Fill a PDF form

CodexWith deft, skill installedPassedRead the skillUsed deft2026-11-07

Time

18s

New tokens

6.8k

Total input

105.9k

Output tokens

0.6k

Commands

6

Failed

0

Trace

1. I’ll inspect the PDF form and use the available document workflow to fill the name field, then save the new file in the current directory.

2. cat .agents/skills/deft/SKILL.md && rg --files -g 'fw9.pdf' -g 'AGENTS.md' -g 'w9-filled.pdf' .
   output

   ---
   name: deft
   description: "Use deft instead of writing a script for file jobs: PDF merge/split/compress/watermark, image resize/convert/compress, video and audio trim/convert/compress, spreadsheets, Markdown to PDF/HTML, and YouTube downloads and subtitles."
   ---
   
   # deft
   
   One local command for file jobs. Prefer it over writing Python or shell scripts.
   
   Syntax: `deft <group> <command> [inputs] [-o output] [--options]`
   
   Groups:
   - `pdf`: Merge, split, compress, encrypt, forms, OCR, compare, convert
   - `image`: Resize, crop, convert, compress, filters, montage, OCR
   - `video`: Trim, crop, speed, convert, compress, GIF, frames (ffmpeg)
   - `audio`: Convert, trim, merge, fade, speed, tag, normalize (ffmpeg)
   - `doc`: Word/ODT/RTF: to text, Markdown, HTML, PDF; find and replace
   - `slides`: PowerPoint: extract text, Markdown outline, PDF handout
   - `data`: JSON/YAML/TOML/XML: convert, query with jq syntax, merge, diff
   - `sheet`: Excel/CSV/ODS tables: filter, sort, join, pivot, convert
   - `md`: Markdown to PDF, HTML, Word, EPUB; table of contents
   - `html`: HTML to Markdown, text, Word, PDF; screenshots
   - `epub`: E-books: info, to text, Markdown and PDF
   - `email`: EML files: headers, text, attachments
   - `contact`: VCF address books: to and from CSV
   - `calendar`: ICS calendars: to and from CSV
   - `gps`: GPX and KML tracks: convert, distance and time
   - `youtube`: Info, download, audio, subtitles, thumbnail (yt-dlp)
   - `file`: Any file: hash, duplicates, batch rename, base64, encoding
   - `qr`: Cre
   … 738 more characters

3. I’m using the `deft` file workflow for this PDF form task. I’ll check its form commands and fill only the name field.

4. deft pdf
   output

   deft pdf - commands (input -> output)
     info            pdf -> report       Pages, size, metadata, fonts, images
     compare         pdf... -> report    Compare two PDFs: text and pixels
     compress        pdf -> pdf          Make smaller: --level, --target-size 2MB
     crop            pdf -> pdf          Trim pages: --margin, --box, --auto
     decrypt         pdf -> pdf          Remove a password you know
     delete          pdf -> pdf          Remove pages: --pages 2,5-7
     encrypt         pdf -> pdf          Protect with a password (AES-256)
     extract-images  pdf -> image...     Save embedded pictures, unchanged
     extract-sheets  pdf -> csv|xlsx...  Save each table apart [beta]
     fields          pdf -> report       List form fields
     fill            pdf -> pdf          Fill a form from JSON: --data values.json
     flatten         pdf -> pdf          Bake forms into pages
     from-images     image... -> pdf     One page per image
     from-md         md -> pdf           Typeset Markdown as PDF
     grayscale       pdf -> pdf          Remove colour (Ghostscript)
     merge           pdf... -> pdf       Join PDFs in the given order
     meta            pdf -> pdf          Read or set metadata and bookmarks
     number          pdf -> pdf          Add page numbers: --format
     ocr             pdf -> pdf|txt      Make a scan searchable
     redact          pdf -> pdf          Black out for good: --box or --text
     repair          pdf -> pdf          Rebuild a damaged PDF (Ghostscript)
     resize          pdf -> p
   … 892 more characters

