pptx-generator

name

pptx-generator

description

Generate and edit presentation slides as PPTX files. Also create LinkedIn carousels and manage reusable slide layouts. TRIGGERS - Use this skill when user says: - "create slides for [brand]" / "generate presentation for [brand]" / "make slides for [brand]" - "create a carousel for [brand]" / "linkedin carousel" / "make a carousel about [topic]" - "edit this pptx" / "update the slides" / "modify this presentation" - "create a new layout" / "add a layout to the cookbook" / "make a [type] layout template" - "edit the [name] layout" / "update the cookbook" / "improve the [name] template" - Any request mentioning slides, presentations, carousels, PPTX, or layouts with a brand name Creates .pptx files compatible with PowerPoint, Google Slides, and Keynote. Creates PDF carousels for LinkedIn (square 1:1 format).

PPTX Slide Generator

Generate professional, on-brand presentation slides using python-pptx. This skill supports:

• Slide Generation - Create presentations for any brand in brands/
• Carousel Generation - Create LinkedIn carousels (square format, exports to PDF)
• Slide Editing - Modify existing PPTX files
• Layout Management - Create, edit, update cookbook layouts

IMPORTANT: All skill resources are in .claude/skills/pptx-generator/. Always use Glob patterns starting with .claude/skills/pptx-generator/ to find files.

---

⚠️ CRITICAL: Batch Generation Rules

NEVER generate more than 5 slides at once.

Rule	Details
Max slides per batch	5 (can be 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5)
After each batch	STOP and validate output
Validation required	Check: no duplicate titles, proper spacing, correct colors
Continue when	Validation passes

This prevents token limit errors and catches quality issues early.

---

⚠️ PREREQUISITE: Brand Check

Before generating slides, check if any brands exist.

Glob: .claude/skills/pptx-generator/brands/*/brand.json

If NO brands found (only template/ exists):

1. STOP - Do not proceed with slide generation

2. Ask the user:

   "No brands are configured yet. Would you like me to help you create a brand first? I'll need your brand colors, fonts, and style guidelines to set this up."

3. If user wants to create a brand, follow the Creating a New Brand section below.

4. If user declines, explain that slides require a brand configuration and offer to use generic styling as a fallback.

---

Creating a New Brand

When no brands exist or user requests a new brand:

Step 1: Read the Template

Read: .claude/skills/pptx-generator/brands/template/README.md
Read: .claude/skills/pptx-generator/brands/template/brand.json
Read: .claude/skills/pptx-generator/brands/template/config.json

Step 2: Gather Brand Information

Ask the user for (or extract from provided materials):

Required	Description
Brand name	Folder name (lowercase, no spaces)
Colors	Background, text, accent colors (hex codes)
Fonts	Heading font, body font, code font

Optional	Description
Output directory	Where to save generated files (default: output/{brand})
Logo	Path to logo file (PNG/SVG)
Brand guidelines	Existing style guide or website to reference
Tone of voice	Writing style, vocabulary preferences

Step 3: Create Brand Files

1. Create the brand folder:

   mkdir -p .claude/skills/pptx-generator/brands/{brand-name}
   

2. Create brand.json with the gathered values:

   {
     "name": "Brand Name",
     "description": "One-line description",
     "colors": {
       "background": "hex-without-hash",
       "background_alt": "hex-without-hash",
       "text": "hex-without-hash",
       "text_secondary": "hex-without-hash",
       "accent": "hex-without-hash",
       "accent_secondary": "hex-without-hash",
       "accent_tertiary": "hex-without-hash",
       "code_bg": "hex-without-hash",
       "card_bg": "hex-without-hash",
       "card_bg_alt" 
     
      
        
        
        
     
      
        
        
        
     
   
   

Step 4: Verify

After creating the brand, verify with:

Glob: .claude/skills/pptx-generator/brands/{brand-name}/*

Then proceed to slide generation.

