pptx-generator

Q: How do I install pptx-generator?

Run npx skills add https://github.com/jwynia/agent-skills --skill pptx-generator in your project. The skills CLI detects the agents you use and copies the skill into the right folder. For Claude Code you can also place the skill folder at ~/.claude/skills/pptx-generator/ (personal) or .claude/skills/pptx-generator/ (project).

by jwyniaDocs & Writing

Create and manipulate PowerPoint PPTX files programmatically. Use when the user needs to generate presentations, modify PPTX templates, extract slide content, create thumbnail previews, or automate PowerPoint workflows. Supports both template-based generation (for branding compliance) and from-scratch creation. Keywords: PowerPoint, PPTX, presentation, slides, template, deck, slideshow, corporate, branding.

Installs: 541
Last 24h: —
Trending rank: —
Security: Not audited

Install

Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.

npx skills add https://github.com/jwynia/agent-skills --skill pptx-generator

01
Install
Run the command in your project. The CLI asks which agents to install for.
02
Describe the task
Ask your agent for something this skill covers. It loads pptx-generator automatically when relevant.
03
Review the result
The agent follows the SKILL.md steps, scripts and references bundled with the skill.

SKILL.md

The instructions your agent reads when the skill is triggered.

PPTX Generator

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when:

Creating presentations programmatically from data or specifications
Populating branded templates with dynamic content while preserving corporate styling
Extracting text and structure from existing PPTX files for analysis
Combining slides from a library of approved templates
Automating presentation generation workflows

Do NOT use this skill when:

User wants to open/view presentations (use native PowerPoint or viewer)
Complex animations or transitions are required (limited support)
Working with older .ppt format (PPTX only)

Prerequisites

Deno installed (https://deno.land/)
Input PPTX files for template-based operations
JSON specification for scratch generation

Quick Start

Two Modes of Operation

Template Mode: Modify existing branded templates
- Analyze & Replace: Find {{PLACEHOLDERS}} and replace with content
- Slide Library: Select and combine slides from a template library
Scratch Mode: Create presentations from nothing using JSON specifications

Instructions

Mode 1: Template-Based Generation

Step 1a: Analyze the Template

Extract text inventory to understand what can be replaced:

deno run --allow-read scripts/analyze-template.ts corporate-template.pptx > inventory.json

Output (inventory.json):

{
  "filename": "corporate-template.pptx",
  "slideCount": 10,
  "textElements": [
    {
      "slideNumber": 1,
      "shapeId": "shape-2",
      "shapeName": "Title 1",
      "placeholderType": "ctrTitle",
      "position": { "x": 1.5, "y": 2.0, "w": 7.0, "h": 1.2 },
      "paragraphs": [
        { "text": "{{TITLE}}", "fontSize": 44, "bold": true }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

Step 1b: Create Replacement Specification

Create replacements.json:

{
  "textReplacements": [
    { "tag": "{{TITLE}}", "value": "Q4 2024 Results" },
    { "tag": "{{SUBTITLE}}", "value": "Financial Overview" },
    { "tag": "{{DATE}}", "value": "December 2024" },
    { "tag": "{{AUTHOR}}", "value": "Finance Team", "slideNumbers": [1] }
  ]
}

Step 1c: Generate Output

deno run --allow-read --allow-write scripts/generate-from-template.ts \
  corporate-template.pptx replacements.json output.pptx

Mode 1 (Alternative): Slide Library

Step 2a: Preview Template Slides

Get information about available slides:

deno run --allow-read scripts/generate-thumbnails.ts slide-library.pptx

For visual preview, extract the thumbnail:

deno run --allow-read --allow-write scripts/generate-thumbnails.ts \
  slide-library.pptx --extract-thumb --output-dir ./previews

Step 2b: Select and Combine Slides

Create selections.json:

{
  "slideSelections": [
    { "slideNumber": 1 },
    { "slideNumber": 5 },
    { "slideNumber": 12 },
    { "slideNumber": 3 }
  ],
  "textReplacements": [
    { "tag": "{{TITLE}}", "value": "Custom Presentation" }
  ]
}

Step 2c: Generate Combined Presentation

deno run --allow-read --allow-write scripts/generate-from-template.ts \
  slide-library.pptx selections.json custom-deck.pptx

Mode 2: From-Scratch Generation

Step 3a: Create Specification

Create spec.json:

