fix: render cover letter exports without resume chrome

packages/docx/src/builder.ts

@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import {
 	WidthType,
 } from "docx";
 import { parseColorString } from "@reactive-resume/utils/color";
+import { shouldShowResumeHeader } from "./cover-letter";
 import { toSafeDocxLink } from "./link-utils";
 import { renderBuiltInSection, renderCustomSection, renderSummary, setRenderConfig } from "./section-renderers";
 
@@ -413,9 +414,10 @@ export function buildDocument(data: ResumeData, resolveTitle?: SectionTitleResol
 		textColorHex,
 		primaryColorHex: colorHex,
 	};
+	const showHeader = shouldShowResumeHeader(data);
 
 	// Header placement depends on template
-	if (templateConfig.headerPosition === "full-width") {
+	if (templateConfig.headerPosition === "full-width" && showHeader) {
 		setRenderConfig(mainConfig);
 		documentChildren.push(...buildHeader(data, colorHex, textColorHex));
 	}
@@ -434,7 +436,7 @@ export function buildDocument(data: ResumeData, resolveTitle?: SectionTitleResol
 			setRenderConfig(mainConfig);
 
 			const mainParagraphs: Paragraph[] = [];
-			if (templateConfig.headerPosition === "main-only") {
+			if (templateConfig.headerPosition === "main-only" && showHeader) {
 				mainParagraphs.push(...buildHeader(data, colorHex, textColorHex));
 			}
 			for (const sectionId of layoutPage.main) {
@@ -445,7 +447,7 @@ export function buildDocument(data: ResumeData, resolveTitle?: SectionTitleResol
 			setRenderConfig({ ...mainConfig, textColorHex: sidebarTextColorHex, primaryColorHex: sidebarHeadingColorHex });
 
 			const sidebarParagraphs: Paragraph[] = [];
-			if (templateConfig.headerPosition === "sidebar-only") {
+			if (templateConfig.headerPosition === "sidebar-only" && showHeader) {
 				sidebarParagraphs.push(...buildHeader(data, sidebarHeadingColorHex, sidebarTextColorHex));
 			}
 			for (const sectionId of layoutPage.sidebar) {

packages/docx/src/cover-letter-layout.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+import { readFileSync } from "node:fs";
+import { fileURLToPath } from "node:url";
+import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+
+const builderSource = readFileSync(fileURLToPath(new URL("./builder.ts", import.meta.url)), "utf8");
+
+describe("cover letter DOCX layout", () => {
+	it("gates resume headers for cover-letter-only documents", () => {
+		expect(builderSource).toContain("shouldShowResumeHeader(data)");
+		expect(builderSource).toContain('templateConfig.headerPosition === "full-width" && showHeader');
+		expect(builderSource).toContain('templateConfig.headerPosition === "main-only" && showHeader');
+		expect(builderSource).toContain('templateConfig.headerPosition === "sidebar-only" && showHeader');
+	});
+});

packages/docx/src/cover-letter.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+import type { ResumeData } from "@reactive-resume/schema/resume/data";
+
+const isCoverLetterSection = (data: ResumeData, sectionId: string) => {
+	const section = data.customSections.find((customSection) => customSection.id === sectionId);
+
+	return section?.type === "cover-letter" && !section.hidden && section.items.some((item) => !item.hidden);
+};
+
+const isCoverLetterOnlyDocument = (data: ResumeData) => {
+	const sectionIds = data.metadata.layout.pages.flatMap((page) => [...page.main, ...page.sidebar]);
+
+	return sectionIds.length > 0 && sectionIds.every((sectionId) => isCoverLetterSection(data, sectionId));
+};
+
+export const shouldShowResumeHeader = (data: ResumeData) => !isCoverLetterOnlyDocument(data);

packages/docx/src/section-renderers.test.ts

@@ -150,6 +150,7 @@ describe("renderCustomSection", () => {
 		const section: CustomSection = {
 			...baseCustom,
 			type: "cover-letter",
+			title: "Cover Letter",
 			items: [
 				{
 					id: "x",
@@ -160,8 +161,7 @@ describe("renderCustomSection", () => {
 			],
 		};
 		const paragraphs = renderCustomSection(section, HEX);
-		// 1 heading + at least two paragraphs (recipient + body)
+		expect(paragraphs).toHaveLength(2);
-		expect(paragraphs.length).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(3);
 	});
 });
 

packages/docx/src/section-renderers.ts

@@ -506,7 +506,7 @@ export function renderCustomSection(section: CustomSection, colorHex: string): P
 
