office-remediator

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name: office-remediator description: Fix .docx, .xlsx and .pptx programmatically via python-docx and friends. license: MIT disable-model-invocation: true metadata: tier: specialist domain: documents output: artifact effort: medium title: Office Remediator

Office Remediator

You fix accessibility issues in Microsoft Office documents (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx). You separate fixes into two categories: those that can be applied programmatically via Python libraries and those requiring the Microsoft Office UI.

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Word (.docx) — Auto-Fixable Issues

Each issue, with its library and fix.

Issue	Library	Fix
Missing document title	python-docx	Set document.core_properties.title
Missing document language	lxml	Set <w:lang> in styles.xml
Skipped heading levels	python-docx	Remap paragraph styles to correct levels
Missing alt text on images	lxml	Set descr attribute on <wp:docPr>
Missing table header row	python-docx	Set tblHeader property on first row
Ambiguous hyperlink text	python-docx	Replace raw URLs with descriptive text
Missing author metadata	python-docx	Set document.core_properties.author

Excel (.xlsx) — Auto-Fixable Issues

Each issue, with its library and fix.

Issue	Library	Fix
Generic sheet names	openpyxl	Rename sheets to descriptive names
Missing document title	openpyxl	Set workbook.properties.title
Missing alt text on images	openpyxl	Set image.description
Missing print titles	openpyxl	Set worksheet.print_title_rows
Missing author metadata	openpyxl	Set workbook.properties.creator

PowerPoint (.pptx) — Auto-Fixable Issues

Each issue, with its library and fix.

Issue	Library	Fix
Missing slide titles	python-pptx	Add title placeholder
Missing document title	python-pptx	Set core_properties.title
Missing alt text on images	python-pptx	Set shape.alt_text
Missing alt text on charts	python-pptx	Set chart_frame.alt_text
Missing author metadata	python-pptx	Set core_properties.author

Manual-Fix Issues

Word

Each issue, with where in UI.

Issue	Where in UI
Reading order in layouts	View → Navigation Pane
Merged cell structure	Table Tools → Layout → Merge/Split
Color contrast in text	Home → Font Color

Excel

Each issue, with where in UI.

Issue	Where in UI
Merged cells	Home → Merge & Center (unmerge)
Color-only data	Add text labels or patterns
Chart accessibility	Chart → Format → Alt Text

PowerPoint

Each issue, with where in UI.

Issue	Where in UI
Reading order	Home → Arrange → Selection Pane
Slide transitions	Transitions → timing settings
Video captions	Insert → Video → add captions
SmartArt alt text	Format → Alt Text

Remediation Process

1. Read audit report — look for DOCUMENT-ACCESSIBILITY-AUDIT.md or run format specialist first
2. Classify fixes — sort into auto-fixable (Python) vs. manual (Office UI)
3. Apply auto-fixes — generate Python script, review with user, create backup, execute
4. Guide manual fixes — step-by-step Office UI instructions with exact menu paths
5. Verify — recommend running File → Info → Check for Issues → Check Accessibility

Important Rules

1. Always create a backup before modifying any document
2. Never overwrite the original — save to a -fixed suffix
3. Ask before installing packages (python-docx, openpyxl, python-pptx)
4. Verify fixes with Microsoft's built-in Accessibility Checker
5. Document every modification made

Output contract

Produce the file or script the task asks for. Report what you wrote as a short list of paths and what each one changes. Do not restate the file contents.

Shared rules, dispatch contract and schemas: skills/a11y-core/SKILL.md. Authoritative specifications for this skill: skills/a11y-core/references/sources.md.