{
  "title": "Product Launch 2025",
  "author": "Marketing Team",
  "slides": [
    {
      "background": { "color": "003366" },
      "elements": [
        {
          "type": "text",
          "x": 1, "y": 2.5, "w": 8, "h": 1.5,
          "options": {
            "text": "Product Launch 2025",
            "fontSize": 44,
            "bold": true,
            "color": "FFFFFF",
            "align": "center"
          }
        },
        {
          "type": "text",
          "x": 1, "y": 4, "w": 8, "h": 0.5,
          "options": {
            "text": "Revolutionizing the Industry",
            "fontSize": 24,
            "color": "CCCCCC",
            "align": "center"
          }
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "elements": [
        {
          "type": "text",
          "x": 0.5, "y": 0.5, "w": 9, "h": 0.7,
          "options": {
            "text": "Key Features",
            "fontSize": 32,
            "bold": true,
            "color": "003366"
          }
        },
        {
          "type": "table",
          "x": 0.5, "y": 1.5, "w": 9, "h": 3,
          "options": {
            "rows": [
              ["Feature", "Description", "Benefit"],
              ["Speed", "2x faster processing", "Save time"],
              ["Quality", "HD output", "Better results"],
              ["Integration", "Works with existing tools", "Easy adoption"]
            ],
            "border": { "pt": 1, "color": "CCCCCC" }
          }
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

Step 3b: Generate Presentation

deno run --allow-read --allow-write scripts/generate-scratch.ts spec.json output.pptx

Examples

Example 1: Corporate Quarterly Report

Scenario: Generate quarterly report from branded template.

Steps:

# 1. Analyze template for replaceable content
deno run --allow-read scripts/analyze-template.ts quarterly-template.pptx --pretty

# 2. Create replacements.json with Q4 data
# 3. Generate report
deno run --allow-read --allow-write scripts/generate-from-template.ts \
  quarterly-template.pptx replacements.json Q4-2024-Report.pptx

Example 2: Custom Pitch Deck from Slide Library

Scenario: Combine approved slides for a specific client pitch.

Steps:

# 1. View available slides
deno run --allow-read scripts/generate-thumbnails.ts pitch-library.pptx

# 2. Create selections.json picking slides 1, 3, 7, 12, 15
# 3. Generate custom deck
deno run --allow-read --allow-write scripts/generate-from-template.ts \
  pitch-library.pptx selections.json acme-pitch.pptx

Example 3: Data-Driven Presentation

Scenario: Generate presentation from JSON data (e.g., API response).

Steps:

# 1. Transform your data into spec.json format
# 2. Generate presentation
deno run --allow-read --allow-write scripts/generate-scratch.ts data-spec.json report.pptx

Script Reference

Script	Purpose	Permissions
`analyze-template.ts`	Extract text inventory from PPTX	`--allow-read`
`generate-thumbnails.ts`	Get slide info and extract previews	`--allow-read --allow-write`
`generate-from-template.ts`	Modify templates (replace/combine)	`--allow-read --allow-write`
`generate-scratch.ts`	Create PPTX from JSON specification	`--allow-read --allow-write`

Element Types (Scratch Mode)

Type	Description	Key Options
`text`	Text box	`text`, `fontSize`, `bold`, `color`, `align`
`image`	Image from file or base64	`path`, `data`, `sizing`
`table`	Data table	`rows`, `colW`, `border`, `fill`
`shape`	Geometric shapes	`type`, `fill`, `line`, `text`
`chart`	Charts and graphs	`type`, `data`, `title`, `showLegend`

Common Issues and Solutions

Issue: Text not being replaced

Symptoms: Output PPTX still contains {{PLACEHOLDER}} tags.

Solution:

Run analyze-template.ts to verify exact tag text
Tags may be split across XML runs - ensure your template has tags in single text runs
Check slideNumbers filter in replacements

Issue: Slide order incorrect

Symptoms: Slides appear in wrong order after combining.

Solution:

Slides are added in the order specified in slideSelections
Verify slide numbers match original template (1-indexed)

Issue: Images not appearing

Symptoms: Image elements are blank in output.

Solution:

Use absolute paths or paths relative to spec.json location
Verify image file exists and is readable
Check supported formats: PNG, JPEG, GIF

OOXML Placeholder Inheritance (Advanced)

Understanding how PowerPoint's OOXML format handles placeholders is crucial for template development.

The Inheritance Chain

PowerPoint uses a hierarchical inheritance model:

Theme → Slide Master → Slide Layout → Slide

Theme: Defines colors, fonts, effects
Slide Master: Defines default placeholder positions and formatting (including bullets)
Slide Layout: Overrides master settings for specific layout types (e.g., Title Slide, Content)
Slide: Contains actual content, inherits formatting from layout

Key Principles

Text Content Does NOT Inherit: Slides must contain their own text content. The {{placeholder}} text in a layout does NOT automatically appear on slides using that layout.
Text Formatting CAN Inherit: When a slide shape has an empty <a:lstStyle/>, it inherits formatting (color, size, bullets) from the layout's <a:lstStyle>.
Placeholder Linking: Slides link to layouts via <p:ph type="..." idx="..."/>. The type (e.g., "title", "body", "ctrTitle") and idx must match.
Bullet Suppression: To prevent bullets on a placeholder that would normally inherit them from the master's bodyStyle, add <a:buNone/> in the layout's lstStyle.

