Wrapper script for Pandoc. Sets some defaults and makes it easier to generate the small range of output formats I use. Requires the 'commander' gem.

panda.rb

#!/usr/bin/env ruby

require 'rubygems'
require 'commander/import'

program :version, '0.1'
program :description, 'Converts markdown documents into a variety of default formats using Pandoc'
CMD = "pandoc"
BIB = "$HOME/Dropbox/Documents/bibtex/all-refs.bib"
 
command :pdf do |c|
  c.syntax = 'panda.rb pdf [options] file'
  c.summary = 'Converts markdown to PDF'
  c.description = 'Converts markdown to PDF via xelatex using nice fonts and margins'
  c.example 'Number sections and just print result', 'panda.rb pdf --numbering --print myfile.md'
  c.example 'Format bibliography using Proc R Soc style', 'panda.rb pdf --bibformat proc-r-soc-b myfile.md'
  # appearance options
  c.option '-n', '--numbering', 'Number sections'
  c.option '-t', '--table-of-contents', 'Include table of contents'
  c.option '-f', '--fontsize STRING', String, 'Font size in pts (default is 12pt)'
  c.option '-m', '--margins STRING', String, 'Margins in cm (default is 3cm)'
  # bib options
  c.option '--bibformat STRING', String, "CSL bibformat to be used (turns on bibliography and uses bibliography file defined in source)"
  # action options
  c.option '-p', '--print', 'Print command without executing'
  c.option '-o', '--open', 'Open the output file after it is built using default application'
  c.action do |args, options|
    # Set defaults which can be over-ridden by set options
    options.default :fontsize => '12pt', :margin => '3cm'
    filename  = get_filename(args)
    # Build basic command string then extend depending on options
    cmd_options = "--variable mainfont='Minion Pro' --variable sansfont='Myriad Pro' --latex-engine=xelatex"

    if options.toc
      cmd_options.insert(0, "--toc ")
    end

    if options.fontsize
      cmd_options.insert(0, "--variable fontsize=#{options.fontsize} ")
    end

    if options.margins
      cmd_options.insert(0, "--variable geometry=margin=#{options.margins} ")
    end

    if options.numbering
      cmd_options.insert(0, "-N ")
    end

    if options.bibformat
      cmd_options.insert(0, "--bibliography=#{BIB} --csl=#{options.bibformat} ")
    end

    # Now put it all together with pandoc command and filenames
    cmd_string = "#{CMD} #{cmd_options} #{filename}.md -o #{filename}.pdf"
    
    # output command: via 'system' in normal case, or 'print' if options.print
    if options.print
      puts cmd_string
    else
      system cmd_string
    end

    # if options.open, open the output file with default application
    if options.open
      system "open #{filename}.pdf"
    end
  end
end

command :doc do |c|
  c.syntax = 'panda.rb doc [options]'
  c.summary = 'Converts markdown to Word (*.docx) format'
  c.description = 'Converts markdown to Word'
  c.example 'Number sections and add bibliography formatted in Proc R Soc style', 'panda.rb doc -n --bibformat proc-r-soc-b myfile.md'
  # appearance options
  c.option '--numbering', 'Number sections'
  c.option '--table-of-contents', 'Include table of contents'
  # bib options
  c.option '--bibformat STRING', String, "CSL bibformat to be used (turns on bibliography and uses bibliography file defined in source)"
  # action options
  c.option '--print', 'Print command without executing'
  c.option '--open', 'Open the output file after it is built using default application'
 
  c.action do |args, options|
    # Set defaults which can be over-ridden by set options
    filename  = get_filename(args)
    cmd_options = "-s -S"

    if options.toc
      cmd_options.insert(0, "--toc ")
    end

    if options.numbering
      cmd_options.insert(0, "-N ")
    end

    if options.bibformat
      cmd_options.insert(0, "--bibliography=#{BIB} --csl=#{options.bibformat} ")
    end

    # Now put it all together with pandoc command and filenames
    cmd_string = "#{CMD} #{cmd_options} #{filename}.md -o #{filename}.docx"

