PDF Case Review

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Install a command-line AI assistant ​

PDF Case Review's AI features (the executive summary, page context, and letting an assistant read your notes) run through a CLI assistant installed on your computer: Claude Code (from Anthropic) or Codex (from OpenAI). This guide installs one and confirms the extension can find it. The extension works fully without either; skip this page if you do not want AI features.

Before you start ​

  • A terminal. Inside VS Code, View > Terminal (or Ctrl+`, the key under Escape) opens one in your case folder.
  • An account for the assistant you pick: Claude Code needs a paid Claude plan (Pro, Max, Team or Enterprise); Codex signs in with a ChatGPT account (a paid plan, or an API key).

Install Claude Code ​

  1. Run the installer for your system:

    powershell
    # Windows, in PowerShell
irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex
    bash
    # macOS and Linux
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash

    Alternatives: winget install Anthropic.ClaudeCode on Windows, brew install --cask claude-code on a Mac.

  2. On Windows, also install Git for Windows. It gives Claude Code a Bash shell to work in, which its tools prefer.

  3. Open a new terminal, run claude, and sign in through the browser window that opens.

  4. Type /status to confirm the signed-in account, then /exit.

Anthropic's quickstart and terminal guide cover the first session. The Claude Code extension for VS Code adds a chat panel and signs in with the same account.

Install Codex ​

  1. Run the installer for your system:

    powershell
    # Windows, in PowerShell
irm https://chatgpt.com/codex/install.ps1 | iex
    bash
    # macOS and Linux
curl -fsSL https://chatgpt.com/codex/install.sh | sh

    Alternatives: brew install --cask codex on a Mac, or npm install -g @openai/codex anywhere (the npm command comes with Node.js).

  2. Open a new terminal, run codex, and choose Sign in with ChatGPT.

The Codex CLI documentation lists the other sign-in options; Codex also ships a VS Code extension.

Verify the extension can use it ​

  1. Open your case folder in VS Code (a trusted folder; AI features only run in trusted folders) and open a PDF.
  2. Run PDF Case Review: Choose AI Provider... from the Command Palette. It probes both CLIs and shows, next to each, the signed-in account or a one-line fix if the CLI was not found.
  3. Pick the one you installed. pdfCaseReview.ai.provider is now set, and PDF Case Review: Summarize with AI will use it.

If the picker cannot find a CLI you just installed, open a new terminal (or restart VS Code) so the updated PATH is picked up, then run the picker again.

What next ​