pdftk-server▌
github/awesome-copilot · updated Apr 8, 2026
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Command-line PDF manipulation covering merging, splitting, encryption, form filling, watermarking, and metadata extraction.
- ›Supports 12+ operations including merge, split, rotate, encrypt/decrypt, burst, stamp, watermark, and repair
- ›Fill PDF forms from FDF/XFDF data with optional flattening to lock filled fields
- ›Extract and manipulate metadata, bookmarks, and embedded files; collate separately scanned pages
- ›Cross-platform installation via package managers (Windows, macOS, Linux) w
PDFtk Server
PDFtk Server is a command-line tool for working with PDF documents. It can merge, split, rotate, encrypt, decrypt, watermark, stamp, fill forms, extract metadata, and manipulate PDFs in a variety of ways.
When to Use This Skill
- Merging or joining multiple PDF files into one
- Splitting or bursting a PDF into individual pages
- Rotating PDF pages
- Encrypting or decrypting PDF files
- Filling PDF form fields from FDF/XFDF data
- Applying background watermarks or foreground stamps
- Extracting PDF metadata, bookmarks, or form field information
- Repairing corrupted PDF files
- Attaching or extracting files embedded in PDFs
- Removing specific pages from a PDF
- Collating separately scanned even/odd pages
- Compressing or decompressing PDF page streams
Prerequisites
- PDFtk Server must be installed on the system
- Windows:
winget install --id PDFLabs.PDFtk.Server - macOS:
brew install pdftk-java - Linux (Debian/Ubuntu):
sudo apt-get install pdftk - Linux (Red Hat/Fedora):
sudo dnf install pdftk
- Windows:
- Access to a terminal or command prompt
- Verify installation by running
pdftk --version
Step-by-Step Workflows
Merge Multiple PDFs
pdftk file1.pdf file2.pdf cat output merged.pdf
Using handles for more control:
pdftk A=file1.pdf B=file2.pdf cat A B output merged.pdf
Split a PDF into Individual Pages
pdftk input.pdf burst
Extract Specific Pages
Extract pages 1-5 and 10-15:
pdftk input.pdf cat 1-5 10-15 output extracted.pdf
Remove Specific Pages
Remove page 13:
pdftk input.pdf cat 1-12 14-end output output.pdf
Rotate Pages
Rotate all pages 90 degrees clockwise:
pdftk input.pdf cat 1-endeast output rotated.pdf
Encrypt a PDF
Set an owner password and a user password with 128-bit encryption (default):
pdftk input.pdf output secured.pdf owner_pw mypassword user_pw userpass
Decrypt a PDF
Remove encryption using the known password:
pdftk secured.pdf input_pw mypassword output unsecured.pdf
Fill a PDF Form
Populate form fields from an FDF file and flatten to prevent further edits:
pdftk form.pdf fill_form data.fdf output filled.pdf flatten
Apply a Background Watermark
Place a single-page PDF behind every page of the input (input should have transparency):
pdftk input.pdf background watermark.pdf output watermarked.pdf
Stamp an Overlay
Place a single-page PDF on top of every page of the input:
pdftk input.pdf stamp overlay.pdf output stamped.pdf
Extract Metadata
Export bookmarks, page metrics, and document information:
pdftk input.pdf dump_data output metadata.txt
Repair a Corrupted PDF
Pass a broken PDF through pdftk to attempt automatic repair:
pdftk broken.pdf output fixed.pdf
Collate Scanned Pages
Interleave separately scanned even and odd pages:
pdftk A=even.pdf B=odd.pdf shuffle A B output collated.pdf
Troubleshooting
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
pdftk command not found |
Verify installation; check that pdftk is in your system PATH |
| Cannot decrypt PDF | Ensure you are providing the correct owner or user password via input_pw |
| Output file is empty or corrupt | Check input file integrity; try running pdftk input.pdf output repaired.pdf first |
| Form fields not visible after fill | Use the flatten flag to merge fields into the page content |
| Watermark not appearing | Ensure the input PDF has transparent regions; use stamp for opaque overlays |
| Permission denied errors | Check file permissions on input and output paths |
References
Bundled reference documents in the references/ folder:
- pdftk-man-page.md - Complete manual reference with all operations, options, and syntax
- pdftk-cli-examples.md - Practical command-line examples for common tasks
- download.md - Installation and download instructions for all platforms
- pdftk-server-license.md - PDFtk Server licensing information
- third-party-materials.md - Third-party library licenses
How to use pdftk-server on Cursor
AI-first code editor with Composer
Prerequisites
Before installing skills in Cursor, ensure your development environment meets these requirements:
- ›Cursor installed and configured on your development machine
- ›Node.js version 16.0+ with npm package manager (verify with
node --version) - ›Active project directory or workspace where you want to add pdftk-server
Execute installation command
Execute the skills CLI command in your project's root directory to begin installation:
The skills CLI fetches pdftk-server from GitHub repository github/awesome-copilot and configures it for Cursor.