---

Skill Modes

This skill operates in three modes:

Mode 1: Generate Presentation Slides

User wants presentation slides (16:9) created using a brand's styling. → Follow: Brand Discovery → Layout Selection → Content Adaptation → Execute → Layouts in: cookbook/*.py

Mode 2: Generate LinkedIn Carousels

User wants a LinkedIn carousel (square 1:1 format) for social media. → Follow: Brand Discovery → Carousel Planning → Generate → Export PDF → Layouts in: cookbook/carousels/*.py

Mode 3: Manage Cookbook Layouts

User wants to create, edit, or improve layout templates. → Follow: Layout CRUD Operations section

---

Mode 1: Generate Presentation Slides

Step 1: Brand Discovery

1. List available brands:

   Glob: .claude/skills/pptx-generator/brands/*/brand.json
   

   Extract unique brand names from paths (e.g., brands/rasmus/... → "rasmus")

2. Read the brand configuration files:

   Read: .claude/skills/pptx-generator/brands/{brand-name}/brand.json
   Read: .claude/skills/pptx-generator/brands/{brand-name}/config.json
   

   • brand.json - Colors, fonts, assets
   • config.json - Output directory, generation settings

3. Read supporting markdown files for context:

   Glob: .claude/skills/pptx-generator/brands/{brand-name}/*.md
   

   These provide voice, tone, and design philosophy.

4. Extract from brand files:

   • From brand.json: Colors (hex without #), fonts, asset paths
   • From config.json: Output directory, slides per batch, naming convention
   • From markdown: Voice, tone, vocabulary, visual principles

If brand not found, list available brands and ask user to choose.

Step 2: Layout Discovery (READ ALL FRONTMATTERS)

⚠️ MANDATORY: Read ALL layout frontmatters before selecting any layout.

This step is critical for making informed layout decisions. You must understand what ALL layouts offer before choosing.

Step 2a: Discover all layouts:

Glob: .claude/skills/pptx-generator/cookbook/*.py

Step 2b: Read EVERY layout file (not just one or two):

For each .py file found, read the first 40 lines to extract the # /// layout frontmatter block. Build a mental map of:

• What each layout is for (purpose, best_for)
• What each layout should NOT be used for (avoid_when)
• Limits and constraints (max_*, min_*, *_max_chars)

The frontmatter block looks like this:

# /// layout
# name = "floating-cards-slide"
# purpose = "Feature highlights, process steps, multiple equal items with depth"
# best_for = [
#     "Exactly 3 related features or concepts",
#     "Process with 3 steps",
# ]
# avoid_when = [
#     "More than 3 items - use multi-card-slide instead",
#     "Long card titles (over 15 characters)",
# ]
# max_cards = 3
# card_title_max_chars = 15
# instructions = [
#     "EXACTLY 3 cards required - no more, no less",
#     "Card titles must be SHORT: 1-2 words, max 15 characters",
# ]
# ///

Key frontmatter fields:

Field	Description
name	Layout identifier
purpose	What this layout is for
best_for	Ideal use cases (array)
avoid_when	When NOT to use this layout (array)
max_* / min_*	Item limits (cards, bullets, stats)
instructions	Specific tips for using this layout

Step 2c: Select layouts (only AFTER reading all frontmatters):

Now that you know all available layouts and their constraints:

1. User specifies layout → Use that layout (but verify it fits the content)
2. User describes content → Match to best-fitting best_for criteria
3. Check avoid_when → Don't use a layout in situations it warns against
4. Respect limits → If content exceeds max_*, use a different layout
5. Multiple slides needed → Select appropriate layout for each
6. No good fit → Create a custom layout (see Mode 2)

Example selection process:

• User wants "5 pillars of AI infrastructure"
• You've read all frontmatters and know:
  • floating-cards-slide: max_cards = 3 → Won't work
  • multi-card-slide: max_cards = 5 → Perfect fit
• Select multi-card-slide

Why read ALL frontmatters?

• Layouts reference each other in avoid_when (e.g., "use multi-card-slide instead")
• You can't make the right choice without knowing all options
• Prevents backtracking when a layout doesn't fit

Step 3: Slide Planning (ALWAYS DO THIS)

Before generating ANY slides, create a written plan.