 	// Cover letter type — render recipient + content
 	if (sectionType === "cover-letter") {
-		const paragraphs: Paragraph[] = [sectionHeading(section.title, colorHex)];
+		const paragraphs: Paragraph[] = [];
 		for (const item of visibleItems) {
 			if ("recipient" in item && item.recipient) {
 				paragraphs.push(...htmlToParagraphs(item.recipient, getHtmlStyle()));

packages/pdf/src/templates/azurill/AzurillPage.tsx

@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import {
 	WebsiteContactItem,
 } from "../shared/contact-item";
 import { TemplateProvider } from "../shared/context";
+import { shouldShowResumeHeader } from "../shared/cover-letter";
 import { filterSections } from "../shared/filtering";
 import { getTemplateMetrics } from "../shared/metrics";
 import { getTemplatePageMinHeightStyle, getTemplatePageSize } from "../shared/page-size";
@@ -64,7 +65,7 @@ export const AzurillPage = ({ page, pageIndex }: TemplatePageProps) => {
 	const metrics = getTemplateMetrics(metadata.page);
 	const pageSize = getTemplatePageSize(metadata.page.format);
 	const pageMinHeightStyle = getTemplatePageMinHeightStyle(metadata.page.format);
-	const showHeader = pageIndex === 0;
+	const showHeader = shouldShowResumeHeader(data, pageIndex);
 	const sidebarSections = filterSections(page.sidebar, data);
 	const mainSections = filterSections(page.main, data);
 

packages/pdf/src/templates/bronzor/BronzorPage.tsx

@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import {
 	WebsiteContactItem,
 } from "../shared/contact-item";
 import { TemplateProvider } from "../shared/context";
+import { shouldShowResumeHeader } from "../shared/cover-letter";
 import { filterSections } from "../shared/filtering";
 import { getTemplateMetrics } from "../shared/metrics";
 import { getTemplatePageMinHeightStyle, getTemplatePageSize } from "../shared/page-size";
@@ -76,7 +77,7 @@ export const BronzorPage = ({ page, pageIndex }: TemplatePageProps) => {
 	const metrics = getTemplateMetrics(metadata.page);
 	const pageSize = getTemplatePageSize(metadata.page.format);
 	const pageMinHeightStyle = getTemplatePageMinHeightStyle(metadata.page.format);
-	const showHeader = pageIndex === 0;
+	const showHeader = shouldShowResumeHeader(data, pageIndex);
 	const sidebarSections = filterSections(page.sidebar, data);
 	const mainSections = filterSections(page.main, data);
 	const sections = getBronzorSections({ mainSections, sidebarSections, fullWidth: page.fullWidth });

packages/pdf/src/templates/chikorita/ChikoritaPage.tsx

@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import {
 	WebsiteContactItem,
 } from "../shared/contact-item";
 import { TemplateProvider } from "../shared/context";
+import { shouldShowResumeHeader } from "../shared/cover-letter";
 import { filterSections } from "../shared/filtering";
 import { getTemplateMetrics } from "../shared/metrics";
 import { getTemplatePageMinHeightStyle, getTemplatePageSize } from "../shared/page-size";
@@ -54,7 +55,7 @@ export const ChikoritaPage = ({ page, pageIndex }: TemplatePageProps) => {
 	const pageSize = getTemplatePageSize(metadata.page.format);
 	const pageMinHeightStyle = getTemplatePageMinHeightStyle(metadata.page.format);
 	const hasPicture = hasTemplatePicture(picture);
-	const showHeader = pageIndex === 0;
+	const showHeader = shouldShowResumeHeader(data, pageIndex);
 	const sidebarSections = filterSections(page.sidebar, data);
 	const mainSections = filterSections(page.main, data);
 

