---
name: mermaid-tools
description: Extracts Mermaid diagrams from markdown files and generates high-quality PNG images using bundled scripts. Activates when working with Mermaid diagrams, converting diagrams to PNG, extracting diagrams from markdown, or processing markdown files with embedded Mermaid code.
---

# Mermaid Tools

## Overview

This skill enables extraction of Mermaid diagrams from markdown files and generation of high-quality PNG images. The skill bundles all necessary scripts (`extract-and-generate.sh`, `extract_diagrams.py`, and `puppeteer-config.json`) in the `scripts/` directory for portability and reliability.

## Core Workflow

### Standard Diagram Extraction and Generation

Extract Mermaid diagrams from a markdown file and generate PNG images using the bundled `extract-and-generate.sh` script:

```bash
cd ~/.claude/skills/mermaid-tools/scripts
./extract-and-generate.sh "<markdown_file>" "<output_directory>"
```

**Parameters:**
- `<markdown_file>`: Path to the markdown file containing Mermaid diagrams
- `<output_directory>`: (Optional) Directory for output files. Defaults to `<markdown_file_directory>/diagrams`

**Example:**
```bash
cd ~/.claude/skills/mermaid-tools/scripts
./extract-and-generate.sh "/path/to/document.md" "/path/to/output"
```

### What the Script Does

1. **Extracts** all Mermaid code blocks from the markdown file
2. **Numbers** them sequentially (01, 02, 03, etc.) in order of appearance
3. **Generates** `.mmd` files for each diagram
4. **Creates** high-resolution PNG images with smart sizing
5. **Validates** all generated PNG files

### Output Files

For each diagram, the script generates:
- `01-diagram-name.mmd` - Extracted Mermaid code
- `01-diagram-name.png` - High-resolution PNG image

The numbering ensures diagrams maintain their order from the source document.

## Advanced Usage

### Custom Dimensions and Scaling

Override default dimensions using environment variables:

```bash
cd ~/.claude/skills/mermaid-tools/scripts
MERMAID_WIDTH=1600 MERMAID_HEIGHT=1200 ./extract-and-generate.sh "<markdown_file>" "<output_directory>"
```

**Available variables:**
- `MERMAID_WIDTH` (default: 1200) - Base width in pixels
- `MERMAID_HEIGHT` (default: 800) - Base height in pixels
- `MERMAID_SCALE` (default: 2) - Scale factor for high-resolution output

### High-Resolution Output for Presentations

```bash
cd ~/.claude/skills/mermaid-tools/scripts
MERMAID_WIDTH=2400 MERMAID_HEIGHT=1800 MERMAID_SCALE=4 ./extract-and-generate.sh "<markdown_file>" "<output_directory>"
```

### Print-Quality Output

```bash
cd ~/.claude/skills/mermaid-tools/scripts
MERMAID_SCALE=5 ./extract-and-generate.sh "<markdown_file>" "<output_directory>"
```

## Smart Sizing Feature

The script automatically adjusts dimensions based on diagram type (detected from filename):

- **Timeline/Gantt**: 2400×400 (wide and short)
- **Architecture/System/Caching**: 2400×1600 (large and detailed)
- **Monitoring/Workflow/Sequence/API**: 2400×800 (wide for process flows)
- **Default**: 1200×800 (standard size)

Context-aware naming in the extraction process helps trigger appropriate smart sizing.

## Important Principles

### Use Bundled Scripts

**CRITICAL**: Use the bundled `extract-and-generate.sh` script from this skill's `scripts/` directory. All necessary dependencies are bundled together.

### Change to Script Directory

Run the script from its own directory to properly locate dependencies (`extract_diagrams.py` and `puppeteer-config.json`):

```bash
cd ~/.claude/skills/mermaid-tools/scripts
./extract-and-generate.sh "<markdown_file>" "<output_directory>"
```

Running the script without changing to the scripts directory first may fail due to missing dependencies.

## Prerequisites Verification

Before running the script, verify dependencies are installed:

1. **mermaid-cli**: `mmdc --version`
2. **Google Chrome**: `google-chrome-stable --version`
3. **Python 3**: `python3 --version`

If any are missing, consult `references/setup_and_troubleshooting.md` for installation instructions.

## Troubleshooting

For detailed troubleshooting guidance, refer to `references/setup_and_troubleshooting.md`, which covers:

- Browser launch failures
- Permission issues
- No diagrams found
- Python extraction failures
- Output quality issues
- Diagram-specific sizing problems

Quick fixes for common issues:

**Permission denied:**
```bash
chmod +x ~/.claude/skills/mermaid-tools/scripts/extract-and-generate.sh
```

**Low quality output:**
```bash
MERMAID_SCALE=3 ./extract-and-generate.sh "<markdown_file>" "<output_directory>"
```

**Chrome/Puppeteer errors:**
Verify all WSL2 dependencies are installed (see references for full list).

## Bundled Resources

### scripts/

This skill bundles all necessary scripts for Mermaid diagram generation:

- **extract-and-generate.sh** - Main script that orchestrates extraction and PNG generation
- **extract_diagrams.py** - Python script for extracting Mermaid code blocks from markdown
- **puppeteer-config.json** - Chrome/Puppeteer configuration for WSL2 environment

All scripts must be run from the `scripts/` directory to properly locate dependencies.

### references/setup_and_troubleshooting.md

Comprehensive reference documentation including:
- Complete prerequisite installation instructions
- Detailed environment variable reference
- Extensive troubleshooting guide
- WSL2-specific Chrome dependency setup
- Validation procedures

Load this reference when dealing with setup issues, installation problems, or advanced customization needs.


---
Source attribution: daymade
Original project: https://github.com/daymade/claude-code-skills
License: MIT
License information: https://opensource.org/license/mit
Original upstream instructions; downloaded from Dave AI.

## Upstream license notice

MIT License

Copyright (c) 2026 SkillsHub Contributors

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.



# Dave AI resource metadata

Creator / publisher: daymade
Original project: https://github.com/daymade/claude-code-skills
Attribution basis: Original repository namespace preserved by package mirror

Fields of work: Design, Marketing
Roles: Content Marketer, Graphic Designer, UX Designer
Specialties: API
Tools: Google Chrome, Mermaid Cli, Python3
Country applicability: Country not specified
Classification basis: Source catalog labels
Instruction SHA-256: a9052ad7de7277de92f95e48279530a23c4765554813fc9b4dd1f49f4ec2582f
Metadata reviewed: 2026-10-27
This metadata supersedes earlier Dave AI catalog attribution. Original instruction and supporting files are preserved.