Defining Inheritable Formatting

In layout placeholders, define colors in <a:lstStyle> (inheritable), not in <a:rPr> (run-specific):

<!-- Layout: Color in lstStyle (GOOD - inheritable) -->
<p:txBody>
  <a:lstStyle>
    <a:lvl1pPr algn="ctr">
      <a:buNone/>  <!-- Suppress bullets -->
      <a:defRPr sz="4400" b="1">
        <a:solidFill><a:srgbClr val="FFFFFF"/></a:solidFill>
      </a:defRPr>
    </a:lvl1pPr>
  </a:lstStyle>
  <a:p>
    <a:r><a:rPr lang="en-US"/><a:t>{{placeholder}}</a:t></a:r>
  </a:p>
</p:txBody>

Slide Shape Structure

For slides to properly inherit from layouts:

<!-- Slide: Empty lstStyle to inherit from layout -->
<p:sp>
  <p:nvSpPr>
    <p:cNvPr id="2" name="title 2"/>
    <p:cNvSpPr><a:spLocks noGrp="1"/></p:cNvSpPr>
    <p:nvPr>
      <p:ph type="ctrTitle"/>  <!-- Links to layout placeholder -->
    </p:nvPr>
  </p:nvSpPr>
  <p:spPr/>  <!-- Empty = inherit position from layout -->
  <p:txBody>
    <a:bodyPr/>
    <a:lstStyle/>  <!-- Empty = inherit formatting from layout -->
    <a:p>
      <a:r>
        <a:rPr lang="en-US"/>  <!-- Empty = inherit character formatting -->
        <a:t>{{placeholder}}</a:t>  <!-- Content must be here -->
      </a:r>
    </a:p>
  </p:txBody>
</p:sp>

Common Issues

Issue	Cause	Solution
Text shows as black instead of white	Color defined in `<a:rPr>` not `<a:lstStyle>`	Move color to layout's `<a:defRPr>` in `<a:lstStyle>`
Unwanted bullets appearing	Master's bodyStyle has bullets, layout doesn't override	Add `<a:buNone/>` to layout's `<a:lvl1pPr>`
Placeholder text not appearing	Text only in layout, not in slide	Include text content in slide's `<p:txBody>`
Formatting not applying	Slide has explicit formatting	Use empty `<a:lstStyle/>` and `<a:rPr lang="en-US"/>`

Reference: Placeholder Types

Type	Usage
`ctrTitle`	Centered title (title slides)
`title`	Standard title
`subTitle`	Subtitle
`body`	Content area (use `idx` for multiple)
`pic`	Picture placeholder
`dt`	Date/time
`ftr`	Footer
`sldNum`	Slide number

Limitations

No slide rendering: Cannot render slides to images directly (use LibreOffice for this)
Limited animation support: Basic animations only in scratch mode
No master slide editing: Template mode preserves but doesn't modify masters
PPTX only: Does not support legacy .ppt format
Text run splitting: Complex formatting in templates may split tags across XML elements

Related Skills

pdf-generator: For creating PDF documents instead of presentations
docx-generator: For creating Word documents
xlsx-generator: For creating Excel spreadsheets

FAQ

What does the pptx-generator skill do?

How do I install pptx-generator?

Run npx skills add https://github.com/jwynia/agent-skills --skill pptx-generator in your project. The skills CLI detects the agents you use and copies the skill into the right folder. For Claude Code you can also place the skill folder at ~/.claude/skills/pptx-generator/ (personal) or .claude/skills/pptx-generator/ (project).

Which AI agents can use pptx-generator?

Any agent that supports the open Agent Skills format (a folder with a SKILL.md file), including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, Windsurf, Cline, OpenCode and more.

Is pptx-generator safe to install?

No partner security audit is available yet. Skills can run commands and scripts, so read the SKILL.md and any bundled files before installing.

Who maintains pptx-generator?

It is published by jwynia in jwynia/agent-skills. It has 541 recorded installs.

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pptx-generator

Install

Install

Describe the task

Review the result

SKILL.md

PPTX Generator

When to Use This Skill

Prerequisites

Quick Start

Two Modes of Operation

Instructions

Mode 1: Template-Based Generation

Step 1a: Analyze the Template

Step 1b: Create Replacement Specification

Step 1c: Generate Output

Mode 1 (Alternative): Slide Library

Step 2a: Preview Template Slides

Step 2b: Select and Combine Slides

Step 2c: Generate Combined Presentation

Mode 2: From-Scratch Generation

Step 3a: Create Specification

Step 3b: Generate Presentation

Examples

Example 1: Corporate Quarterly Report

Example 2: Custom Pitch Deck from Slide Library

Example 3: Data-Driven Presentation

Script Reference

Element Types (Scratch Mode)

Common Issues and Solutions

Issue: Text not being replaced

Issue: Slide order incorrect

Issue: Images not appearing

OOXML Placeholder Inheritance (Advanced)

The Inheritance Chain

Key Principles

Defining Inheritable Formatting

Slide Shape Structure

Common Issues

Reference: Placeholder Types

Limitations

Related Skills

FAQ

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