---
name: pdf-gen-fallback-dee20c-efb6b62f4809
description: Fallback workflow for document generation when code sandbox returns opaque errors
---

# 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:

```shell
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:

```shell
run_shell: pip install reportlab --quiet
```

### 2. Execute Generation via run_shell

Instead of `execute_code_sandbox`, use `run_shell` with `python -c`:

```shell
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:

```shell
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:

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

### 5. Fallback Hierarchy

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

1. `reportlab` - Full-featured PDF generation
2. `fpdf` - Simpler PDF library
3. `wkhtmltopdf` - HTML to PDF conversion
4. Direct text/Markdown output as last resort

## Example: Complete Workflow

```shell
# 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

---
Source attribution: AG064
Original project: https://github.com/AG064/OpenSpace/blob/ff671ef61ed6587c49bd54c81cdc751c0b99e363/gdpval_bench/skills/pdf-gen-fallback-dee20c/SKILL.md
License: MIT
License information: https://opensource.org/license/mit
Original upstream instructions; downloaded from Mega AI Hub.

## Upstream license notice

MIT License

Copyright (c) 2026 ✨Data Intelligence Lab@HKU✨

Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:

The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
copies or substantial portions of the Software.

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
SOFTWARE.



# Mega AI Hub resource metadata

Creator / publisher: AG064
Original project: https://github.com/AG064/OpenSpace/blob/ff671ef61ed6587c49bd54c81cdc751c0b99e363/gdpval_bench/skills/pdf-gen-fallback-dee20c/SKILL.md
Attribution basis: Source repository record

Fields of work: Development & Engineering
Roles: Backend Developer, Data Engineer, DevOps / SRE
Specialties: Backend
Tools: Pypdf2, Fpdf, Reportlab
Country applicability: Country not specified
Classification basis: Source catalog labels
Instruction SHA-256: b714a2a787d8f9ef9437e2f400b7840b3ebd3f6bb799e01bc25859d94ee10fcb