PPTX

PPTX Skill

Quick Reference

Reading Content

python -m markitdown presentation.pptx
python scripts/thumbnail.py presentation.pptx    # visual grid

Creating Presentations with python-pptx

Basic deck

from pptx import Presentation
from pptx.util import Inches, Pt, Emu
from pptx.dml.color import RGBColor
from pptx.enum.text import PP_ALIGN

prs = Presentation()
prs.slide_width = Inches(13.333)   # 16:9 widescreen
prs.slide_height = Inches(7.5)

# Title slide
slide = prs.slides.add_slide(prs.slide_layouts[6])  # blank layout
txBox = slide.shapes.add_textbox(Inches(1), Inches(2.5), Inches(11), Inches(2))
tf = txBox.text_frame
p = tf.paragraphs[0]
p.text = "Presentation Title"
p.font.size = Pt(44)
p.font.bold = True
p.font.color.rgb = RGBColor(0x1E, 0x27, 0x61)
p.alignment = PP_ALIGN.CENTER

prs.save("output.pptx")

Slide with image and text columns

slide = prs.slides.add_slide(prs.slide_layouts[6])

# Left column: text
txBox = slide.shapes.add_textbox(Inches(0.8), Inches(1.2), Inches(5.5), Inches(5))
tf = txBox.text_frame
tf.word_wrap = True
p = tf.paragraphs[0]
p.text = "Key Insight"
p.font.size = Pt(28)
p.font.bold = True

p2 = tf.add_paragraph()
p2.text = "Supporting details go here with context and evidence."
p2.font.size = Pt(16)
p2.space_before = Pt(12)

# Right column: image
slide.shapes.add_picture("chart.png", Inches(7), Inches(1), Inches(5.5), Inches(5))

Tables

rows, cols = 4, 3
table_shape = slide.shapes.add_table(rows, cols, Inches(1), Inches(1.5), Inches(11), Inches(4))
table = table_shape.table

# Headers
headers = ["Metric", "Q1", "Q2"]
for i, h in enumerate(headers):
    cell = table.cell(0, i)
    cell.text = h
    for p in cell.text_frame.paragraphs:
        p.font.bold = True
        p.font.size = Pt(14)
        p.font.color.rgb = RGBColor(0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF)
    cell.fill.solid()
    cell.fill.fore_color.rgb = RGBColor(0x1E, 0x27, 0x61)

# Data rows
data = [["Revenue", "$1.2M", "$1.5M"], ["Growth", "12%", "15%"], ["Users", "5,000", "6,200"]]
for r, row_data in enumerate(data):
    for c, val in enumerate(row_data):
        table.cell(r + 1, c).text = val

Charts

from pptx.chart.data import CategoryChartData
from pptx.enum.chart import XL_CHART_TYPE

chart_data = CategoryChartData()
chart_data.categories = ['Q1', 'Q2', 'Q3', 'Q4']
chart_data.add_series('Revenue', (1.2, 1.5, 1.8, 2.1))
chart_data.add_series('Profit', (0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.7))

chart_frame = slide.shapes.add_chart(
    XL_CHART_TYPE.COLUMN_CLUSTERED,
    Inches(1), Inches(1.5), Inches(11), Inches(5),
    chart_data
)

Shapes and backgrounds

from pptx.enum.shapes import MSO_SHAPE

# Colored rectangle background
shape = slide.shapes.add_shape(MSO_SHAPE.RECTANGLE, Inches(0), Inches(0), Inches(13.333), Inches(7.5))
shape.fill.solid()
shape.fill.fore_color.rgb = RGBColor(0x1E, 0x27, 0x61)
shape.line.fill.background()  # no border

# Accent shape
accent = slide.shapes.add_shape(MSO_SHAPE.RECTANGLE, Inches(0.8), Inches(6.5), Inches(2), Inches(0.08))
accent.fill.solid()
accent.fill.fore_color.rgb = RGBColor(0xF9, 0x61, 0x67)
accent.line.fill.background()

Design Guidelines

Color Palettes — pick one that matches the topic

Typography

Layout Principles

• Every slide needs a visual element — image, chart, icon, or shape. No text-only slides.
• Vary layouts — alternate between two-column, full-bleed image, grid, and callout layouts.
• Large stat callouts — big numbers at 60–72pt with small labels below.
• 0.5" minimum margins, 0.3–0.5" between content blocks.
• Left-align body text — center only titles.
• Dark backgrounds for title/conclusion, light for content slides.

Avoid

• Repeating the same layout across slides
• Default blue — pick colors that match the topic
• Text-only slides without visual elements
• Low-contrast text or icons
• Accent lines under titles (looks AI-generated)

Editing Existing Presentations

from pptx import Presentation

prs = Presentation("existing.pptx")
for slide in prs.slides:
    for shape in slide.shapes:
        if shape.has_text_frame:
            for paragraph in shape.text_frame.paragraphs:
                for run in paragraph.runs:
                    if "OLD TEXT" in run.text:
                        run.text = run.text.replace("OLD TEXT", "NEW TEXT")
prs.save("modified.pptx")

Converting to Images

libreoffice --headless --convert-to pdf output.pptx
pdftoppm -jpeg -r 150 output.pdf slide
# Creates slide-01.jpg, slide-02.jpg, etc.

QA Checklist

1. Extract text: python -m markitdown output.pptx — check for missing/wrong content
2. Convert to images and visually inspect every slide
3. Check for: overlapping elements, text overflow, low contrast, uneven spacing, leftover placeholders
4. Fix issues, re-render, re-inspect — first render is rarely perfect