This applies to single slides, batches, and full presentations. Planning prevents:

• Duplicate content across slides
• Wrong layout choices
• Missing key information
• Poor flow and structure

Create a slide plan table:

| # | Layout | Title | Key Content | Notes |
|---|--------|-------|-------------|-------|
| 1 | title-slide | [Title] | [Subtitle, author] | Opening slide |
| 2 | content-slide | [Title] | [3-4 bullet points] | Main concepts |
| 3 | stats-slide | [Title] | [2-3 metrics] | Impact data |
| ... | ... | ... | ... | ... |

For each slide, specify:

• Slide number - Position in presentation
• Layout - Which cookbook layout to use
• Title - Exact title text (check for duplicates!)
• Key content - Bullet points, stats, quotes, etc.
• Notes - Any special considerations

Planning checklist:

• No duplicate titles across slides
• Logical flow from slide to slide
• Appropriate layout for each content type
• Content fits the chosen layout
• Batches are logically grouped (5 slides max each)

After planning, briefly present the plan before generating.

Step 4: Content Adaptation

For each slide in your plan:

Presentation Text Formatting Rules

IMPORTANT: Follow these rules for ALL slide text.

Element	Rule	Example
Titles	No trailing periods or commas	"Why AI Matters" not "Why AI Matters."
Subtitles	No trailing punctuation	"The future of coding" not "The future of coding."
Bullet points	No trailing periods (unless full sentences)	"Faster development" not "Faster development."
Headlines	Minimal punctuation, no ellipsis	"What's Next" not "What's Next..."
Stats/Numbers	Clean format, no trailing punctuation	"50%" not "50%."
CTAs	No trailing punctuation	"Get Started" not "Get Started."
Labels	Short, no punctuation	"Step 1" not "Step 1:"

Avoid:

• Trailing periods on titles, bullets, labels
• Ellipsis (...) in headlines
• Excessive commas in short phrases
• Colons at end of labels/headers
• Semicolons in bullet points

Exception: Full sentence descriptions or quotes may use appropriate punctuation.

Brand Value Mapping

1. Map brand.json values to layout placeholders:

   Layout Placeholder	brand.json Path
   BRAND_BG	colors.background
   BRAND_BG_ALT	colors.background_alt
   BRAND_TEXT	colors.text
   BRAND_TEXT_SECONDARY	colors.text_secondary
   BRAND_ACCENT	colors.accent
   BRAND_ACCENT_SECONDARY	colors.accent_secondary
   BRAND_ACCENT_TERTIARY	colors.accent_tertiary
   BRAND_CODE_BG	colors.code_bg
   BRAND_CARD_BG	colors.card_bg
   BRAND_CARD_BG_ALT	colors.card_bg_alt
   BRAND_HEADING_FONT	fonts.heading
   BRAND_BODY_FONT	fonts.body
   BRAND_CODE_FONT	fonts.code

   Note: All color values in brand.json are hex WITHOUT the # prefix.

2. Write content in brand's voice (from tone-of-voice.md)

3. Preserve layout structure (decorative elements, spacing, hierarchy)

Step 5: Batch Generation (CRITICAL)

MAXIMUM 5 SLIDES PER BATCH. This is a hard limit.

When generating multiple slides:

1. Generate 1-5 slides in a single PPTX file
2. STOP and review the output before generating more
3. Only after validation passes, continue with the next batch
4. Repeat until all slides are generated

Why batching matters:

• Prevents token limit errors
• Allows quality checks between batches
• Catches issues early before they propagate

Execution (do not save Python script files):

uv run --with python-pptx==1.0.2 python << 'SCRIPT'
# [Adapted code with brand values and content]
SCRIPT

Step 6: Quality Validation (MANDATORY)

After EVERY batch, validate before continuing:

1. Open the generated PPTX and visually inspect it
2. Check for these common issues:

Issue	What to Look For	Fix
Duplicate titles	Same title text appearing twice on a slide	Remove duplicate text boxes
Spacing problems	Title too close to subtitle/content	Increase Y position of lower elements
Text overflow	Content extending beyond slide bounds	Reduce font size or split content
Missing elements	Decorative elements not rendering	Check shape positions and colors
Wrong colors	Colors not matching brand	Verify hex values (no # prefix in code)
Bad punctuation	Trailing periods/commas on titles/bullets	Remove unnecessary punctuation