packages/pdf/src/templates/cover-letter-layout.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+import { readFileSync } from "node:fs";
+import { basename } from "node:path";
+import { fileURLToPath } from "node:url";
+import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+
+const pageFiles = [
+	"azurill/AzurillPage.tsx",
+	"bronzor/BronzorPage.tsx",
+	"chikorita/ChikoritaPage.tsx",
+	"ditgar/DitgarPage.tsx",
+	"ditto/DittoPage.tsx",
+	"gengar/GengarPage.tsx",
+	"glalie/GlaliePage.tsx",
+	"kakuna/KakunaPage.tsx",
+	"lapras/LaprasPage.tsx",
+	"leafish/LeafishPage.tsx",
+	"meowth/MeowthPage.tsx",
+	"onyx/OnyxPage.tsx",
+	"pikachu/PikachuPage.tsx",
+	"rhyhorn/RhyhornPage.tsx",
+	"scizor/ScizorPage.tsx",
+];
+
+const readTemplate = (file: string) => {
+	const path = fileURLToPath(new URL(file, import.meta.url));
+	return readFileSync(path, "utf8");
+};
+
+describe("cover letter PDF layout", () => {
+	it.each(pageFiles)("%s suppresses the resume header for cover-letter-only documents", (file) => {
+		const source = readTemplate(file);
+
+		expect(source, basename(file)).toContain('from "../shared/cover-letter"');
+		expect(source, basename(file)).toContain("shouldShowResumeHeader(data, pageIndex)");
+		expect(source, basename(file)).not.toContain("const showHeader = pageIndex === 0;");
+	});
+});

packages/pdf/src/templates/ditgar/DitgarPage.tsx

@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import {
 	WebsiteContactItem,
 } from "../shared/contact-item";
 import { TemplateProvider } from "../shared/context";
+import { shouldShowResumeHeader } from "../shared/cover-letter";
 import { getFeaturedSummaryLayout } from "../shared/featured-summary";
 import { filterSections } from "../shared/filtering";
 import { getTemplateMetrics } from "../shared/metrics";
@@ -64,7 +65,7 @@ export const DitgarPage = ({ page, pageIndex }: TemplatePageProps) => {
 	const metrics = getTemplateMetrics(metadata.page);
 	const pageSize = getTemplatePageSize(metadata.page.format);
 	const pageMinHeightStyle = getTemplatePageMinHeightStyle(metadata.page.format);
-	const showHeader = pageIndex === 0;
+	const showHeader = shouldShowResumeHeader(data, pageIndex);
 	const showSidebar = !page.fullWidth || showHeader;
 	const sidebarSections = filterSections(page.sidebar, data);
 	const mainSections = filterSections(page.main, data);

packages/pdf/src/templates/ditto/DittoPage.tsx

@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import {
 	WebsiteContactItem,
 } from "../shared/contact-item";
 import { TemplateProvider } from "../shared/context";
+import { shouldShowResumeHeader } from "../shared/cover-letter";
 import { filterSections } from "../shared/filtering";
 import { getTemplateMetrics } from "../shared/metrics";
 import { getTemplatePageMinHeightStyle, getTemplatePageSize } from "../shared/page-size";
@@ -59,7 +60,7 @@ export const DittoPage = ({ page, pageIndex }: TemplatePageProps) => {
 	const pageSize = getTemplatePageSize(metadata.page.format);
 	const pageMinHeightStyle = getTemplatePageMinHeightStyle(metadata.page.format);
 	const hasPicture = hasTemplatePicture(picture);
-	const showHeader = pageIndex === 0;
+	const showHeader = shouldShowResumeHeader(data, pageIndex);
 	const sidebarSections = filterSections(page.sidebar, data);
 	const mainSections = filterSections(page.main, data);
 