Select Cursor when prompted
The CLI will show a list of available agents. Use arrow keys to navigate and space to select Cursor:
Verify installation
Confirm successful installation by checking the skill directory location:
Reload or restart Cursor to activate pdftk-server. Access the skill through slash commands (e.g., /pdftk-server) or your agent's skill management interface.
Security & Verification Notice
We perform automated surface-level scans (Gen AI Scanner, Socket, Snyk) during installation. These checks detect common vulnerabilities but do not guarantee complete security. Always review skill source code and verify the publisher's reputation before production use.
Skills execute code in your development environment. Always verify the publisher's identity, review recent commits, and test in isolated environments before production deployment.
List & Monetize Your Skill
Submit your Claude Code skill and start earning
Use Cases▌
Task Automation & Efficiency
Automate repetitive workflows and reduce manual effort
Example
Generate reports, summarize documents, draft communications
Save 3-5 hours per week on routine tasks
Knowledge Enhancement
Learn new skills, understand complex topics, get expert guidance
Example
Explain concepts, provide examples, suggest learning resources
Accelerate learning and skill development by 2x
Quality Improvement
Enhance output quality through reviews, suggestions, and refinements
Example
Review drafts, suggest improvements, catch errors
Improve work quality by 30-40% with less effort
Implementation Guide▌
Prerequisites
- ›Claude Desktop or compatible AI client with skill support
- ›Clear understanding of task or problem to solve
- ›Willingness to iterate and refine outputs
Time Estimate
15-45 minutes depending on use case complexity
Installation Steps
- 1.Install skill using provided installation command
- 2.Test with simple use case relevant to your work
- 3.Evaluate output quality and relevance
- 4.Iterate on prompts to improve results
- 5.Integrate into regular workflow if valuable
Common Pitfalls
- ⚠Expecting perfect results without iteration
- ⚠Not providing enough context in prompts
- ⚠Using skill for tasks outside its intended scope
- ⚠Accepting outputs without review and validation
Best Practices▌
✓ Do
- +Start with clear, specific prompts
- +Provide relevant context and constraints
- +Review and refine all outputs before using
- +Iterate to improve output quality
- +Document successful prompt patterns
✗ Don't
- −Don't use without understanding skill limitations
- −Don't skip validation of outputs
- −Don't share sensitive information in prompts
- −Don't expect skill to replace human judgment
💡 Pro Tips
- ★Be specific about desired format and style
- ★Ask for multiple options to choose from
- ★Request explanations to understand reasoning
- ★Combine AI efficiency with human expertise
When to Use This▌
✓ Use When
Use when skill capabilities match your task, clear ROI on time saved, and you can validate outputs. Best for repetitive tasks, learning, and quality improvement.
✗ Avoid When
Avoid when task requires deep expertise you can't validate, involves sensitive decisions, or when learning process is more valuable than speed of completion.
Learning Path▌
- 1Familiarize yourself with skill capabilities and limitations
- 2Start with low-risk, non-critical tasks
- 3Progress to more complex and valuable use cases
- 4Build expertise through regular use and experimentation
Discussion
Product Hunt–style comments (not star reviews)- No comments yet — start the thread.
Ratings
4.6★★★★★42 reviews- ★★★★★Anaya Chen· Dec 28, 2024
We added pdftk-server from the explainx registry; install was straightforward and the SKILL.md answered most questions upfront.
- ★★★★★Shikha Mishra· Dec 24, 2024
pdftk-server fits our agent workflows well — practical, well scoped, and easy to wire into existing repos.
- ★★★★★Aanya Kapoor· Nov 27, 2024
I recommend pdftk-server for anyone iterating fast on agent tooling; clear intent and a small, reviewable surface area.
- ★★★★★Anika Tandon· Nov 19, 2024
Keeps context tight: pdftk-server is the kind of skill you can hand to a new teammate without a long onboarding doc.
- ★★★★★Yash Thakker· Nov 15, 2024
pdftk-server is among the better-maintained entries we tried; worth keeping pinned for repeat workflows.
- ★★★★★Jin Dixit· Oct 18, 2024
Useful defaults in pdftk-server — fewer surprises than typical one-off scripts, and it plays nicely with `npx skills` flows.
- ★★★★★Anika Thompson· Oct 10, 2024
pdftk-server is among the better-maintained entries we tried; worth keeping pinned for repeat workflows.
- ★★★★★Dhruvi Jain· Oct 6, 2024
Keeps context tight: pdftk-server is the kind of skill you can hand to a new teammate without a long onboarding doc.
- ★★★★★Oshnikdeep· Sep 25, 2024
Registry listing for pdftk-server matched our evaluation — installs cleanly and behaves as described in the markdown.
- ★★★★★Anika Verma· Sep 13, 2024
Keeps context tight: pdftk-server is the kind of skill you can hand to a new teammate without a long onboarding doc.
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