PPTX Generator

Generate a professional Microsoft-branded PowerPoint (.pptx) presentation using python-pptx and the shared pptx_utils.py module.

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when the user:

• Says "make a PowerPoint", "generate pptx", "export to pptx", or "I need a downloadable presentation"
• Wants to create a new PPTX presentation from scratch on a given topic

Step-by-Step Process

Step 1: Define the slide content from a plan or outline

Work from the plan or outline provided. For each slide, identify:

• Slide type: title/lead, section divider, standard content, or closing
• Title: the main heading for the slide
• Body content: bullets, tables, code blocks, metrics, cards, or a mix
• Speaker notes: full presenter transcripts written in the plan - MUST be written verbatim in full; these are complete presenter transcripts, not summaries

CRITICAL: Speaker notes must be full presenter transcripts. Write them word-for-word as provided in the plan into the notes= parameter. Do NOT summarize, shorten, or paraphrase. The presenter depends on these exact scripts. If a note is 500 words, the PPTX note must be 500 words.

Step 2: Design the slide layout for each slide

For each slide, choose the best visual representation:

Content Pattern	PPTX Approach
Title/lead slide	create_lead_slide()
Section divider	create_section_divider()
Title + bullet list	create_standard_slide() + add_bullet_list()
Title + table	create_standard_slide() + add_styled_table()
Title + code block	create_standard_slide() + add_code_block()
Title + comparison table	create_standard_slide() + add_styled_table()
Title + multiple short items	create_standard_slide() + add_numbered_items()
Title + cards/pillars	create_standard_slide() + add_card_grid() or add_pillar_cards()
Title + big metric	create_standard_slide() + add_metric_card() (supports trend arrows)
Title + metric row	create_standard_slide() + add_stats_row()
Title + blockquote/callout	create_standard_slide() + add_callout_box()
Title + quote/testimonial	create_standard_slide() + add_quote_block()
Title + feature grid	create_standard_slide() + add_feature_grid()
Title + columns	create_standard_slide() + add_colored_columns()
Title + architecture stack	create_standard_slide() + add_layered_architecture()
Title + process flow	create_standard_slide() + add_process_flow()
Title + SWOT analysis	create_standard_slide() + add_swot_grid()
Title + maturity model	create_standard_slide() + add_maturity_model()
Title + roadmap	create_standard_slide() + add_roadmap()
Title + pricing table	create_standard_slide() + add_pricing_table()
Title + agenda list	create_standard_slide() + add_agenda_list()
Title + timeline	create_standard_slide() + add_timeline()
Title + progress bar	create_standard_slide() + add_progress_bar()
Title + checklist	create_standard_slide() + add_checklist()
High-impact statement	create_impact_slide()
Gradient background	create_gradient_slide()
Split layout	create_two_tone_slide()
Closing/thank-you slide	create_closing_slide()

Visual enhancement rules - go beyond 1:1 mapping for richer slides:

• Plain bullet lists with bold prefixes -> use add_numbered_items() or add_card_grid() for visual cards
• Comparison/feature lists -> use add_pillar_cards() for vertical pillars
• Single big number/metric -> use add_metric_card()
• Important callout text -> use add_callout_box() or add_warning_box() (height auto-sizes)
• Quote/testimonial text -> use add_quote_block() with attribution
• Code/YAML blocks -> use add_code_block() (dark theme, monospace, text embedded in shape)
• Tables with data -> use add_styled_table() (alternating rows, header styling)
• Right-side visual cards -> use add_rounded_card() for highlight panels
• Vertical step flows -> use add_arrow_down() between stacked cards
• Architecture layers -> use add_layered_architecture() (text embedded, auto contrast)
• Process flow -> use add_process_flow() (text embedded in boxes)

Design Aesthetics Principles

PPTX slides must be distinctive and purposefully designed -- not generic AI-output. Apply these principles on every slide:

