| name | generating-pptx |
| description | Use when the user needs an EDITABLE PowerPoint (.pptx) deliverable — "make a PowerPoint", "export to PPTX", "editable slides", "send me a .pptx". Generates native, fully editable PowerPoint (real text boxes, shapes, native charts with embedded data, tables) via python-pptx — not images. Brand colors map from DESIGN.md. For HTML decks/sites/PDF use building-html-presentations instead. |
Skill: generating-pptx
Produce a native, editable PowerPoint with python-pptx. Every element is a real PowerPoint
object — editable text, shapes, native charts (backed by embedded data you can edit in
PowerPoint), and tables. This is the right path when the deliverable must be .pptx and editable;
for HTML decks, interactive sites, or designed PDFs use building-html-presentations.
Why not HTML→PPTX? Exporting an HTML deck to PPTX (e.g. Marp --pptx) embeds each slide as a
flat image — not editable. python-pptx builds the real OOXML, so charts and text stay live.
Setup
pip install python-pptx
Build it
scripts/build_pptx.py is a working generator — a brand-themed sales deck with a title slide,
agenda, KPI slide, native charts (clustered column, line, pie), a table slide, and a closing.
Run it, then adapt:
python .claude/skills/generating-pptx/scripts/build_pptx.py --out deck.pptx
Adapt by editing the DATA, BRAND, and the build() slide calls — not the helpers.
What python-pptx gives you (the palette)
- Native charts (editable, with embedded Excel data):
COLUMN_CLUSTERED, COLUMN_STACKED,
BAR_CLUSTERED, LINE, LINE_MARKERS, PIE, DOUGHNUT, XY_SCATTER, AREA, RADAR. Use
CategoryChartData for category charts and XyChartData for scatter.
- Tables via
slide.shapes.add_table(rows, cols, ...) — style cells, headers, number formats.
- Text via placeholders or
add_textbox → text_frame → paragraphs/runs (font, size, color, bold).
- Shapes / KPI cards via
add_shape(MSO_SHAPE.ROUNDED_RECTANGLE, ...) with fill + text.
- Brand: set
RGBColor from your DESIGN.md tokens; reuse one accent + semantic colors.
Rules
- Map brand from DESIGN.md — colors, and font name if defined. Keep one accent.
- Native charts over images — let the user edit data in PowerPoint.
- Never invent data — use provided numbers; mark placeholders. Add a source line per data slide.
- 16:9 by default (
Inches(13.333) × Inches(7.5)).
- Action-title style: the slide title states the insight, not just the topic.
