PowerPoint Presentation Handler

Name: pptx
Rating: 76
Author: ChenYCL

Create, read, and edit Microsoft PowerPoint (.pptx) presentations with python-pptx.

Capabilities

•Create new presentations from scratch
•Read and extract text from existing .pptx files
•Edit, modify, and update presentations
•Work with templates, layouts, and masters
•Add images, charts, tables, and shapes
•Manage speaker notes and comments
•Combine or split slide files

Python Library

python

from pptx import Presentation
from pptx.util import Inches, Pt
from pptx.enum.text import PP_ALIGN
from pptx.dml.color import RgbColor
from pptx.enum.shapes import MSO_SHAPE

Common Operations

Create New Presentation

python

from pptx import Presentation
from pptx.util import Inches, Pt

prs = Presentation()

# Add title slide
slide_layout = prs.slide_layouts[0]  # Title Slide
slide = prs.slides.add_slide(slide_layout)

title = slide.shapes.title
subtitle = slide.placeholders[1]

title.text = "My Presentation"
subtitle.text = "Subtitle goes here"

prs.save("presentation.pptx")

Add Content Slide

python

# Title and Content layout
slide_layout = prs.slide_layouts[1]
slide = prs.slides.add_slide(slide_layout)

title = slide.shapes.title
title.text = "Slide Title"

# Add bullet points
body = slide.placeholders[1]
tf = body.text_frame
tf.text = "First bullet point"

p = tf.add_paragraph()
p.text = "Second bullet point"
p.level = 0

p = tf.add_paragraph()
p.text = "Sub-bullet"
p.level = 1

Add Image

python

from pptx.util import Inches

slide_layout = prs.slide_layouts[5]  # Blank
slide = prs.slides.add_slide(slide_layout)

# Add image
left = Inches(1)
top = Inches(1)
width = Inches(4)
slide.shapes.add_picture("image.png", left, top, width=width)

Add Table

python

from pptx.util import Inches

rows, cols = 3, 4
left = Inches(1)
top = Inches(2)
width = Inches(8)
height = Inches(2)

table = slide.shapes.add_table(rows, cols, left, top, width, height).table

# Set header row
table.cell(0, 0).text = "Header 1"
table.cell(0, 1).text = "Header 2"

# Add data
table.cell(1, 0).text = "Data 1"
table.cell(1, 1).text = "Data 2"

Add Shape

python

from pptx.enum.shapes import MSO_SHAPE
from pptx.util import Inches

left = Inches(1)
top = Inches(1)
width = Inches(2)
height = Inches(1)

shape = slide.shapes.add_shape(
    MSO_SHAPE.ROUNDED_RECTANGLE,
    left, top, width, height
)
shape.text = "Click here"

Format Text

python

from pptx.util import Pt
from pptx.dml.color import RgbColor

paragraph = shape.text_frame.paragraphs[0]
run = paragraph.runs[0]

run.font.name = "Arial"
run.font.size = Pt(24)
run.font.bold = True
run.font.color.rgb = RgbColor(0x00, 0x66, 0xCC)

Add Speaker Notes

python

notes_slide = slide.notes_slide
notes_tf = notes_slide.notes_text_frame
notes_tf.text = "Remember to mention the key points here."

Read Existing Presentation

python

prs = Presentation("existing.pptx")

for slide in prs.slides:
    for shape in slide.shapes:
        if hasattr(shape, "text"):
            print(shape.text)

Extract Text

python

def extract_text(pptx_path):
    prs = Presentation(pptx_path)
    text_content = []

    for slide_num, slide in enumerate(prs.slides, 1):
        slide_text = f"--- Slide {slide_num} ---\n"
        for shape in slide.shapes:
            if hasattr(shape, "text"):
                slide_text += shape.text + "\n"
        text_content.append(slide_text)

    return "\n".join(text_content)

Slide Layouts

Index	Name	Description
0	Title Slide	Title and subtitle
1	Title and Content	Title with bullet points
2	Section Header	Section divider
3	Two Content	Two columns
4	Comparison	Side-by-side comparison
5	Title Only	Just title, blank content
6	Blank	Completely blank

Design Tips

•Consistency - Use the same fonts and colors throughout
•White space - Don't overcrowd slides
•Images - High resolution, properly positioned
•Fonts - Max 2 font families, readable sizes (24pt+ for body)
•Colors - High contrast, limited palette
•Bullet points - Max 6 per slide, short phrases

Best Practices

•Start with a template for consistent styling
•Use master slides for global changes
•Keep text minimal, use visuals
•Add speaker notes for context
•Test on different screen sizes