3. If issues found:

   • Fix the current batch before continuing
   • Note the issue to avoid repeating in future batches

4. If validation passes:

   • Continue to next batch of slides

Step 7: Output

Use the output settings from config.json:

Config Setting	Default	Description
output.directory	output/{brand}	Where to save files
output.naming	{name}-{date}	File naming pattern
output.keep_parts	false	Keep part files after combining

Resolve placeholders:

• {brand} → Brand folder name
• {name} → Presentation name from user request
• {date} → Current date (YYYY-MM-DD)

# Create output directory from config
mkdir -p {resolved-output-directory}

Batched generation workflow:

1. Generate each batch as {name}-part1.pptx, {name}-part2.pptx, etc.
2. Validate each batch before continuing
3. After ALL batches complete, combine into final file (if auto_combine is true)
4. Delete part files (if keep_parts is false)

Step 8: Combine Batches (for multi-batch presentations)

After all batches are validated, combine them into a single PPTX:

uv run --with python-pptx==1.0.2 python << 'SCRIPT'
from pptx import Presentation
from pathlib import Path
import shutil

# List all part files in order
output_dir = Path("output/{brand-name}")
part_files = sorted(output_dir.glob("{name}-part*.pptx"))

if len(part_files) > 1:
    # Start with first part as base
    combined = Presentation(part_files[0])

    # Add slides from remaining parts
    for part_file in part_files[1:]:
        part_prs = Presentation(part_file)
        for slide in part_prs.slides:
            # Copy slide layout and add to combined
            blank_layout = combined.slide_layouts[6]
            new_slide = combined.slides.add_slide(blank_layout)

            # Copy all shapes from source slide
            for shape in slide.shapes:
                # Clone shape to new slide
                el = shape.element
                new_slide.shapes._spTree.insert_element_before(
                    el, 'p:extLst'
                )

    # Save combined file
    combined.save(output_dir / "{name}-final.pptx")
    print(f"Combined {len(part_files)} parts into {name}-final.pptx")

    # Optionally clean up part files
    # for part_file in part_files:
    #     part_file.unlink()
else:
    # Single part, just rename
    shutil.move(part_files[0], output_dir / "{name}-final.pptx")
SCRIPT

Final output: output/{brand-name}/{name}-final.pptx

---

Mode 2: Generate LinkedIn Carousels

LinkedIn carousels are multi-page PDFs in square (1:1) format. Each page is a swipeable slide.

Carousel vs Presentation

Aspect	Presentation	Carousel
Dimensions	16:9 (13.333" × 7.5")	1:1 (7.5" × 7.5")
Layouts	cookbook/*.py	cookbook/carousels/*.py
Output	PPTX	PDF (via PPTX conversion)
Slides	10-50+ typical	5-10 optimal
Text size	Standard	Larger (mobile readable)
Content	Detailed	One idea per slide

Step 1: Brand Discovery

Same as Mode 1 - read brand.json, config.json, and tone-of-voice.md.

Step 2: Carousel Layout Discovery

Discover carousel-specific layouts:

Glob: .claude/skills/pptx-generator/cookbook/carousels/*.py

Available carousel layouts:

Layout	Purpose	Best For
hook-slide	Opening attention-grabber	First slide only
single-point-slide	One key point with explanation	Body content
numbered-point-slide	Numbered list item with big number	Listicles, steps
quote-slide	Quote with attribution	Social proof, insights
cta-slide	Call to action	Last slide only

Read frontmatters to understand limits and constraints for each.

