| name | pptx |
| description | Operate actual .pptx files: create, read, edit, render, validate, combine, split, or handle templates, layouts, notes and comments. Use the relevant presentation content workflow such as sysu-ppt first, then add pptx only when a presentation file is an input or deliverable. Do not trigger for discussion of a talk without file work. |
| license | Proprietary. LICENSE.txt has complete terms |
PPTX Skill
Quick Reference
| Task | Guide |
|---|
| Read/analyze content | python -m markitdown presentation.pptx |
| Edit or create from template | Read editing.md |
| Create from scratch | Read pptxgenjs.md |
Output Version Hygiene
- In a formal project, keep one current presentation with a stable semantic filename and archive superseded source, output, renders and version-specific assets together under the project's
09_backup/ contract.
- In a lightweight task, do not create project archives; preserve the user's original and write only to the requested output path.
- Make the generator write the stable current filename on every run. If two plausible current versions exist, ask the user which one is authoritative before archiving.
Reading Content
python -m markitdown presentation.pptx
python scripts/thumbnail.py presentation.pptx
python scripts/office/unpack.py presentation.pptx unpacked/
Editing Workflow
Read editing.md for full details.
- Analyze template with
thumbnail.py
- Unpack → manipulate slides → edit content → clean → pack
Creating from Scratch
Read pptxgenjs.md for full details.
Use when no template or reference presentation is available.
Design Ideas
Let the content workflow, template, audience and display conditions determine the visual system. Use decoration only when it clarifies hierarchy or meaning.
Before Starting
- Choose a content-informed palette: Preserve an existing template or brand system; otherwise use a restrained, readable palette suited to the topic and room conditions.
- Dominance over equality: One color should dominate (60-70% visual weight), with 1-2 supporting tones and one sharp accent. Never give all colors equal weight.
- Contrast: Meet readability needs at the actual display size; do not require dark title or conclusion slides.
- Commit to a visual motif: Pick ONE distinctive element and repeat it — rounded image frames, icons in colored circles, thick single-side borders. Carry it across every slide.
Color Palettes
Choose colors that match your topic — don't default to generic blue. Use these palettes as inspiration:
| Theme | Primary | Secondary | Accent |
|---|
| Midnight Executive | 1E2761 (navy) | CADCFC (ice blue) | FFFFFF (white) |
| Forest & Moss | 2C5F2D (forest) | 97BC62 (moss) | F5F5F5 (cream) |
| Coral Energy | F96167 (coral) | F9E795 (gold) | 2F3C7E (navy) |
| Warm Terracotta | B85042 (terracotta) | E7E8D1 (sand) | A7BEAE (sage) |
| Ocean Gradient | 065A82 (deep blue) | 1C7293 (teal) | 21295C (midnight) |
| Charcoal Minimal | 36454F (charcoal) | F2F2F2 (off-white) | 212121 (black) |
| Teal Trust | 028090 (teal) | 00A896 (seafoam) | 02C39A (mint) |
| Berry & Cream | 6D2E46 (berry) | A26769 (dusty rose) | ECE2D0 (cream) |
| Sage Calm | 84B59F (sage) | 69A297 (eucalyptus) | 50808E (slate) |
| Cherry Bold | 990011 (cherry) | FCF6F5 (off-white) | 2F3C7E (navy) |
For Each Slide
Use a chart, image, diagram, icon or shape only when it materially improves comprehension. A concise text slide is valid when the message is inherently verbal.
Layout options:
- Two-column (text left, illustration on right)
- Icon + text rows (icon in colored circle, bold header, description below)
- 2x2 or 2x3 grid (image on one side, grid of content blocks on other)
- Half-bleed image (full left or right side) with content overlay
Data display:
- Large stat callouts (big numbers 60-72pt with small labels below)
- Comparison columns (before/after, pros/cons, side-by-side options)
- Timeline or process flow (numbered steps, arrows)
Visual polish:
- Icons in small colored circles next to section headers
- Italic accent text for key stats or taglines
Typography
Use the template's fonts or fonts already available in the environment. Prioritize glyph coverage, legibility and portability over novelty.