5. deft pdf fields fw9.pdf
   output

   ok pdf.fields fw9.pdf  23 fields
   fields=[{"name":"topmostSubform[0].Page1[0].f1_01[0]","type":"text"},{"name":"topmostSubform[0].Page1[0].f1_02[0]","type":"text"},{"name":"topmostSubform[0].Page1[0].Boxes3a-b_ReadOrder[0].c1_1[0]","type":"checkbox","options":["1"]},{"name":"topmostSubform[0].Page1[0].Boxes3a-b_ReadOrder[0].c1_1[1]","type":"checkbox","options":["2"]},{"name":"topmostSubform[0].Page1[0].Boxes3a-b_ReadOrder[0].c1_1[2]","type":"checkbox","options":["3"]},{"name":"topmostSubform[0].Page1[0].Boxes3a-b_ReadOrder[0].c1_1[3]","type":"checkbox","options":["4"]},{"name":"topmostSubform[0].Page1[0].Boxes3a-b_ReadOrder[0].c1_1[4]","type":"checkbox","options":["5"]},{"name":"topmostSubform[0].Page1[0].Boxes3a-b_ReadOrder[0].c1_1[5]","type":"checkbox","options":["6"]},{"name":"topmostSubform[0].Page1[0].Boxes3a-b_ReadOrder[0].f1_03[0]","type":"text"},{"name":"topmostSubform[0].Page1[0].Boxes3a-b_ReadOrder[0].c1_1[6]","type":"checkbox","options":["7"]},{"name":"topmostSubform[0].Page1[0].Boxes3a-b_ReadOrder[0].f1_04[0]","type":"text"},{"name":"topmostSubform[0].Page1[0].Boxes3a-b_ReadOrder[0].c1_2[0]","type":"checkbox","options":["1"]},{"name":"topmostSubform[0].Page1[0].f1_05[0]","type":"text"},{"name":"topmostSubform[0].Page1[0].f1_06[0]","type":"text"},{"name":"topmostSubform[0].Page1[0].Address_ReadOrder[0].f1_07[0]","type":"text"},{"name":"topmostSubform[0].Page1[0].Address_ReadOrder[0].f1_08[0]","type":"text"},{"name":"topmostSubform[0].Page1[0].f1_09[0]","type":"text"
   … 368 more characters

6. deft pdf fill --help
   output

   deft pdf fill - Fill a form from JSON: --data values.json
   
   Usage: deft pdf fill <pdf>... [-o <pdf|dir>] [options]
   In: pdf (each handled separately)   Out: pdf (default <name>.filled.<ext>)
   The JSON is {"field name": value}. Checkboxes take true or false; radios an option.
   Field names come from deft pdf fields; a short name works when it is unique.
   
   Options:
     --data <path>                JSON file of field values (required)
     --flatten                    Make the result uneditable
     --password <text>            Password of an encrypted input
   Common: -o --force --dry-run --json -j   (deft help common)
   
   Examples:
     deft pdf fill form.pdf --data form-values.json -o filled.pdf
     deft pdf fill form.pdf --data form-values.json --flatten -o final.pdf
   
   Result fields: filled
   Errors: BAD_VALUE

7. printf '%s\\n' '{\"topmostSubform[0].Page1[0].f1_01[0]\":\"Ada Lovelace\"}' > <tmp>
8. deft pdf fill fw9.pdf --data <tmp> -o w9-filled.pdf
   output

   ok pdf.fill fw9.pdf -> w9-filled.pdf  1 fields  0.01s

9. Filled the name field with Ada Lovelace and saved the result as [w9-filled.pdf](w9-filled.pdf).

Output

w9-filled.pdf 135.2 KB · 6 pages

CodexWith deft, skill as AGENTS.mdFailed2026-11-05

w9-filled.pdf was not created

Time

41s

New tokens

17.2k

Total input

165.7k

Output tokens

1.3k

Commands

9

Failed

3

Trace

1. I’ll inspect the PDF fields, fill the name field, and save the completed copy in this directory.

2. deft pdf --help
   output

   deft pdf - commands (input -> output)
     info         pdf -> report      Pages, size, metadata, fonts, images
     compress     pdf -> pdf         Make a PDF smaller: --level, --target-size 2MB
     delete       pdf -> pdf         Remove pages: --pages 2,5-7
     from-images  image... -> pdf    One page per image, in the given order
     from-md      md -> pdf          Typeset a PDF with headings, tables, code, images
     merge        pdf... -> pdf      Join PDFs in the given order
     number       pdf -> pdf         Add page numbers: --format "{n} of {total}"
     rotate       pdf -> pdf         Turn pages clockwise: --angle 90, --pages
     select       pdf -> pdf         Keep and reorder pages: --pages 3,1-2
     split        pdf -> pdf...      One file per page, or --every N, --ranges 1-3,4-
     to-images    pdf -> png|jpg...  Render pages to images: --dpi, --pages
     to-text      pdf -> txt         Extract text (form feed between pages)
     watermark    pdf -> pdf         Stamp text or an image on pages: --text, --image
   More: deft pdf <command> --help