Step 3: Carousel Planning

Typical carousel structure (5-10 slides):

| # | Layout | Content |
|---|--------|---------|
| 1 | hook-slide | Attention-grabbing hook |
| 2-8 | single-point or numbered-point | Body content |
| 9/10 | cta-slide | Call to action |

Carousel content rules:

• One idea per slide - Don't cram multiple points
• Large text - Must be readable on mobile
• Short copy - Max 50 chars for headlines, 150 for body
• Clear flow - Each slide should make sense if viewed alone
• Strong hook - First slide stops the scroll
• Clear CTA - Last slide tells them what to do

Step 4: Generate Carousel

Carousel dimensions (square 1:1):

prs.slide_width = Inches(7.5)
prs.slide_height = Inches(7.5)

Generate all slides as a single PPTX file (carousels are typically 5-10 slides, so batching rarely needed).

Execution:

uv run --with python-pptx==1.0.2 python << 'SCRIPT'
# Carousel generation code with 7.5" x 7.5" dimensions
SCRIPT

Step 5: Export to PDF

LinkedIn requires PDF for carousel posts. Convert the PPTX to PDF:

Option A: Using LibreOffice (recommended)

libreoffice --headless --convert-to pdf --outdir output/rasmus output/rasmus/carousel.pptx

Option B: Using soffice

soffice --headless --convert-to pdf output/rasmus/carousel.pptx

Note: LibreOffice must be installed. On macOS: brew install --cask libreoffice

Step 6: Output

Save both files:

• output/{brand}/{name}-carousel.pptx - Editable source
• output/{brand}/{name}-carousel.pdf - LinkedIn-ready

Carousel Checklist

• Read brand configuration
• Read carousel layout frontmatters from cookbook/carousels/
• Plan carousel structure (hook → body → CTA)
• Keep text SHORT (check character limits in frontmatter)
• Use 7.5" × 7.5" dimensions
• Generate PPTX
• Validate output
• Export to PDF
• Test PDF in LinkedIn preview

---

Mode 3: Layout CRUD Operations

Creating New Layouts

When user requests a new layout type:

1. Study existing layouts for patterns:

   Glob: .claude/skills/pptx-generator/cookbook/*.py
   

   Read 2-3 layouts to understand:

   • Code structure and imports
   • How brand variables are used
   • Decorative element patterns
   • Positioning conventions

2. Design with these quality standards:

   MUST be production-ready:

   • Professional, polished appearance
   • Visually engaging (not plain or generic)
   • Distinctive decorative elements
   • Strong visual hierarchy
   • Proper use of whitespace

   Use appropriate elements:

   • Charts - Pie, doughnut, bar, column for data visualization
   • Images - Placeholder shapes for screenshots, photos
   • Shapes - Circles, rectangles, parallelograms for visual interest
   • Cards - Floating cards with shadows for depth
   • Geometric patterns - Bold shapes anchored to corners/edges

   Avoid:

   • Plain text-only layouts
   • Generic bullet points without styling
   • Tiny decorative elements that don't make impact
   • Centered-everything boring compositions

3. Write the layout file with detailed frontmatter:

   ⚠️ CRITICAL: The frontmatter is documentation for future AI agents.

   Every layout MUST include comprehensive frontmatter that teaches future AI agents:

   • WHEN to use this layout (and when NOT to)
   • HOW to use it correctly
   • WHAT limits and constraints exist
   • WHY certain choices matter

   #!/usr/bin/env -S uv run
   # /// script
   # requires-python = ">=3.11"
   # dependencies = [
   #     "python-pptx==1.0.2",
   # ]
   # ///
   # /// layout
   # name = "layout-name"
   # purpose = "When to use this layout - be specific"
   # best_for = [
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Editing Existing Layouts

1. Find the layout:

   Glob: .claude/skills/pptx-generator/cookbook/*{name}*.py
   

2. Read and understand current structure including the frontmatter

3. Make modifications while preserving:

   • The script header format
   • Brand variable naming conventions
   • Docstring format (LAYOUT, PURPOSE, CUSTOMIZE)

4. Update the frontmatter if your changes affect:

   • What the layout is best for (best_for)
   • When to avoid it (avoid_when)
   • Item limits (max_*, min_*)
   • Usage instructions (instructions)

5. Save back to the same file

6. Test the modified layout

Updating/Improving Layouts

When asked to improve layout quality:

1. Analyze current weaknesses:

   • Is it visually engaging?
   • Does it have enough decorative elements?
   • Is there good visual hierarchy?
   • Does it use space well?