| Header Font | Body Font |
|---|
| Georgia | Calibri |
| Arial Black | Arial |
| Calibri | Calibri Light |
| Cambria | Calibri |
| Trebuchet MS | Calibri |
| Impact | Arial |
| Palatino | Garamond |
| Consolas | Calibri |
| Element | Size |
|---|
| Slide title | 36-44pt bold |
| Section header | 20-24pt bold |
| Body text | 14-16pt |
| Captions | 10-12pt muted |
Spacing
- 0.5" minimum margins
- 0.3-0.5" between content blocks
- Leave breathing room—don't fill every inch
Avoid (Common Mistakes)
- Don't repeat the same layout — vary columns, cards, and callouts across slides
- Don't center body text — left-align paragraphs and lists; center only titles
- Don't skimp on size contrast — titles need 36pt+ to stand out from 14-16pt body
- Don't default to blue — pick colors that reflect the specific topic
- Don't mix spacing randomly — choose 0.3" or 0.5" gaps and use consistently
- Don't style one slide and leave the rest plain — commit fully or keep it simple throughout
- Don't create text-only slides — add images, icons, charts, or visual elements; avoid plain title + bullets
- Don't forget text box padding — when aligning lines or shapes with text edges, set
margin: 0 on the text box or offset the shape to account for padding
- Don't use low-contrast elements — icons AND text need strong contrast against the background; avoid light text on light backgrounds or dark text on dark backgrounds
- NEVER use accent lines under titles — these are a hallmark of AI-generated slides; use whitespace or background color instead
QA (Required)
Assume there are problems. Your job is to find them.
Your first render is almost never correct. Approach QA as a bug hunt, not a confirmation step. If you found zero issues on first inspection, you weren't looking hard enough.
Content QA
python -m markitdown output.pptx
Check for missing content, typos, wrong order.
When using templates, check for leftover placeholder text:
python -m markitdown output.pptx | grep -iE "xxxx|lorem|ipsum|this.*(page|slide).*layout"
If grep returns results, fix them before declaring success.
Visual QA
⚠️ USE SUBAGENTS — even for 2-3 slides. You've been staring at the code and will see what you expect, not what's there. Subagents have fresh eyes.
Convert slides to images (see Converting to Images), then use this prompt:
Visually inspect these slides. Assume there are issues — find them.
Look for:
- Overlapping elements (text through shapes, lines through words, stacked elements)
- Text overflow or cut off at edges/box boundaries
- Decorative lines positioned for single-line text but title wrapped to two lines
- Source citations or footers colliding with content above
- Elements too close (< 0.3" gaps) or cards/sections nearly touching
- Uneven gaps (large empty area in one place, cramped in another)
- Insufficient margin from slide edges (< 0.5")
- Columns or similar elements not aligned consistently
- Low-contrast text (e.g., light gray text on cream-colored background)
- Low-contrast icons (e.g., dark icons on dark backgrounds without a contrasting circle)
- Text boxes too narrow causing excessive wrapping
- Leftover placeholder content
For each slide, report observed issues with their impact; do not invent defects to satisfy a checklist.
Read and analyze these images:
1. /path/to/slide-01.jpg (Expected: [brief description])
2. /path/to/slide-02.jpg (Expected: [brief description])
Report ALL issues found, including minor ones.
Verification Loop
- Generate slides → Convert to images → Inspect
- List observed issues and their affected slides
- Fix issues that violate the content, layout or rendering contract
- Re-render and re-verify changed slides
- If the first inspection passes, record that evidence without making a gratuitous edit
Converting to Images
Convert presentations to individual slide images for visual inspection:
python scripts/office/soffice.py --headless --convert-to pdf output.pptx
pdftoppm -jpeg -r 150 output.pdf slide
This creates slide-01.jpg, slide-02.jpg, etc.
To re-render specific slides after fixes:
pdftoppm -jpeg -r 150 -f N -l N output.pdf slide-fixed
Dependencies
markitdown[pptx] in the user-selected Python environment for text extraction- Pillow in the user-selected Python environment for thumbnail grids
- PptxGenJS in the user-selected Node.js environment for creating from scratch
- LibreOffice (
soffice) - PDF conversion (auto-configured for sandboxed environments via scripts/office/soffice.py)
- Poppler (
pdftoppm) - PDF to images
If any item is unavailable, explain the missing prerequisite and the user's next setup step; do not install or upgrade it.
