PPTX Manipulation Skill

Overview

This skill enables programmatic creation, editing, and manipulation of Microsoft PowerPoint (.pptx) presentations using the python-pptx library. Create professional slides with text, shapes, images, charts, and tables without manual editing.

How to Use

• Describe the presentation you want to create or modify

• Provide content, data, or images to include

• I'll generate python-pptx code and execute it

Example prompts:

• "Create a 10-slide pitch deck from this outline"

• "Add a chart to slide 3 with this data"

• "Extract all text from this presentation"

• "Generate slides from this markdown content"

Domain Knowledge

python-pptx Fundamentals

from pptx import Presentation

from pptx.util import Inches, Pt

from pptx.enum.shapes import MSO_SHAPE

from pptx.enum.text import PP_ALIGN

# Create new presentation

prs = Presentation()

# Or open existing

prs = Presentation('existing.pptx')

Presentation Structure

Presentation

├── slide_layouts (predefined layouts)

├── slides (individual slides)

│   ├── shapes (text, images, charts)

│   │   ├── text_frame (paragraphs)

│   │   └── table (rows, cells)

│   └── placeholders (title, content)

└── slide_masters (templates)

Slide Layouts

# Common layout indices (may vary by template)

TITLE_SLIDE = 0

TITLE_CONTENT = 1

SECTION_HEADER = 2

TWO_CONTENT = 3

COMPARISON = 4

TITLE_ONLY = 5

BLANK = 6

# Add slide with layout

slide_layout = prs.slide_layouts[TITLE_CONTENT]

slide = prs.slides.add_slide(slide_layout)

Adding Content

#### Title Slide

slide_layout = prs.slide_layouts[0]  # Title slide

slide = prs.slides.add_slide(slide_layout)

title = slide.shapes.title

subtitle = slide.placeholders[1]

title.text = "Quarterly Report"

subtitle.text = "Q4 2024 Performance Review"

#### Text Content

# Using placeholder

body = slide.placeholders[1]

tf = body.text_frame

tf.text = "First bullet point"

# Add more paragraphs

p = tf.add_paragraph()

p.text = "Second bullet point"

p.level = 0

p = tf.add_paragraph()

p.text = "Sub-bullet"

p.level = 1

#### Text Box

from pptx.util import Inches, Pt

left = Inches(1)

top = Inches(2)

width = Inches(4)

height = Inches(1)

txBox = slide.shapes.add_textbox(left, top, width, height)

tf = txBox.text_frame

p = tf.paragraphs[0]

p.text = "Custom text box"

p.font.bold = True

p.font.size = Pt(18)

#### Shapes

from pptx.enum.shapes import MSO_SHAPE

# Rectangle

shape = slide.shapes.add_shape(

    MSO_SHAPE.RECTANGLE,

    Inches(1), Inches(2),  # left, top

    Inches(3), Inches(1.5) # width, height

)

shape.text = "Rectangle with text"

# Common shapes:

# MSO_SHAPE.RECTANGLE, ROUNDED_RECTANGLE

# MSO_SHAPE.OVAL, CHEVRON, ARROW_RIGHT

# MSO_SHAPE.CALLOUT_ROUNDED_RECTANGLE

#### Images

# Add image

slide.shapes.add_picture(

    'image.png',

    Inches(1), Inches(2),  # position

    width=Inches(4)        # auto height

)

# Or specify both dimensions

slide.shapes.add_picture(

    'logo.png',

    Inches(8), Inches(0.5),

    Inches(1.5), Inches(0.75)

)

Tables

# Create table

rows, cols = 4, 3

left = Inches(1)

top = Inches(2)

width = Inches(8)

height = Inches(2)

table = slide.shapes.add_table(rows, cols, left, top, width, height).table

# Set column widths

table.columns[0].width = Inches(2)

table.columns[1].width = Inches(3)

table.columns[2].width = Inches(3)

# Add headers

headers = ['Product', 'Q3 Sales', 'Q4 Sales']

for i, header in enumerate(headers):

    cell = table.cell(0, i)

    cell.text = header

    cell.text_frame.paragraphs[0].font.bold = True

# Add data

data = [

    ['Widget A', '$10,000', '$12,500'],

    ['Widget B', '$8,000', '$9,200'],

    ['Widget C', '$15,000', '$18,000'],

]

for row_idx, row_data in enumerate(data, 1):

    for col_idx, value in enumerate(row_data):

        table.cell(row_idx, col_idx).text = value

Charts

from pptx.chart.data import CategoryChartData

from pptx.enum.chart import XL_CHART_TYPE

# Chart data

chart_data = CategoryChartData()

chart_data.categories = ['Q1', 'Q2', 'Q3', 'Q4']

chart_data.add_series('Sales', (19.2, 21.4, 16.7, 23.8))

chart_data.add_series('Expenses', (12.1, 15.3, 14.2, 18.1))

# Add chart

x, y, cx, cy = Inches(1), Inches(2), Inches(8), Inches(4)

chart = slide.shapes.add_chart(

    XL_CHART_TYPE.COLUMN_CLUSTERED,

    x, y, cx, cy, chart_data

).chart

# Customize

chart.has_legend = True

chart.legend.include_in_layout = False

Formatting

#### Text Formatting

from pptx.dml.color import RGBColor

run = p.runs[0]

run.font.name = 'Arial'

run.font.size = Pt(24)

run.font.bold = True

run.font.italic = True

run.font.color.rgb = RGBColor(0x00, 0x66, 0xCC)