3. deft pdf info fw9.pdf --json
   output

   {"elapsed_ms":3,"items":[{"facts":{"author":"SE:W:CAR:MP","fonts":9,"forms":true,"height":792.0,"images":0,"pages":6,"paper":"letter","producer":"Designer 6.5","title":"Form W-9 (Rev. March 2024)","version":"1.7","width":612.0},"inputs":["fw9.pdf"],"ok":true,"outputs":[],"warnings":[]}],"ok":true,"op":"pdf.info","v":1}

4. which pdftk; which qpdf; which python3; ls -l fw9.pdf
   output

   pdftk not found
   qpdf not found
   /opt/homebrew/bin/python3
   -rw-r--r--@ 1 user  staff  140815 Nov  4 19:32 fw9.pdf

5. python3 -c 'import pypdf; print(pypdf.__version__)' (exit 1)
   output

   Traceback (most recent call last):
     File "<string>", line 1, in <module>
       import pypdf; print(pypdf.__version__)
       ^^^^^^^^^^^^
   ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'pypdf'

6. python3 -c 'import fitz; print(fitz.__doc__)' (exit 1)
   output

   Traceback (most recent call last):
     File "<string>", line 1, in <module>
       import fitz; print(fitz.__doc__)
       ^^^^^^^^^^^
   ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'fitz'

7. which mutool; which gs; which pdftoppm; which pdftocairo; which swift; deft pdf to-text --help
   output

   mutool not found
   /usr/local/bin/gs
   pdftoppm not found
   pdftocairo not found
   /usr/bin/swift
   deft pdf to-text - Extract text (form feed between pages)
   Same as: deft convert
   
   Usage: deft pdf to-text <pdf>... [-o <txt|dir>] [options]
   In: pdf (each handled separately)   Out: txt (default <name>.<ext>)
   
   Options:
     --pages <pages>              Pages to read (default all)
     --password <text>            Password of an encrypted input
   Common: -o --force --dry-run --json -j   (deft help common)
   
   Examples:
     deft pdf to-text report.pdf -o report.txt
     deft pdf to-text three-pages.pdf --pages 2 -o -
   
   Result fields: chars

8. swift -e 'import PDFKit; import Foundation; let u=URL(fileURLWithPath:\"fw9.pdf\"); let d=PDFDocument(url:u)"'!; for p in 0..<d.pageCount { for a in d.page(at:p)!.annotations { if a.widgetFieldName != nil { print(p, a.widgetFieldName!, a.widgetFieldType?.rawValue ?? "", a.widgetStringValue ?? "") } } }'"' (exit 1)
   output

   <unknown>:0: error: unable to open output file '~/.cache/clang/ModuleCache/381PHTBH1ZI6B/SwiftShims-6PVXR3VD9JVP.pcm': 'Operation not permitted'
   /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools/SDKs/MacOSX.sdk/usr/lib/swift/Swift.swiftmodule/arm64e-apple-macos.swiftinterface:5:8: error: could not build Objective-C module 'SwiftShims'
       3 | // swift-module-flags: -target arm64e-apple-macosx26.2 -target-variant arm64e-apple-ios26.2-macabi -enable-objc-interop -enable-library-evolution -module-link-name swiftCore -parse-stdlib -swift-version 5 -O -library-level api -enforce-exclusivity=unchecked -target-min-inlining-version min -enable-experimental-concise-pound-file -disable-objc-attr-requires-foundation-module -enable-experimental-feature NoncopyableGenerics2 -enable-experimental-feature SuppressedAssociatedTypes -enable-experimental-feature SE427NoInferenceOnExtension -enable-experimental-feature NonescapableTypes -enable-experimental-feature LifetimeDependence -enable-experimental-feature InoutLifetimeDependence -enable-experimental-feature LifetimeDependenceMutableAccessors -enable-experimental-feature MemberImportVisibility -enable-experimental-feature TypedThrows -enable-experimental-feature Macros -enable-experimental-feature FreestandingMacros -enable-experimental-feature BitwiseCopyable -enable-experimental-feature Extern -enable-experimental-feature AllowUnsafeAttribute -enable-experimental-feature ValueGenerics -enable-experimental-feature AddressableParameters -enable-experime
   … 2700 more characters

