paper-to-notes

Convert academic papers from PDFs or arXiv into structured notes.

Updated Aug 27, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/schmidtkk/skills --skill paper-to-notes
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: paper-to-notes
Source: https://github.com/schmidtkk/skills/tree/main/paper-to-notes-skill
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/schmidtkk/skills --skill paper-to-notes

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

Convert academic papers into structured, easily digestible notes, saving researchers time and enabling quick review.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Extracts title, problem, method, results, limitations, and personal takeaways into a consistent template.
  • Saves notes to ~/Documents/paper_notes/ for later search and reference.
  • Accepts arXiv IDs, arXiv URLs, local PDFs, and PDF URLs as inputs, enabling flexible workflows.

Quick Start

Convert arXiv ID 2401.15563 into structured notes and save them to ~/Documents/paper_notes/.

Frequently Asked Questions about paper-to-notes

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I convert a research paper PDF into structured notes?

To convert a research paper PDF into structured notes, supply a local PDF, PDF URL, or arXiv ID. The Skill extracts the title, problem, method, results, and limitations, saving the generated notes to ~/Documents/paper_notes/.

Can I generate notes directly from an arXiv ID or URL?

Yes, you can generate notes directly from an arXiv ID or URL. The Skill accepts arXiv IDs, arXiv URLs, local PDFs, and PDF URLs as input to produce structured notes with metadata extraction and templated sections.

What sections are included when turning academic papers into notes?

Turning academic papers into notes produces a template containing the title, problem, method, results, limitations, and personal takeaways. Optional components like scripts, references, and assets are loaded on demand.

Does this approach work with publisher PDFs and arXiv papers?

Yes, this approach works with publisher PDFs and arXiv papers. It handles inputs like arXiv IDs, arXiv URLs, local PDFs, and any PDF URL to extract metadata and output structured notes.

What is the best way to save research summarizations for later search?

The best way to save research summarizations for later search is to use this Skill, which saves structured note outputs directly to a local notebook directory at ~/Documents/paper_notes/.

Are there limitations when extracting metadata from local PDF files?

Extracting metadata from local PDF files relies on the document's text layer. The Skill focuses on extracting title, authors, and abstracts, but optional components like scripts, references, and assets are only loaded on demand to handle edge cases.