Clippit CLI

Clippit CLI is a scriptable command-line interface for PowerPoint (pptx), Word (word), and Excel (excel) document workflows. This documentation is split into focused pages by command area.

CLI pages

Page Scope
PowerPoint CLI (pptx) pptx split, pptx build init, pptx build run, pptx verify
Word CLI (word) word verify, word build init, word build run, word compare, word consolidate, word assemble, word accept-revisions, word simplify-markup, word to-html, word from-html
Excel CLI (excel) excel verify, excel to-html, excel create

Installation

You can install Clippit CLI in two supported ways.

1. NuGet (dotnet tool)

dotnet tool install -g Clippit.Cli
clippit --version

dotnet tool update -g Clippit.Cli
dotnet tool uninstall -g Clippit.Cli

2. npm

npm install -g clippit
clippit --version

npm install -g clippit@latest
npm uninstall -g clippit

Workspace skills

Clippit can install local Agent Skills files for coding assistants that support workspace skills.

Run the installer from the workspace where you want the skill files to live:

clippit install --skills          # installs .agents/skills/clippit
clippit install --skills=claude   # installs .claude/skills/clippit
clippit install --skills=all      # installs both targets

Running the command again replaces the installed skill files with the current bundled versions. Use --dry-run to preview the paths that would be written.

clippit install --skills=all --dry-run

For full command options and payload contracts, use these docs, clippit <command> --help, and the schemas listed below.

Supported platforms

  • Continuously tested: Windows, Linux
  • Runtime requirement: .NET 10 runtime/toolchain for the dotnet tool; the npm package bundles native binaries for supported platforms
  • Package managers: dotnet tool (NuGet) and npm

Output contract

Use --format json for automation. Text output is for interactive usage.

Stream Condition Payload
stdout successful JSON command command-specific result JSON
stdout verify command with diagnostics (valid: false) verify result JSON, exit code 4
stdout command writes binary/HTML to stdout (--output -) raw stream only; summary is suppressed
stderr command execution error compact JSON error with stable code
stderr/stdout parser/help output System.CommandLine text output

Common exit codes:

Code Meaning
0 Success
1 Internal error
2 Invalid arguments
3 File not found
4 Invalid format or validation failure
5 Output error

Stdin/stdout rules

  • Commands that accept file input support - for stdin.
  • For binary/HTML output, use --output - and redirect stdout.
  • Only one file input can come from stdin at a time.

Examples:

cat deck.pptx | clippit pptx split - --output slides --format json
cat deck.json | clippit pptx build run - --output - > final.pptx
cat document.docx | clippit word verify - --format json
cat word-build.json | clippit word build run - --output - > merged.docx
cat article.html | clippit word from-html - --output - > article.docx
cat spreadsheet.xlsx | clippit excel verify - --format json

install --skills

Installs bundled Clippit workspace skills.

clippit install --skills[=agents|claude|all] [--dry-run] [--format json|text] [--quiet]

Targets:

Target Install path
agents (default) .agents/skills/clippit/SKILL.md
claude .claude/skills/clippit/SKILL.md
all both target directories

Text output lists installed skill paths. JSON output reports the installed targets, paths, and CLI version:

{"installed":[{"target":"agents","path":".agents/skills/clippit/SKILL.md"}],"version":"0.8.0"}

--dry-run prints the planned SKILL.md paths instead of writing files. In JSON mode it returns:

{"paths":[".agents/skills/clippit/SKILL.md"]}

version

Prints Clippit CLI and Open XML SDK versions.

clippit version [--format json|text] [--quiet]
clippit --version

{"version":"0.1.0","openXmlSdkVersion":"4.0.0"}

JSON schemas

Schemas for manifests/results are in schemas/README.md.

Payload URL
Deck manifest https://sergey-tihon.github.io/Clippit/schemas/deck-manifest.v1.json
Word build manifest https://sergey-tihon.github.io/Clippit/schemas/word-build-manifest.v1.json
Excel workbook definition https://sergey-tihon.github.io/Clippit/schemas/workbook-definition.v1.json
pptx split result https://sergey-tihon.github.io/Clippit/schemas/split-result.v1.json
pptx build run result https://sergey-tihon.github.io/Clippit/schemas/build-result.v1.json
word build run result https://sergey-tihon.github.io/Clippit/schemas/word-build-result.v1.json
pptx verify, word verify, excel verify result https://sergey-tihon.github.io/Clippit/schemas/verify-result.v1.json
word assemble result https://sergey-tihon.github.io/Clippit/schemas/assemble-result.v1.json
word compare result https://sergey-tihon.github.io/Clippit/schemas/compare-result.v1.json
word consolidate result https://sergey-tihon.github.io/Clippit/schemas/consolidate-result.v1.json
excel create result https://sergey-tihon.github.io/Clippit/schemas/excel-create-result.v1.json
install --skills result https://sergey-tihon.github.io/Clippit/schemas/install-result.v1.json
install --skills --dry-run plan https://sergey-tihon.github.io/Clippit/schemas/install-plan.v1.json
word to-html, word from-html, word accept-revisions, word simplify-markup, excel to-html result https://sergey-tihon.github.io/Clippit/schemas/convert-result.v1.json
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