packages/pdf/src/templates/gengar/GengarPage.tsx

@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import {
 	WebsiteContactItem,
 } from "../shared/contact-item";
 import { TemplateProvider } from "../shared/context";
+import { shouldShowResumeHeader } from "../shared/cover-letter";
 import { getFeaturedSummaryLayout } from "../shared/featured-summary";
 import { filterSections } from "../shared/filtering";
 import { getTemplateMetrics } from "../shared/metrics";
@@ -59,7 +60,7 @@ export const GengarPage = ({ page, pageIndex }: TemplatePageProps) => {
 	const metrics = getTemplateMetrics(metadata.page);
 	const pageSize = getTemplatePageSize(metadata.page.format);
 	const pageMinHeightStyle = getTemplatePageMinHeightStyle(metadata.page.format);
-	const showHeader = pageIndex === 0;
+	const showHeader = shouldShowResumeHeader(data, pageIndex);
 	const showSidebar = !page.fullWidth || showHeader;
 	const sidebarSections = filterSections(page.sidebar, data);
 	const mainSections = filterSections(page.main, data);

packages/pdf/src/templates/glalie/GlaliePage.tsx

@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import {
 	WebsiteContactItem,
 } from "../shared/contact-item";
 import { TemplateProvider } from "../shared/context";
+import { shouldShowResumeHeader } from "../shared/cover-letter";
 import { filterSections } from "../shared/filtering";
 import { getTemplateMetrics } from "../shared/metrics";
 import { getTemplatePageMinHeightStyle, getTemplatePageSize } from "../shared/page-size";
@@ -61,7 +62,7 @@ export const GlaliePage = ({ page, pageIndex }: TemplatePageProps) => {
 	const metrics = getTemplateMetrics(metadata.page);
 	const pageSize = getTemplatePageSize(metadata.page.format);
 	const pageMinHeightStyle = getTemplatePageMinHeightStyle(metadata.page.format);
-	const showHeader = pageIndex === 0;
+	const showHeader = shouldShowResumeHeader(data, pageIndex);
 	const showSidebar = !page.fullWidth || showHeader;
 	const mainSections = filterSections(page.main, data);
 	const sidebarSections = filterSections(page.sidebar, data);

packages/pdf/src/templates/kakuna/KakunaPage.tsx

@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import {
 	WebsiteContactItem,
 } from "../shared/contact-item";
 import { TemplateProvider } from "../shared/context";
+import { shouldShowResumeHeader } from "../shared/cover-letter";
 import { filterSections } from "../shared/filtering";
 import { getTemplateMetrics } from "../shared/metrics";
 import { getTemplatePageMinHeightStyle, getTemplatePageSize } from "../shared/page-size";
@@ -52,7 +53,7 @@ export const KakunaPage = ({ page, pageIndex }: TemplatePageProps) => {
 	const metrics = getTemplateMetrics(metadata.page);
 	const pageSize = getTemplatePageSize(metadata.page.format);
 	const pageMinHeightStyle = getTemplatePageMinHeightStyle(metadata.page.format);
-	const showHeader = pageIndex === 0;
+	const showHeader = shouldShowResumeHeader(data, pageIndex);
 	const mainSections = filterSections(page.main, data);
 	const sidebarSections = filterSections(page.sidebar, data);
 