2. Apply improvements:

   • Add bold geometric shapes
   • Improve color usage
   • Add depth (shadows, overlapping)
   • Better typography sizing
   • More distinctive decorative elements

3. Preserve functionality - Don't break what works

4. Review and enhance frontmatter:

   • Are best_for and avoid_when still accurate?
   • Do instructions reflect any new constraints?
   • Add any lessons learned from the improvements
   • Update limits if element sizes/counts changed

Deleting Layouts

Simply remove the file:

rm .claude/skills/pptx-generator/cookbook/{layout-name}.py

---

Editing Existing PPTX Files

When user provides an existing PPTX:

1. Read the file:

   from pptx import Presentation
   prs = Presentation("path/to/existing.pptx")
   

2. Analyze: Number of slides, styling, content structure

3. Apply changes: Add/remove slides, update content, modify styling

4. Save to output directory (don't overwrite original unless requested)

---

Technical Reference

Slide dimensions (16:9):

• Width: 13.333 inches
• Height: 7.5 inches
• Safe margins: 0.5 inches

Always use:

• Blank layout: prs.slide_layouts[6]
• python-pptx version: 1.0.2

Common imports:

from pptx import Presentation
from pptx.chart.data import CategoryChartData
from pptx.dml.color import RGBColor
from pptx.enum.chart import XL_CHART_TYPE, XL_LEGEND_POSITION
from pptx.enum.shapes import MSO_SHAPE
from pptx.enum.text import PP_ALIGN, MSO_ANCHOR
from pptx.util import Inches, Pt

Chart types available:

• XL_CHART_TYPE.PIE - Pie chart
• XL_CHART_TYPE.DOUGHNUT - Doughnut chart
• XL_CHART_TYPE.BAR_CLUSTERED - Horizontal bars
• XL_CHART_TYPE.COLUMN_CLUSTERED - Vertical columns
• XL_CHART_TYPE.LINE - Line chart

Adding charts:

chart_data = CategoryChartData()
chart_data.categories = ["A", "B", "C"]
chart_data.add_series("Values", [10, 20, 30])

slide.shapes.add_chart(
    XL_CHART_TYPE.DOUGHNUT,
    Inches(x), Inches(y),
    Inches(width), Inches(height),
    chart_data
)

Adding images:

slide.shapes.add_picture(
    "path/to/image.png",
    Inches(x), Inches(y),
    width=Inches(w)  # Height auto-calculated
)

---

Preview All Layouts

To see all available layouts:

uv run .claude/skills/pptx-generator/generate-cookbook-preview.py

This generates cookbook-preview.pptx with every layout.

---

Checklist

For Slide Generation:

• Read brand.json for colors/fonts
• Read config.json for output directory and settings
• Read markdown files for voice/tone
• Read ALL cookbook layout frontmatters (first 40 lines of each .py):
  • Glob all .claude/skills/pptx-generator/cookbook/*.py
  • Read every file to extract # /// layout blocks
  • Build understanding of all best_for, avoid_when, limits
• Then select layouts based on complete knowledge:
  • Match content to best_for criteria
  • Respect avoid_when warnings
  • Check max_* / min_* limits
  • Follow instructions for chosen layouts
• Create slide plan table BEFORE generating:
  • List all slides with layout, title, content
  • Check for duplicate titles
  • Verify logical flow
  • Group into batches (max 5 per batch)
• Present plan briefly before proceeding
• Apply brand colors and fonts
• Write content in brand's voice
• Generate MAX 5 slides per batch (or slides_per_batch from config)

For Creating Layouts:

• Study existing layouts for patterns
• Design with production-ready quality
• Include distinctive decorative elements
• Use charts/images/shapes appropriately
• Add TOML-style frontmatter with:
  • name, purpose
  • best_for, avoid_when arrays
  • instructions array with usage tips
  • max_* / min_* limits as needed
• Write proper docstring (LAYOUT, PURPOSE, CUSTOMIZE)
• Test the new layout