 3 candidate titles based on content
2. Use `AskUserQuestion` tool:

```
Select a title:

1. [Title A] (Recommended)
2. [Title B]
3. [Title C]
```

3. If no selection within a few seconds, use recommended (option 1)

**Title principles:**
- Concise, max 20 characters
- Captures core message
- Engaging, sparks reading interest
- Accurate, avoids clickbait

**Important:** Once title is in frontmatter, body should NOT have H1 (avoid duplication)

### Step 5: Format Processing

**Formatting rules:**

| Element | Format |
|---------|--------|
| Titles | Use `#`, `##`, `###` hierarchy |
| Key points | Use `**bold**` |
| Parallel items | Convert to `-` unordered or `1.` ordered lists |
| Code/commands | Use `` `inline` `` or ` ```block``` ` |
| Quotes/sayings | Use `>` blockquote |
| Separators | Use `---` where appropriate |

**Formatting principles:**
- Preserve original content and viewpoints
- Add formatting only, do not modify text
- Formatting serves readability
- Avoid over-formatting

### Step 6: Save Formatted File

Save as `{original-filename}-formatted.md`

Examples:
- `final.md` → `final-formatted.md`
- `draft-v1.md` → `draft-v1-formatted.md`

**If user chose "Keep original formatting" (from Step 1.5):**
- Copy original file to `{filename}-formatted.md` without modifications
- Proceed to Step 7 for typography fixes only

**Backup existing file:**

If `{filename}-formatted.md` already exists, backup before overwriting:

```bash
# Check if formatted file exists
if [ -f "{filename}-formatted.md" ]; then
  # Backup with timestamp
  mv "{filename}-formatted.md" "{filename}-formatted.backup-$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S).md"
fi
```

Example:
- `final-formatted.md` exists → backup to `final-formatted.backup-20260128-143052.md`

### Step 7: Execute Text Formatting Script

After saving, **must** run the formatting script:

```bash
npx -y bun ${SKILL_DIR}/scripts/main.ts {output-file-path} [options]
```

**Script Options:**

| Option | Short | Description | Default |
|--------|-------|-------------|---------|
| `--quotes` | `-q` | Replace ASCII quotes with fullwidth quotes `"..."` | false |
| `--no-quotes` | | Do not replace quotes | |
| `--spacing` | `-s` | Add CJK/English spacing via autocorrect | true |
| `--no-spacing` | | Do not add CJK/English spacing | |
| `--emphasis` | `-e` | Fix CJK emphasis punctuation issues | true |
| `--no-emphasis` | | Do not fix CJK emphasis issues | |
| `--help` | `-h` | Show help message | |

**Examples:**

```bash
# Default: spacing + emphasis enabled, quotes disabled
npx -y bun ${SKILL_DIR}/scripts/main.ts article.md

# Enable all features including quote replacement
npx -y bun ${SKILL_DIR}/scripts/main.ts article.md --quotes

# Only fix emphasis issues, skip spacing
npx -y bun ${SKILL_DIR}/scripts/main.ts article.md --no-spacing

# Disable all processing except frontmatter formatting
npx -y bun ${SKILL_DIR}/scripts/main.ts article.md --no-spacing --no-emphasis
```

**Script performs (based on options):**
1. Fix CJK emphasis/bold punctuation issues (default: enabled)
2. Add CJK/English mixed text spacing via autocorrect (default: enabled)
3. Replace ASCII quotes `"..."` with fullwidth quotes `"..."` (default: disabled)
4. Format frontmatter YAML (always enabled)

### Step 8: Display Results

```
**Formatting complete**

File: posts/2026/01/09/example/final-formatted.md

Changes:
- Added title: [title content]
- Added X bold markers
- Added X lists
- Added X code blocks
```

## Formatting Example

**Before:**
```
This is plain text. First point is efficiency improvement. Second point is cost reduction. Third point is experience optimization. Use npm install to install dependencies.
```

**After:**
```markdown
---
title: Three Core Advantages
slug: three-core-advantages
summary: Discover the three key benefits that drive success in modern projects.
---

This is plain text.

**Main advantages:**
- Efficiency improvement
- Cost reduction
- Experience optimization

Use `npm install` to install dependencies.
```

## Notes

- Preserve original writing style and tone
- Specify correct language for code blocks (e.g., `python`, `javascript`)
- Maintain CJK/English spacing standards
- Do not add content not present in original

## Extension Support

Custom configurations via EXTEND.md. See **Preferences** section for paths and supported options.

Overview

This skill formats plain text or Markdown files into well-structured, publication-ready Markdown and outputs a new file named {filename}-formatted.md. It adds or updates YAML frontmatter, extracts or proposes titles, generates summaries, and applies consistent headings, lists, bolding, code blocks, and blockquotes. After structural formatting it runs typography scripts to fix spacing, emphasis, and optional quote replacement.

How this skill works

The skill detects whether the input is plain text or existing Markdown, then either converts plain text to Markdown or asks whether to optimize, preserve, or only apply typography fixes for existing Markdown. It analyzes document structure to find or generate a title, create frontmatter (title, slug, summary, coverImage), and convert parallel text into lists, bold key phrases, and mark code. Finally it saves {filename}-formatted.md, backs up existing formatted files, and runs the post-processing script to apply spacing, emphasis, and quote transformations according to options.

When to use it

  • You want a consistent Markdown structure for publishing or blogging
  • You need frontmatter and a concise summary automatically added
  • You have plain text that should become readable Markdown
  • You want automated CJK/English typography and punctuation fixes
  • You need an editorial-friendly conversion that preserves original tone

Best practices

  • Review detected Markdown choice prompt before full optimization to avoid unwanted changes
  • Prefer the default Optimize workflow for best structure and frontmatter output
  • Keep original file backups or enable the script’s backup behavior before overwriting
  • Confirm generated title from the three candidates if accuracy matters
  • Select script options (--spacing, --emphasis, --quotes) based on target audience and language mix

Example use cases

  • Convert meeting notes or draft articles into blog-ready Markdown with frontmatter and summary
  • Beautify a technical write-up: extract code snippets and label code blocks with language
  • Batch-format content destined for a static site generator with consistent slugs and summaries
  • Improve readability of bilingual content by applying CJK/English spacing and emphasis fixes
  • Quickly produce a copy-safe formatted file while retaining the original file unchanged

FAQ

Will the skill change my writing tone or content?

No. Formatting preserves original text and viewpoints; it only adds markup for readability and metadata for frontmatter.

What if a formatted file already exists?

The skill backs up existing {filename}-formatted.md with a timestamped .backup file before overwriting.

Can I disable quote replacement or spacing fixes?

Yes. The post-processing script accepts options like --no-quotes and --no-spacing to control typography behavior.