packages/pdf/src/templates/lapras/LaprasPage.tsx

@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import {
 	WebsiteContactItem,
 } from "../shared/contact-item";
 import { TemplateProvider } from "../shared/context";
+import { shouldShowResumeHeader } from "../shared/cover-letter";
 import { filterSections } from "../shared/filtering";
 import { getTemplateMetrics } from "../shared/metrics";
 import { getTemplatePageMinHeightStyle, getTemplatePageSize } from "../shared/page-size";
@@ -51,7 +52,7 @@ export const LaprasPage = ({ page, pageIndex }: TemplatePageProps) => {
 	const metrics = getTemplateMetrics(metadata.page);
 	const pageSize = getTemplatePageSize(metadata.page.format);
 	const pageMinHeightStyle = getTemplatePageMinHeightStyle(metadata.page.format);
-	const showHeader = pageIndex === 0;
+	const showHeader = shouldShowResumeHeader(data, pageIndex);
 	const mainSections = filterSections(page.main, data);
 	const sidebarSections = filterSections(page.sidebar, data);
 

packages/pdf/src/templates/leafish/LeafishPage.tsx

@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import {
 	WebsiteContactItem,
 } from "../shared/contact-item";
 import { TemplateProvider } from "../shared/context";
+import { shouldShowResumeHeader } from "../shared/cover-letter";
 import { filterSections } from "../shared/filtering";
 import { getTemplateMetrics } from "../shared/metrics";
 import { getTemplatePageMinHeightStyle, getTemplatePageSize } from "../shared/page-size";
@@ -57,7 +58,7 @@ export const LeafishPage = ({ page, pageIndex }: TemplatePageProps) => {
 	const metrics = getTemplateMetrics(metadata.page);
 	const pageSize = getTemplatePageSize(metadata.page.format);
 	const pageMinHeightStyle = getTemplatePageMinHeightStyle(metadata.page.format);
-	const showHeader = pageIndex === 0;
+	const showHeader = shouldShowResumeHeader(data, pageIndex);
 	const mainSections = filterSections(page.main, data).filter((section) => section !== "summary");
 	const sidebarSections = filterSections(page.sidebar, data).filter((section) => section !== "summary");
 

packages/pdf/src/templates/meowth/MeowthPage.tsx

@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import {
 	WebsiteContactItem,
 } from "../shared/contact-item";
 import { TemplateProvider } from "../shared/context";
+import { shouldShowResumeHeader } from "../shared/cover-letter";
 import { filterSections } from "../shared/filtering";
 import { getTemplateMetrics } from "../shared/metrics";
 import { getTemplatePageMinHeightStyle, getTemplatePageSize } from "../shared/page-size";
@@ -56,7 +57,7 @@ export const MeowthPage = ({ page, pageIndex }: TemplatePageProps) => {
 	const metrics = getTemplateMetrics(metadata.page);
 	const pageSize = getTemplatePageSize(metadata.page.format);
 	const pageMinHeightStyle = getTemplatePageMinHeightStyle(metadata.page.format);
-	const showHeader = pageIndex === 0;
+	const showHeader = shouldShowResumeHeader(data, pageIndex);
 	const mainSections = filterSections(page.main, data);
 	const sidebarSections = filterSections(page.sidebar, data);
 

packages/pdf/src/templates/onyx/OnyxPage.tsx

@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import {
 	WebsiteContactItem,
 } from "../shared/contact-item";
 import { TemplateProvider } from "../shared/context";
+import { shouldShowResumeHeader } from "../shared/cover-letter";
 import { filterSections } from "../shared/filtering";
 import { getTemplateMetrics } from "../shared/metrics";
 import { getTemplatePageMinHeightStyle, getTemplatePageSize } from "../shared/page-size";
@@ -51,7 +52,7 @@ export const OnyxPage = ({ page, pageIndex }: TemplatePageProps) => {
 	const metrics = getTemplateMetrics(metadata.page);
 	const pageSize = getTemplatePageSize(metadata.page.format);
 	const pageMinHeightStyle = getTemplatePageMinHeightStyle(metadata.page.format);
-	const showHeader = pageIndex === 0;
+	const showHeader = shouldShowResumeHeader(data, pageIndex);
 	const mainSections = filterSections(page.main, data);
 	const sidebarSections = filterSections(page.sidebar, data);
 