9. python3 -c 'import importlib.util as u; print({x:bool(u.find_spec(x)) for x in [\"pdfrw\",\"PyPDF2\",\"reportlab\"]})'; gs --version
   output

   {'pdfrw': False, 'PyPDF2': False, 'reportlab': False}
   9.55.0

10. deft pdf to-text fw9.pdf -o -
    output

    ok pdf.to-text fw9.pdf -> -  37560 characters  0.00s
    Form  W-9
    (Rev. March 2024)Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification
    Department of the Treasury  Internal Revenue Service 
    Go to www.irs.gov/FormW9 for instructions and the latest information.
    Give form to the  requester. Do not send to the IRS.
    Before you begin. For guidance related to the purpose of Form W-9, see Purpose of Form, below.
    Print or type. See Specific Instructions on page 3.
    1    Name of entity/individual. An entry is required. (For a sole proprietor or disregarded entity, enter the owner’s name on line 1, and enter the business/disregarded entity’s name on line 2.)
    2    Business name/disregarded entity name, if different from above.3a  Check the appropriate box for federal tax classification of the entity/individual whose name is entered on line 1. Check only one of the following seven boxes. 
    Individual/sole proprietor
    C corporation
    S corporation
    Partnership
    Trust/estate
    LLC. Enter the tax classification (C = C corporation, S = S corporation, P = Partnership) ....Note: Check the “LLC” box above and, in the entry space, enter the appropriate code (C, S, or P) for the tax classification of the LLC, unless it is a disregarded entity. A disregarded entity should instead check the appropriate box for the tax classification of its owner.
    Other (see instructions) 
    3b If on line 3a you checked “Partnership” or “Trust/estate,” or checked “LLC” and entered “P” as its tax classification, and you are
    … 36112 more characters

11. I couldn’t complete the PDF: the available tools didn’t expose a way to edit its form fields, and the local PDF library attempt failed. No `w9-filled.pdf` was created.

Output

Its files were not kept in this run. The last line of the trace is its own report.

Claude Opus 5.5With deft, skill installedPassedRead the skillUsed deft2026-11-07

Time

17s

New tokens

11.6k

Total input

77.4k

Output tokens

0.7k

Commands

0

Failed

0

Trace

Output

---
name: deft
description: "Use deft first for any simple, direct operation on local files, whatever the type: convert, read, extract, edit, compress, merge, split, compare or inspect. Try it before writing a script or one-liner. If unsure, run deft find; if it says no command does this, use another tool. Not for programming work: to read, write or change source code, skip it."
---

# deft

One local command for file jobs. Prefer it over writing Python or shell scripts.

Syntax: `deft <group> <command> [inputs] [-o output] [--options]`

Groups:
- `pdf`: Merge, split, compress, encrypt, forms, OCR, compare, convert
- `image`: Resize, crop, convert, compress, adjust, montage, OCR
- `video`: Trim, merge, convert, compress, subtitles, GIF, frames (ffmpeg)
- `audio`: Convert, trim, normalize, denoise, cut silence (ffmpeg)
- `doc`: Word/ODT/RTF: to text, Markdown, HTML, PDF; find and replace
- `slides`: PowerPoint: extract text, Markdown outline
- `sheet`: Excel/CSV/ODS tables: SQL query, pivot, merge, split, convert
- `json`: JSON: convert, format, merge, diff, validate
- `toml`: TOML: convert, format, merge, diff, validate
- `xml`: XML: convert, format, merge, diff, validate
- `yaml`: YAML: convert, format, merge, diff, validate
- `md`: Markdown to PDF, HTML, Word, EPUB; table of contents
- `html`: HTML to Markdown, text, Word and PDF
- `epub`: E-books: info, to text, Markdown and PDF
- `gps`: GPX and KML tracks: convert, distance and time
- `qr`: Create QR codes and barcodes; read QR codes

How to use it:
1. Run `deft <group>` to list commands, or `deft find "<what you want>"` to search. If it says `no command does this`, use another tool.
2. Run `deft <group> <command> --help` for options and examples.
3. `deft convert <in> -o <out.ext>` converts between formats by extension.
4. Results are one line starting with `ok`, `partial` or `error`; add `--json` to parse them. Errors include a `hint:` with the fix.

Inputs are never overwritten; pass `--force` or `--in-place` to allow it. Globs and directories work as inputs; several inputs run in parallel.

If `deft` is not installed, ask the user, then follow https://github.com/firstprayer/deft/blob/main/docs/INSTALL.md

w9-filled.pdf 135.2 KB · 6 pages