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Convert

Convert a Markdown file to PDF:

code-down input.md

Write to a specific output file:

code-down input.md out.pdf
# or
code-down input.md -o out.pdf

Write into a directory (it will create out/input.pdf):

code-down input.md out/

Pick a theme for this run:

code-down input.md -s light

You can also supply a filename without its extension: code-down input resolves input.md. An existing file named input takes precedence. Supported extensions are .md and .markdown; extensionless files are accepted when they exist. Quote paths containing spaces: code-down "my notes.md".

The explicit form, code-down convert input.md, supports the same options.

Layout and metadata:

code-down notes.md -s print --page-size Letter --margin 15mm \
  --font "DejaVu Sans" --code-font "DejaVu Sans Mono" \
  --page-numbers --header "Team notes" --footer "Internal" \
  --toc --title "Project guide" --author "Your name"

Page sizes: A4 (default), A5, Letter, Legal. Margins accept mm, cm, in, pt, or px. Code wraps by default; use --no-wrap-code to preserve line lengths. Fonts must be installed locally. Long code blocks and tables can span pages, and table headers repeat. Local images resolve relative to the Markdown file, regardless of the working directory. The print theme uses a white background.

All layout options also apply in watch mode. Title defaults to the input stem; headers, footers, page numbers, author, and table of contents are opt-in.

Browser preview​

code-down preview notes.md -s nord
# Or use the filename shortcut:
code-down notes.md --preview
# Choose a port and open the URL yourself:
code-down preview notes.md --no-open --port 8080

The local workspace renders Markdown as you type and includes a Copy code button for every code block and a Copy Markdown toolbar button. Choose Download preview to save the current document as a PDF using your browser edits, selected theme, configured layout settings, and local images. Choose Side by side, Stacked, Preview only, or Editor only. Drag the split divider, or focus it and use the arrow keys. Double-click the divider or use Reset split to restore equal panes. Split size and view are remembered in your browser.

Edits in the workspace stay in the browser and do not modify your Markdown file. Copy Markdown to keep those edits. Changes saved from an external editor appear automatically unless you have browser edits; Reload file replaces browser edits with the file contents. Stop the server with Ctrl+C.

Preview honors theme and rendering defaults from configuration. With --preview, the conversion layout flags also apply; PDF output paths and --watch cannot be combined with preview. Code-copy controls are browser-only and do not appear in PDF output.