packages/pdf/src/templates/pikachu/PikachuPage.tsx

@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import {
 	WebsiteContactItem,
 } from "../shared/contact-item";
 import { TemplateProvider } from "../shared/context";
+import { shouldShowResumeHeader } from "../shared/cover-letter";
 import { filterSections } from "../shared/filtering";
 import { getTemplateMetrics } from "../shared/metrics";
 import { getTemplatePageMinHeightStyle, getTemplatePageSize } from "../shared/page-size";
@@ -61,7 +62,7 @@ export const PikachuPage = ({ page, pageIndex }: TemplatePageProps) => {
 	const metrics = getTemplateMetrics(metadata.page);
 	const pageSize = getTemplatePageSize(metadata.page.format);
 	const pageMinHeightStyle = getTemplatePageMinHeightStyle(metadata.page.format);
-	const showHeader = pageIndex === 0;
+	const showHeader = shouldShowResumeHeader(data, pageIndex);
 	const showSidebar = !page.fullWidth;
 	const hasPicture = hasTemplatePicture(picture);
 	const mainSections = filterSections(page.main, data);

packages/pdf/src/templates/rhyhorn/RhyhornPage.tsx

@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import {
 	WebsiteContactItem,
 } from "../shared/contact-item";
 import { TemplateProvider } from "../shared/context";
+import { shouldShowResumeHeader } from "../shared/cover-letter";
 import { filterSections } from "../shared/filtering";
 import { getTemplateMetrics } from "../shared/metrics";
 import { getTemplatePageMinHeightStyle, getTemplatePageSize } from "../shared/page-size";
@@ -54,7 +55,7 @@ export const RhyhornPage = ({ page, pageIndex }: TemplatePageProps) => {
 	const metrics = getTemplateMetrics(metadata.page);
 	const pageSize = getTemplatePageSize(metadata.page.format);
 	const pageMinHeightStyle = getTemplatePageMinHeightStyle(metadata.page.format);
-	const showHeader = pageIndex === 0;
+	const showHeader = shouldShowResumeHeader(data, pageIndex);
 	const mainSections = filterSections(page.main, data);
 	const sidebarSections = filterSections(page.sidebar, data);
 

packages/pdf/src/templates/scizor/ScizorPage.tsx

@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import {
 	WebsiteContactItem,
 } from "../shared/contact-item";
 import { TemplateProvider } from "../shared/context";
+import { shouldShowResumeHeader } from "../shared/cover-letter";
 import { filterSections } from "../shared/filtering";
 import { getTemplateMetrics } from "../shared/metrics";
 import { getTemplatePageMinHeightStyle, getTemplatePageSize } from "../shared/page-size";
@@ -52,7 +53,7 @@ export const ScizorPage = ({ page, pageIndex }: TemplatePageProps) => {
 	const metrics = getTemplateMetrics(metadata.page);
 	const pageSize = getTemplatePageSize(metadata.page.format);
 	const pageMinHeightStyle = getTemplatePageMinHeightStyle(metadata.page.format);
-	const showHeader = pageIndex === 0;
+	const showHeader = shouldShowResumeHeader(data, pageIndex);
 	const mainSections = filterSections(page.main, data);
 	const sidebarSections = page.fullWidth ? [] : filterSections(page.sidebar, data);
 	const sections = [...mainSections, ...sidebarSections];

packages/pdf/src/templates/shared/cover-letter.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+import { sampleResumeData } from "@reactive-resume/schema/resume/sample";
+import { shouldShowResumeHeader } from "./cover-letter";
+
+const createCoverLetterOnlyData = () => {
+	const data = structuredClone(sampleResumeData);
+	const coverLetter = data.customSections.find((section) => section.type === "cover-letter");
+
+	if (!coverLetter) throw new Error("sample resume must include a cover letter");
+
+	return {
+		...data,
+		customSections: [coverLetter],
+		metadata: {
+			...data.metadata,
+			layout: {
+				...data.metadata.layout,
+				pages: [{ fullWidth: true, main: [coverLetter.id], sidebar: [] }],
+			},
+		},
+	};
+};
+
+describe("shouldShowResumeHeader", () => {
+	it("hides the header when every visible layout section is a cover letter", () => {
+		expect(shouldShowResumeHeader(createCoverLetterOnlyData(), 0)).toBe(false);
+	});
+
+	it("keeps the first-page header for normal resume documents", () => {
+		expect(shouldShowResumeHeader(sampleResumeData, 0)).toBe(true);
+		expect(shouldShowResumeHeader(sampleResumeData, 1)).toBe(false);
+	});
+});

