PowerPoint Presentation Skills
Overview
This skill provides comprehensive PowerPoint manipulation capabilities using Python's python-pptx library.
When to Use
- •Creating new presentations
- •Modifying or editing existing slides
- •Working with slide layouts and masters
- •Adding speaker notes
- •Inserting images, charts, and tables
- •Extracting content from presentations
Dependencies
bash
pip install python-pptx
Quick Reference
Create a new presentation
python
from pptx import Presentation
from pptx.util import Inches, Pt
prs = Presentation()
# Add title slide
title_slide_layout = prs.slide_layouts[0]
slide = prs.slides.add_slide(title_slide_layout)
title = slide.shapes.title
subtitle = slide.placeholders[1]
title.text = "Presentation Title"
subtitle.text = "Subtitle here"
prs.save('output.pptx')
Add content slide
python
from pptx import Presentation
from pptx.util import Inches, Pt
prs = Presentation()
# Title and Content layout (index 1)
bullet_slide_layout = prs.slide_layouts[1]
slide = prs.slides.add_slide(bullet_slide_layout)
title = slide.shapes.title
title.text = "Slide Title"
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
prs.save('output.pptx')
Read existing presentation
python
from pptx import Presentation
prs = Presentation('input.pptx')
for slide in prs.slides:
for shape in slide.shapes:
if hasattr(shape, "text"):
print(shape.text)
Add images
python
from pptx import Presentation
from pptx.util import Inches
prs = Presentation()
blank_slide_layout = prs.slide_layouts[6]
slide = prs.slides.add_slide(blank_slide_layout)
# Add image
left = Inches(1)
top = Inches(1)
width = Inches(5)
slide.shapes.add_picture('image.png', left, top, width=width)
prs.save('output.pptx')
Add tables
python
from pptx import Presentation
from pptx.util import Inches
prs = Presentation()
slide = prs.slides.add_slide(prs.slide_layouts[6])
# Create table
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
# Fill cells
for i in range(rows):
for j in range(cols):
table.cell(i, j).text = f'R{i+1}C{j+1}'
# Style header row
for cell in table.rows[0].cells:
cell.fill.solid()
cell.fill.fore_color.rgb = RGBColor(0x42, 0x72, 0xC4)
prs.save('output.pptx')
Add speaker notes
python
from pptx import Presentation
prs = Presentation()
slide = prs.slides.add_slide(prs.slide_layouts[1])
# Add notes
notes_slide = slide.notes_slide
notes_tf = notes_slide.notes_text_frame
notes_tf.text = "These are the speaker notes for this slide."
prs.save('output.pptx')
Text formatting
python
from pptx import Presentation
from pptx.util import Pt
from pptx.dml.color import RGBColor
prs = Presentation()
slide = prs.slides.add_slide(prs.slide_layouts[6])
# Add text box
left = Inches(1)
top = Inches(1)
width = Inches(6)
height = Inches(1)
txBox = slide.shapes.add_textbox(left, top, width, height)
tf = txBox.text_frame
p = tf.paragraphs[0]
run = p.add_run()
run.text = "Formatted Text"
# Format
run.font.name = 'Arial'
run.font.size = Pt(24)
run.font.bold = True
run.font.color.rgb = RGBColor(0xFF, 0x00, 0x00)
prs.save('output.pptx')
Slide layouts reference
code
Index 0: Title Slide Index 1: Title and Content Index 2: Section Header Index 3: Two Content Index 4: Comparison Index 5: Title Only Index 6: Blank Index 7: Content with Caption Index 8: Picture with Caption
Tips
- •Use slide layouts for consistent formatting
- •Access shapes.title for the title placeholder
- •Use placeholders[1] for the main content area
- •EMU (English Metric Units) are used internally; use Inches() or Pt() helpers
- •Charts require additional setup with pptx.chart