01 — TL;DR
Both pdf and xlsx are strong choices for document tools — they score within 0.15 of each other on our composite (3.8 vs 3.9). Pick based on which source you trust more, not on raw score.
Where they differ
- Trigger clarity. trigger clarity: xlsx is clearly stronger (4.5 vs 5.0). For workloads where this dimension matters, prefer xlsx.
- Output specificity. output specificity: xlsx is clearly stronger (4.5 vs 5.0). For workloads where this dimension matters, prefer xlsx.
- Scope precision. scope precision: pdf and xlsx score essentially the same (4.5 vs 4.5). Neither has an edge here.
- Self-containment. self-containment: xlsx is clearly stronger (4.5 vs 5.0). For workloads where this dimension matters, prefer xlsx.
- Reusability. reusability: pdf and xlsx score essentially the same (4.0 vs 4.0). Neither has an edge here.
How to decide
- Pick pdf if you want cross-source validation — it appears in 4 sources we track.
- If neither of the above tips the scale, default to the one whose author you've used before in other contexts — ecosystem familiarity compounds.
Scenario by scenario
| Scenario | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Agent must auto-select between many document tools | xlsx | Trigger clarity decides — clearer triggers reduce routing errors. |
| Output must be a specific file format or structured data | xlsx | Output specificity determines whether downstream tools can rely on the result. |
| Skill must be readable and complete out of the box | xlsx | Self-containment matters when you're not the original author. |
| Cross-team or cross-project reuse expected | either | Reusability separates one-off scripts from durable building blocks. |
Common questions
- Which is better, pdf or xlsx?
- Neither is clearly better — they score within 0.15 of each other on our 0–5 composite. The decision should be driven by source preference, ecosystem fit, or specific dimension priorities (see "How to decide" above).
- Are pdf and xlsx both free to use?
- Both skills are free and open-source (or freely licensed). pdf: See source repo. xlsx: See source repo. Installation has no cost; usage costs depend on the underlying LLM tokens consumed when you invoke the skill.
- Can I install both pdf and xlsx at the same time?
- Yes. Agent skills are not exclusive — an agent runtime (Claude Code, Codex, etc.) can have many skills installed and route to whichever matches the current task. Installing both is a low-cost way to keep your options open.
- Where do these skills come from?
- pdf is sourced from github:anthropics/skills (official). xlsx is sourced from github:anthropics/skills (official). We verify each skill across multiple sources where possible; pdf appears in 4 sources, xlsx in 2.