packages/pdf/src/templates/shared/cover-letter.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+import type { ResumeData } from "@reactive-resume/schema/resume/data";
+import { filterSections } from "./filtering";
+
+const isCoverLetterSection = (data: ResumeData, sectionId: string) =>
+	data.customSections.some((section) => section.id === sectionId && section.type === "cover-letter");
+
+const isCoverLetterOnlyDocument = (data: ResumeData) => {
+	const visibleSections = data.metadata.layout.pages.flatMap((page) =>
+		filterSections([...page.main, ...page.sidebar], data),
+	);
+
+	return visibleSections.length > 0 && visibleSections.every((sectionId) => isCoverLetterSection(data, sectionId));
+};
+
+export const shouldShowResumeHeader = (data: ResumeData, pageIndex: number) =>
+	pageIndex === 0 && !isCoverLetterOnlyDocument(data);

packages/resume/src/markdown.test.ts

@@ -50,4 +50,13 @@ describe("buildMarkdown", () => {
 		expect(cover.length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
 		expect(cover).not.toBe(md);
 	});
+
+	it("renders the cover-letter scope without resume header or section heading", () => {
+		const cover = buildMarkdown(getResumeExportData(sampleResumeData, "cover-letter"));
+
+		expect(cover).toContain("Dear Hiring Manager");
+		expect(cover).not.toContain(`# ${sampleResumeData.basics.name}`);
+		expect(cover).not.toContain(`_${sampleResumeData.basics.headline}_`);
+		expect(cover).not.toContain("## Cover Letter");
+	});
 });

packages/resume/src/markdown.ts

@@ -9,13 +9,24 @@ type Sections = ResumeData["sections"];
  */
 export type SectionTitleResolver = (sectionId: string) => string | undefined;
 
+function isCoverLetterSection(data: ResumeData, sectionId: string): boolean {
+	const section = data.customSections.find((customSection) => customSection.id === sectionId);
+	return section?.type === "cover-letter" && visibleItems(section).length > 0;
+}
+
+function isCoverLetterOnlyDocument(data: ResumeData): boolean {
+	const sectionIds = data.metadata.layout.pages.flatMap((page) => [...page.main, ...page.sidebar]);
+
+	return sectionIds.length > 0 && sectionIds.every((sectionId) => isCoverLetterSection(data, sectionId));
+}
+
 /**
  * Serializes resume data to Markdown — a compact, readable format well suited for feeding
  * into AI agents. Scope the input first with `getResumeExportData(data, target)` to emit only
  * the resume or the cover letter.
  */
 export function buildMarkdown(data: ResumeData, resolveTitle?: SectionTitleResolver): string {
-	const blocks: string[] = [...renderHeader(data.basics)];
+	const blocks: string[] = isCoverLetterOnlyDocument(data) ? [] : [...renderHeader(data.basics)];
 
 	for (const page of data.metadata.layout.pages) {
 		for (const sectionId of [...page.main, ...page.sidebar]) {
@@ -274,7 +285,7 @@ function renderCustomSection(section: CustomSection): string[] {
 	}
 
 	if (sectionType === "cover-letter") {
-		const blocks = [heading(section.title)];
+		const blocks: string[] = [];
 		for (const item of items) {
 			if ("recipient" in item && item.recipient) blocks.push(htmlToMarkdown(item.recipient));
 			if ("content" in item && item.content) blocks.push(htmlToMarkdown(item.content));