google-chat-formatting（Google Chat formatting 开发）

Google Chat Formatting

Expert knowledge for converting Markdown and plain text to Google Chat's limited formatting syntax. Google Chat supports a subset of formatting that differs from standard Markdown.

When to Use

Core Expertise

Format Conversion

• Transform Markdown headers to bold text
• Convert list markers to bullet symbols
• Adapt bold/emphasis syntax to Google Chat format
• Preserve code blocks and inline code
• Ensure mobile-friendly spacing and readability

Google Chat Limitations

• No native header support (use bold instead)
• Limited text formatting (bold, italic, strikethrough, code)
• Bullet symbols (U+2022) instead of hyphen lists
• No nested formatting (bold inside italic, etc.)
• No tables, images, or advanced Markdown features

Conversion Rules

Headers to Bold Text

Google Chat has no header support. Convert all headers to bold text:

# Header           → *Header*
## Subheader       → *Subheader*
### Section        → *Section*

Pattern: Remove all # symbols and wrap text in single asterisks.

Text Formatting

Google Chat uses single asterisks for bold (not double):

**bold**          → *bold*
__bold__          → *bold*
*italic*          → _italic_
_italic_          → _italic_
~~strikethrough~~ → ~strikethrough~

Key differences:

• Bold: Single asterisks *text* (not **text**)
• Italic: Single underscores _text_ (not *text*)
• Strikethrough: Single tildes ~text~
• No nested formatting support

Code Formatting

Preserve code blocks and inline code unchanged:

`inline code`     → `inline code` (unchanged)

### Lists

Replace Markdown list markers with bullet symbols:

• item → • item
• item → • item

+ item → • item

1. numbered → 1. numbered (keep numbered lists)

**Pattern**: Replace `-`, `*`, `+` at line start with bullet symbol.

### Special Patterns

**Label formatting** (common in structured messages):

Label: → *Label:* Status: text → *Status:* text

### Whitespace

Normalize spacing for readability:

- Collapse multiple blank lines to single blank line
- Strip trailing whitespace

## Essential Commands

### Convert Markdown File

Read file, convert, write output

cat input.md | sed -E 's/^#{1,6} (.+)$/*\1*/g' | \ sed -E 's/\*\*([^*]+)\*\*/\*\1\*/g' | \ sed -E 's/^[*+-] /• /g' > output.txt

### Convert Inline Text

Quick conversion of text string

echo "## Header\nbold text\n- item" | \ sed -E 's/^#{1,6} (.+)$/*\1*/g' | \ sed -E 's/\*\*([^*]+)\*\*/\*\1\*/g' | \ sed -E 's/^[*+-] /• /g'

### Process Clipboard (macOS)

Convert clipboard content

pbpaste | sed -E 's/^#{1,6} (.+)$/*\1*/g' | \ sed -E 's/\*\*([^*]+)\*\*/\*\1\*/g' | \ sed -E 's/^[*+-] /• /g' | pbcopy

### Batch Processing

Convert all .md files in directory

for file in *.md; do sed -E 's/^#{1,6} (.+)$/*\1*/g' "$file" | \ sed -E 's/\*\*([^*]+)\*\*/\*\1\*/g' | \ sed -E 's/^[*+-] /• /g' > "${file%.md}.gchat.txt" done

For common conversion patterns (meeting notes, status updates, release notes), best practices, troubleshooting, integration examples, limitations, and advanced patterns, see [REFERENCE.md](https://github.com/laurigates/claude-plugins/blob/HEAD/communication-plugin/skills/google-chat-formatting/REFERENCE.md).

## Quick Reference

### Conversion Patterns

| Markdown | Google Chat | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `# Header` | `*Header*` | All header levels |
| `**bold**` | `*bold*` | Single asterisks |
| `__bold__` | `*bold*` | Underscores to asterisks |
| `*italic*` | `_italic_` | Single underscores |
| `- item` | `• item` | Bullet symbol |
| `` `code` `` | `` `code` `` | Unchanged |

### Sed Commands

Headers

sed -E 's/^#{1,6} (.+)$/*\1*/g'

Bold (asterisks)

sed -E 's/\*\*([^*]+)\*\*/\*\1\*/g'

Bold (underscores)

sed -E 's/__([^_]+)__/\*\1\*/g'

Lists

sed -E 's/^[*+-] /• /g'

Collapse blank lines

sed -E '/^$/N;/^\n$/D'

Strip trailing whitespace

sed -E 's/[ \t]+$//'

## Agentic Optimizations

| Context | Command |
| --- | --- |
| Quick convert file | `sed -E 's/^#{1,6} (.+)$/*\1*/g' file.md \| sed -E 's/\*\*([^*]+)\*\*/\*\1\*/g'` |
| Check for unconverted | `grep -E '^\#\|^\*\*' output.txt` |
| Clipboard convert | `pbpaste \| sed -E 's/^#{1,6} (.+)$/*\1*/g' \| pbcopy` |

## Resources

- **Google Chat Formatting**: [https://support.google.com/chat/answer/7649118](https://support.google.com/chat/answer/7649118)
- **Markdown Guide**: [https://www.markdownguide.org/basic-syntax/](https://www.markdownguide.org/basic-syntax/)
- **Sed Reference**: [https://www.gnu.org/software/sed/manual/sed.html](https://www.gnu.org/software/sed/manual/sed.html)
- **Unicode Bullet**: U+2022