#### Shape Fill & Line

from pptx.dml.color import RGBColor

shape.fill.solid()

shape.fill.fore_color.rgb = RGBColor(0x00, 0x80, 0x00)

shape.line.color.rgb = RGBColor(0x00, 0x00, 0x00)

shape.line.width = Pt(2)

#### Paragraph Alignment

from pptx.enum.text import PP_ALIGN

p.alignment = PP_ALIGN.CENTER  # LEFT, RIGHT, JUSTIFY

Best Practices

• Use Templates: Start with a .pptx template for consistent branding

• Layout First: Plan slide structure before coding

• Reuse Slide Masters: Maintain consistency across presentations

• Optimize Images: Compress images before adding

• Test Output: Always verify generated presentations

Common Patterns

Slide Deck Generator

def create_deck(title, slides_content):

    prs = Presentation()

    # Title slide

    slide = prs.slides.add_slide(prs.slide_layouts[0])

    slide.shapes.title.text = title

    # Content slides

    for slide_data in slides_content:

        slide = prs.slides.add_slide(prs.slide_layouts[1])

        slide.shapes.title.text = slide_data['title']

        body = slide.placeholders[1]

        tf = body.text_frame

        for i, point in enumerate(slide_data['points']):

            if i == 0:

                tf.text = point

            else:

                p = tf.add_paragraph()

                p.text = point

    return prs

Data-Driven Charts

def add_bar_chart(slide, title, categories, values):

    from pptx.chart.data import CategoryChartData

    from pptx.enum.chart import XL_CHART_TYPE

    chart_data = CategoryChartData()

    chart_data.categories = categories

    chart_data.add_series('Values', values)

    chart = slide.shapes.add_chart(

        XL_CHART_TYPE.BAR_CLUSTERED,

        Inches(1), Inches(2),

        Inches(8), Inches(4),

        chart_data

    ).chart

    chart.chart_title.text_frame.text = title

    return chart

Examples

Example 1: Create a Pitch Deck

from pptx import Presentation

from pptx.util import Inches, Pt

prs = Presentation()

# Slide 1: Title

slide = prs.slides.add_slide(prs.slide_layouts[0])

slide.shapes.title.text = "StartupX"

slide.placeholders[1].text = "Revolutionizing Document Processing"

# Slide 2: Problem

slide = prs.slides.add_slide(prs.slide_layouts[1])

slide.shapes.title.text = "The Problem"

body = slide.placeholders[1].text_frame

body.text = "Manual document processing costs businesses $1T annually"

p = body.add_paragraph()

p.text = "Average worker spends 20% of time on document tasks"

p.level = 1

# Slide 3: Solution

slide = prs.slides.add_slide(prs.slide_layouts[1])

slide.shapes.title.text = "Our Solution"

body = slide.placeholders[1].text_frame

body.text = "AI-powered document automation"

body.add_paragraph().text = "90% faster processing"

body.add_paragraph().text = "99.5% accuracy"

body.add_paragraph().text = "Works with existing tools"

# Slide 4: Market

slide = prs.slides.add_slide(prs.slide_layouts[5])  # Title only

slide.shapes.title.text = "Market Opportunity: $50B by 2028"

# Add chart

from pptx.chart.data import CategoryChartData

from pptx.enum.chart import XL_CHART_TYPE

data = CategoryChartData()

data.categories = ['2024', '2025', '2026', '2027', '2028']

data.add_series('Market Size ($B)', [30, 35, 40, 45, 50])

slide.shapes.add_chart(

    XL_CHART_TYPE.LINE,

    Inches(1), Inches(1.5),

    Inches(8), Inches(5),

    data

)

prs.save('pitch_deck.pptx')

Example 2: Report with Data Table

from pptx import Presentation

from pptx.util import Inches, Pt

prs = Presentation()

# Title slide

slide = prs.slides.add_slide(prs.slide_layouts[0])

slide.shapes.title.text = "Sales Performance Report"

slide.placeholders[1].text = "Q4 2024"

# Data slide

slide = prs.slides.add_slide(prs.slide_layouts[5])

slide.shapes.title.text = "Regional Performance"

# Create table

table = slide.shapes.add_table(5, 4, Inches(0.5), Inches(1.5), Inches(9), Inches(4)).table

# Headers

headers = ['Region', 'Revenue', 'Growth', 'Target']

for i, h in enumerate(headers):

    table.cell(0, i).text = h

    table.cell(0, i).text_frame.paragraphs[0].font.bold = True

# Data

data = [

    ['North America', '$5.2M', '+15%', 'Met'],

    ['Europe', '$3.8M', '+12%', 'Met'],

    ['Asia Pacific', '$2.9M', '+28%', 'Exceeded'],

    ['Latin America', '$1.1M', '+8%', 'Below'],

]

for row_idx, row_data in enumerate(data, 1):

    for col_idx, value in enumerate(row_data):

        table.cell(row_idx, col_idx).text = value

prs.save('sales_report.pptx')

Limitations

• Cannot render complex animations

• Limited SmartArt support

• No video embedding via API

• Master slide editing is complex

• Chart types limited to standard Office charts

Installation

pip install python-pptx

Resources

• python-pptx Documentation

• GitHub Repository

• Slide Layout Guide