jorcan LibreOffice Impress
Overview
LibreOffice Impress skill for creating, editing, converting, and automating presentation workflows using the native ODP (OpenDocument Presentation) format.
When to Use This Skill
Use this skill when:
- Creating new presentations in ODP format
- Converting between ODP, PPTX, PDF formats
- Automating slide generation from templates
- Batch processing presentation operations
- Creating presentation templates
Core Capabilities
1. Presentation Creation
- Create new ODP presentations from scratch
- Generate presentations from templates
- Create slide masters and layouts
- Build interactive presentations
2. Format Conversion
- ODP to other formats: PPTX, PDF, HTML, SWF
- Other formats to ODP: PPTX, PPT, PDF
- Batch conversion of multiple files
3. Slide Automation
- Template-based slide generation
- Batch slide creation from data
- Automated content insertion
- Dynamic chart generation
4. Content Manipulation
- Text and image insertion
- Shape and diagram creation
- Animation and transition control
- Speaker notes management
5. Integration
- Command-line automation via soffice
- Python scripting with UNO
- Integration with workflow tools
Workflows
Creating a New Presentation
Method 1: Command-Line
soffice --impress template.odp
Method 2: Python with UNO
import uno
def create_presentation():
local_ctx = uno.getComponentContext()
resolver = local_ctx.ServiceManager.createInstanceWithContext(
"com.sun.star.bridge.UnoUrlResolver", local_ctx
)
ctx = resolver.resolve(
"uno:socket,host=localhost,port=8100;urp;StarOffice.ComponentContext"
)
smgr = ctx.ServiceManager
doc = smgr.createInstanceWithContext("com.sun.star.presentation.PresentationDocument", ctx)
slides = doc.getDrawPages()
slide = slides.getByIndex(0)
doc.storeToURL("file:///path/to/presentation.odp", ())
doc.close(True)
Converting Presentations
# ODP to PPTX
soffice --headless --convert-to pptx presentation.odp
# ODP to PDF
soffice --headless --convert-to pdf presentation.odp
# PPTX to ODP
soffice --headless --convert-to odp presentation.pptx
# Batch convert
for file in *.odp; do
soffice --headless --convert-to pdf "$file"
done
Template-Based Generation
import subprocess
import tempfile
from pathlib import Path
def generate_from_template(template_path, content, output_path):
with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tmpdir:
subprocess.run(['unzip', '-q', template_path, '-d', tmpdir])
content_file = Path(tmpdir) / 'content.xml'
content_xml = content_file.read_text()
for key, value in content.items():
content_xml = content_xml.replace(f'${{{key}}}', str(value))
content_file.write_text(content_xml)
subprocess.run(['zip', '-rq', output_path, '.'], cwd=tmpdir)
return output_path
Format Conversion Reference
Supported Input Formats
- ODP (native), PPTX, PPT, PDF
Supported Output Formats
- ODP, PPTX, PDF, HTML, SWF
Command-Line Reference
soffice --headless
soffice --headless --convert-to <format> <file>
soffice --impress # Impress
Python Libraries
pip install ezodf # ODF handling
pip install odfpy # ODF manipulation
Best Practices
- Use slide masters for consistency
- Create templates for recurring presentations
- Embed fonts for PDF distribution
- Use vector graphics when possible
- Store ODP source files in version control
- Test conversions thoroughly
- Keep file sizes manageable
Troubleshooting
Cannot open socket
killall soffice.bin
soffice --headless --accept="socket,host=localhost,port=8100;urp;"
Resources
Related Skills
- writer
- calc
- draw
- base
- pptx-official
- workflow-automation