pptx

# PPTX Skill ## Tool-First Workflow Use the `Presentation` tool for ALL operations. Do NOT use Python scripts unless you need features the tool doesn't have. ### Available Presentation tool actions | Task | Tool call | |------|-----------| | Inspect metadata | `Presentation { action: "inspect", file_path: "deck.pptx" }` | | List all slides | `Presentation { action: "list_slides", file_path: "deck.pptx" }` | | Extract text (all or one slide) | `Presentation { action: "extract_text", file_path: "deck.pptx" }` | | Read speaker notes | `Presentation { action: "read_notes", file_path: "deck.pptx" }` | | Export text outline | `Presentation { action: "export_text_outline", file_path: "deck.pptx" }` | | **Create new presentation** | `Presentation { action: "create", output_path: "deck.pptx", content: {slides: [{title, body: [...]}]} }` | | **Unpack for XML editing** | `Presentation { action: "unpack", file_path: "deck.pptx", output_path: "unpacked/" }` | | **Repack after editing** | `Presentation { action: "pack", file_path: "unpacked/", output_path: "output.pptx" }` | ### Editing an existing presentation ``` Presentation { action: "unpack", file_path: "template.pptx", output_path: "/tmp/unpacked/" } # → Edit slide XML files in /tmp/unpacked/ppt/slides/ with the Edit tool # → Reorder slides by editing /tmp/unpacked/ppt/presentation.xml Presentation { action: "pack", file_path: "/tmp/unpacked/", output_path: "output.pptx" } ``` ### Creating from scratch ``` Presentation { action: "create", output_path: "deck.pptx", content: { "layout": "16x9", "slides": [ {"title": "Welcome", "body": ["Point 1", "Point 2", "Point 3"]}, {"title": "Details", "body": ["Item A", "Item B"], "notes": "Speaker notes here"} ] }} ``` For advanced presentations (charts, images, custom layouts), use PptxGenJS via Bash — see [pptxgenjs.md](pptxgenjs.md). ### When to fall back to Python - Thumbnail grids (requires LibreOffice + PIL) - Converting PPTX to PDF (requires LibreOffice) ## Quick Reference (LEGACY — prefer Presentation tool above) | Task | Guide | |------|-------| | Read/analyze content | `Presentation { action: "extract_text" }` | | Edit or create from template | `Presentation { action: "unpack" }` → Edit → `Presentation { action: "pack" }` | | Create from scratch | PptxGenJS via Bash (see [pptxgenjs.md](pptxgenjs.md)) | --- ## Reading Content (LEGACY) ```bash # Visual overview (requires LibreOffice + PIL — use only if needed) python scripts/thumbnail.py presentation.pptx ``` --- ## Editing Workflow **Read [editing.md](editing.md) for full details.** 1. Analyze template: ``` Presentation { action: "list_slides", file_path: "template.pptx" } Presentation { action: "extract_text", file_path: "template.pptx" } ``` 2. Unpack → manipulate slides XML → edit content → pack: ``` Presentation { action: "unpack", file_path: "template.pptx", output_path: "/tmp/unpacked/" } # Edit XML with the Edit tool Presentation { action: "pack", file_path: "/tmp/unpacked/", output_path: "output.pptx" } ``` --- ## Creating from Scratch **Read [pptxgenjs.md](pptxgenjs.md) for full details.** Use when no template or reference presentation is available. --- ## Design Ideas **Don't create boring slides.** Plain bullets on a white background won't impress anyone. Consider ideas from this list for each slide. ### Before Starting - **Pick a bold, content-informed color palette**: The palette should feel designed for THIS topic. If swapping your colors into a completely different presentation would still "work," you haven't made specific enough choices. - **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. - **Dark/light contrast**: Dark backgrounds for title + conclusion slides, light for content ("sandwich" structure). Or commit to dark throughout for a premium feel. - **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 **Every slide needs a visual element** — image, chart, icon, or shape. Text-only slides are forgettable. **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 **Choose an interesting font pairing** — don't default to Arial. Pick a header font with personality and pair it with a clean body font. | 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 ``` Presentation { action: "extract_text", file_path: "output.pptx" } ``` Check for missing content, typos, wrong order. Look for leftover placeholder text (xxx, lorem, ipsum, TODO, [insert]). ### 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: ``` Presentation { action: "visual_qa", file_path: "output.pptx", output_path: "/tmp/qa-images/" } ``` This generates one JPG per slide. Then inspect each image with the Read tool. Use this prompt for subagents: ``` 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, list issues or areas of concern, even if minor. Read and analyze these images — run `ls -1 "$PWD"/slide-*.jpg` and use the exact absolute paths it prints: 1. <absolute-path>/slide-N.jpg — (Expected: [brief description]) 2. <absolute-path>/slide-N.jpg — (Expected: [brief description]) ... Report ALL issues found, including minor ones. ``` ### Verification Loop 1. Generate slides → Convert to images → Inspect 2. **List issues found** (if none found, look again more critically) 3. Fix issues 4. **Re-verify affected slides** — one fix often creates another problem 5. Repeat until a full pass reveals no new issues **Do not declare success until you've completed at least one fix-and-verify cycle.** --- ## Converting to Images Use the `visual_qa` action — it handles the full pipeline (PPTX→PDF→JPG): ``` Presentation { action: "visual_qa", file_path: "output.pptx", output_path: "/tmp/qa-images/" } ``` Requires LibreOffice (`soffice`) and Poppler (`pdftoppm`) installed. After fixes, rerun `visual_qa` to regenerate images. --- ## Dependencies - `pptxgenjs` — built into the Presentation tool (no install needed) - LibreOffice (`soffice`) — only for PDF conversion and visual QA (optional) - Poppler (`pdftoppm`) — only for slide-to-image conversion for visual QA (optional)