    # output command: via 'system' in normal case, or 'print' if options.print
    if options.print
      puts cmd_string
    else
      system cmd_string
    end

    # if options.open, open the output file with default application
    if options.open
      system "open #{filename}.docx"
    end
    end
end

command :tex do |c|
  c.syntax = 'panda.rb tex [options]'
  c.summary = 'Converts markdown to LaTeX'
  c.description = 'Converts markdown to LaTeX'
  c.example '11pt font with bibliography formatted in Proc R Soc style', 'panda.rb text --fontsize 11pt --bibformat proc-r-soc-b myfile.md'
  # appearance options
  c.option '--numbering', 'Number sections'
  c.option '--table-of-contents', 'Include table of contents'
  c.option '--fontsize STRING', String, 'Font size in pts (default is 12pt)'
  c.option '--margins STRING', String, 'Margins in cm (default is 3cm)'
  # bib options
  c.option '--bibformat STRING', String, "CSL bibformat to be used (turns on bibliography and uses bibliography file defined in source)"
  # action options
  c.option '--print', 'Print command without executing'
  c.option '--open', 'Open the output file after it is built using default application'
  c.action do |args, options|
    # Set defaults which can be over-ridden by set options
    options.default :fontsize => '12pt', :margin => '3cm'
    filename  = get_filename(args)
    # Build basic command string then extend depending on options
    cmd_options = "-s --variable mainfont='Minion Pro' --variable sansfont='Myriad Pro' --latex-engine=xelatex"

    if options.toc
      cmd_options.insert(0, "--toc ")
    end

    if options.fontsize
      cmd_options.insert(0, "--variable fontsize=#{options.fontsize} ")
    end

    if options.margins
      cmd_options.insert(0, "--variable geometry=margin=#{options.margins} ")
    end

    if options.numbering
      cmd_options.insert(0, "-N ")
    end

    if options.bibformat
      cmd_options.insert(0, "--bibliography=#{BIB} --csl=#{options.bibformat} ")
    end

    # Now put it all together with pandoc command and filenames
    cmd_string = "#{CMD} #{cmd_options} #{filename}.md -o #{filename}.tex"
    
    # output command: via 'system' in normal case, or 'print' if options.print
    if options.print
      puts cmd_string
    else
      system cmd_string
    end

    # if options.open, open the output file with default application
    if options.open
      system "open #{filename}.tex"
    end
  end
end

command :html do |c|
  c.syntax = 'panda.rb html [options]'
  c.summary = 'Converts markdown to standalone HTML document'
  c.description = 'Converts markdown to standalone HTML document'
  c.example 'Number sections and open using default browser after creation', 'panda.rb html -n --open myfile.md'
  c.option '--numbering', 'Number sections'
  c.option '--table-of-contents', 'Include table of contents'
  # bib options
  c.option '--bibformat STRING', String, "CSL bibformat to be used (turns on bibliography and uses bibliography file defined in source)"
  # action options
  c.option '--print', 'Print command without executing'
  c.option '--open', 'Open the output file after it is built using default application'
  c.action do |args, options|
    # Set defaults which can be over-ridden by set options
    options.default :fontsize => '12pt', :margin => '3cm'
    filename  = get_filename(args)
    # Build basic command string then extend depending on options
    cmd_options = "-s -S -c $HOME/.pandoc/templates/default.css"

    if options.toc
      cmd_options.insert(0, "--toc ")
    end

    if options.numbering
      cmd_options.insert(0, "-N ")
    end

    if options.bibformat
      cmd_options.insert(0, "--bibliography=#{BIB} --csl=#{options.bibformat} ")
    end

    # Now put it all together with pandoc command and filenames
    cmd_string = "#{CMD} #{cmd_options} #{filename}.md -o #{filename}.html"
    
    # output command: via 'system' in normal case, or 'print' if options.print
    if options.print
      puts cmd_string
    else
      system cmd_string
    end

    # if options.open, open the output file with default application
    if options.open
      system "open #{filename}.html"
    end
  end
end

# Return filename of first programme argument, without extension
def get_filename(args)
  filename  = File.basename(args[0],".*")
end