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+# Google Docs Cookbook
+
+Hand-written recipes for common Google Docs API patterns. These complement the auto-generated [SKILL.md](./SKILL.md).
+
+## Working with Tabs
+
+Google Docs supports multiple tabs within a single document. The API requires specific patterns for reading, creating, and writing to tabs.
+
+### Reading all tabs
+
+Use `includeTabsContent: true` to get all tabs. Without it, only the first tab's content is returned in the legacy `body` field.
+
+```bash
+gws docs documents get \
+  --params '{"documentId": "DOC_ID", "includeTabsContent": true}'
+```
+
+Response structure:
+
+```text
+doc.tabs[]                          # Array of top-level tabs
+  .tabProperties.tabId              # Tab identifier (e.g., "t.abc123")
+  .tabProperties.title              # Tab display name
+  .tabProperties.index              # Position (0-based)
+  .documentTab.body.content[]       # Paragraphs, tables, etc.
+  .childTabs[]                      # Nested child tabs (same structure)
+```
+
+> **Note:** Tabs can be nested. When searching for a tab by title, recursively check `childTabs`.
+
+### Creating a new tab
+
+Use `addDocumentTab` in a batchUpdate request.
+
+```bash
+gws docs documents batchUpdate \
+  --params '{"documentId": "DOC_ID"}' \
+  --json '{"requests": [{"addDocumentTab": {"tabProperties": {"title": "My New Tab"}}}]}'
+```
+
+The response includes the new tab's ID:
+
+```text
+replies[0].addDocumentTab.tabProperties.tabId → "t.xyz789"
+```
+
+> **Gotcha:** The request type is `addDocumentTab`, not `createTab`. Using `createTab` returns a validation error.
+
+### Writing content to a specific tab
+
+Include `tabId` in the `location` object of any content request.
+
+```bash
+gws docs documents batchUpdate \
+  --params '{"documentId": "DOC_ID"}' \
+  --json '{
+    "requests": [{
+      "insertText": {
+        "text": "Hello from a specific tab!\n",
+        "location": {"index": 1, "tabId": "TAB_ID"}
+      }
+    }]
+  }'
+```
+
+> **Important:** `tabId` must also be included in `range` objects for formatting requests like `updateParagraphStyle`.
+
+### Renaming a tab
+
+```bash
+gws docs documents batchUpdate \
+  --params '{"documentId": "DOC_ID"}' \
+  --json '{
+    "requests": [{
+      "updateDocumentTabProperties": {
+        "tabId": "TAB_ID",
+        "documentTabProperties": {"title": "New Title"},
+        "fields": "title"
+      }
+    }]
+  }'
+```
+
+### Deleting a tab
+
+```bash
+gws docs documents batchUpdate \
+  --params '{"documentId": "DOC_ID"}' \
+  --json '{"requests": [{"deleteTab": {"tabId": "TAB_ID"}}]}'
+```
+
+---
+
+## Inserting Formatted Content
+
+The `+write` helper inserts plain text only. For structured content with headings, bold, or styles, use `batchUpdate` with multiple requests.
+
+### Pattern: insert text then apply styles
+
+The key principle: insert all text in a **single request**, then apply formatting using character ranges. This avoids index-shifting issues between requests.
+
+```bash
+gws docs documents batchUpdate \
+  --params '{"documentId": "DOC_ID"}' \
+  --json '{
+    "requests": [
+      {
+        "insertText": {
+          "text": "My Heading\nBody paragraph text.\n",
+          "location": {"index": 1, "tabId": "TAB_ID"}
+        }
+      },
+      {
+        "updateParagraphStyle": {
+          "paragraphStyle": {"namedStyleType": "HEADING_1"},
+          "range": {"startIndex": 1, "endIndex": 12, "tabId": "TAB_ID"},
+          "fields": "namedStyleType"
+        }
+      }
+    ]
+  }'
+```
+
+### Available paragraph styles
+
+| Named Style | Usage |
+|-------------|-------|
+| `TITLE` | Document title |
+| `HEADING_1` – `HEADING_6` | Section headings |
+| `NORMAL_TEXT` | Body text (default) |
+
+### Applying bold or italic
+
+Use `updateTextStyle` with a character range to apply styles like bold or italic.
+
+```bash
+gws docs documents batchUpdate \
+  --params '{"documentId": "DOC_ID"}' \
+  --json '{
+    "requests": [{
+      "updateTextStyle": {
+        "textStyle": {"bold": true},
+        "range": {"startIndex": 1, "endIndex": 11, "tabId": "TAB_ID"},
+        "fields": "bold"
+      }
+    }]
+  }'
+```
+
+Replace `"bold": true` with `"italic": true` for italic, or combine both by setting `"textStyle": {"bold": true, "italic": true}` and `"fields": "bold,italic"`.
+
+### Tips for batch formatting
+
+- **Insert first, format second.** A single `insertText` followed by multiple `updateParagraphStyle`/`updateTextStyle` requests avoids index math headaches.
+- **Track positions manually.** Each character (including `\n`) advances the index by 1. Index 1 is the start of the document body.
+- **Atomic batches.** All requests in a single `batchUpdate` are atomic — if any request fails, none are applied.
+- **Tab targeting.** When writing to a non-default tab, every `location` and `range` must include the `tabId`.
+
+---
+
+## Valid batchUpdate Request Types
+
+Quick reference for all supported request types:
+
+| Category | Requests |
+|----------|----------|
+| **Tabs** | `addDocumentTab`, `deleteTab`, `updateDocumentTabProperties` |
+| **Text** | `insertText`, `deleteContentRange`, `replaceAllText`, `replaceNamedRangeContent` |
+| **Formatting** | `updateTextStyle`, `updateParagraphStyle`, `updateDocumentStyle`, `updateSectionStyle` |
+| **Lists** | `createParagraphBullets`, `deleteParagraphBullets` |
+| **Tables** | `insertTable`, `insertTableRow`, `insertTableColumn`, `deleteTableRow`, `deleteTableColumn`, `mergeTableCells`, `unmergeTableCells`, `updateTableCellStyle`, `updateTableColumnProperties`, `updateTableRowStyle`, `pinTableHeaderRows` |
+| **Objects** | `insertInlineImage`, `replaceImage`, `deletePositionedObject`, `insertPerson`, `insertDate` |
+| **Structure** | `insertPageBreak`, `insertSectionBreak`, `createHeader`, `deleteHeader`, `createFooter`, `deleteFooter`, `createFootnote` |
+| **Named Ranges** | `createNamedRange`, `deleteNamedRange` |
+
+---
+
+## Limitations of `+write`
+
+The `docs +write` helper has two limitations to be aware of:
+
+1. **No tab support** — always appends to the first tab. Use `batchUpdate` with `tabId` in `location` to target a specific tab (see [Writing content to a specific tab](#writing-content-to-a-specific-tab)).
+2. **Plain text only** — no formatting. Use `batchUpdate` with `updateParagraphStyle`/`updateTextStyle` for structured content (see [Inserting Formatted Content](#inserting-formatted-content)).