1. Color Budget (MANDATORY -- highest priority rule)

• Maximum 2 accent hue families per deck: MS_BLUE / MS_BLUE_DARKER (primary) + MS_DARK_BLUE / MS_NAVY_LIGHT (structural). That is the full accent palette.
• MS_GREEN, MS_ORANGE, MS_RED are ONLY for semantic meaning (success/warning/error callouts). Never use them to "make a card look different" or "add visual variety."
• NEVER use MS_PURPLE, MS_YELLOW, or MS_TEAL -- they are deprecated.
• For multi-element differentiation (card grids, columns, architecture layers), use tonal variations of blue (MS_BLUE, MS_BLUE_DARKER, MS_DARK_BLUE, MS_NAVY_LIGHT) or neutral contrast (gray vs blue).
• Comparison columns: always left_color=MS_MID_GRAY, right_color=MS_BLUE. Never orange vs green.
• Use TONAL_BLUES list from pptx_utils when you need 3-5 distinct shades for a single element.

2. Dominant color + sharp accent (not timid even palettes) Use MS_DARK_BLUE (#243A5E) as the dominant structural color, MS_BLUE (#0078D4) as the single sharp accent. Do not scatter multiple accent colors across one slide. One color leads; the others support.

3. Visual hierarchy through contrast, not size alone

• Title: 28pt (TEXT_H2) bold dark blue | Section: 46pt (TEXT_DISPLAY) bold white on dark | Body: 12-14pt muted
• Use weight extremes: bold headings + light body text. Avoid mid-weight everything.
• Key stat or metric: oversized (36-46pt) in accent blue against neutral background.

4. Layout variety -- no two adjacent slides the same pattern Rotate between: 2-column split | full-width table | pillar cards | code+callout | metric row. Never use the same layout three slides in a row.

5. Whitespace is a design element Generous padding inside cards (Inches(0.2) minimum). Cards should not touch each other -- use Inches(0.2-0.35) gaps. Content should never fill the full slide edge-to-edge.

6. Depth through layering Build slides in z-order layers: background fill first, then cards/panels, then text/icons on top. Use add_rounded_card() as backgrounds before adding text -- the subtle shadow/fill creates visual depth that flat text boxes lack.

7. Sizes to content -- no empty boxes

• Use estimate_text_height() to size callout boxes to their text
• For card grids, measure title + desc length and choose card_h accordingly
• Tables: 0.38 * row_count inches -- never add extra empty rows
• Code blocks: line_count * 0.19 + 0.3 inches

8. Avoid generic patterns

• Never center all text on all slides
• Never use a bullet list when a card grid would communicate structure better
• Dark-background section dividers should stand in sharp contrast to the white content slides they bracket
• Vary left/right/split layouts -- do not always lead with text on the left

Vertical Chaining with ElementBox

Most composite functions return an ElementBox(shape, left, top, width, height) namedtuple. Use it to stack elements vertically without hardcoding positions:

eb = add_callout_box(slide, "Important note", CONTENT_LEFT, CONTENT_TOP, Inches(10))
next_top = eb.top + eb.height + Inches(0.2)
eb2 = add_code_block(slide, "kubectl get pods", CONTENT_LEFT, next_top, Inches(10))

Use remaining_height(from_top) to check whether the next element fits before placing it.

Note: create_section_divider() does not accept page_num / total parameters (unlike other slide templates). This is by design -- section dividers are full-bleed and unnumbered.

Step 3: Write the generator script

Create a file named generate_{topic}_pptx.py inside outputs/slides/ following this pattern:

#!/usr/bin/env python3
"""Generate {TOPIC} PowerPoint presentation using pptx_utils."""
import os, sys
SCRIPT_DIR = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))
sys.path.insert(0, os.path.join(os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(SCRIPT_DIR)), 'skills', 'pptx-generator'))
from pptx_utils import *

TOTAL = <number_of_slides>

def build():
    prs = create_presentation()

    # -- 1. Title / Lead --
    create_lead_slide(prs,
        title="...",
        subtitle="...",
        meta="L300 Deep Dive  |  February 2026",
        level="L300",
        notes="Speaker notes here...")

    # -- 2. Agenda --
    slide = create_standard_slide(prs, "Agenda", 2, TOTAL,
        notes="Speaker notes...")
    # ... add content using pptx_utils functions ...

    # -- 3. Section Divider --
    create_section_divider(prs, "Section Title",
        "Subtitle text", "Speaker notes...")

    # ── 4+ Content slides ──
    slide = create_standard_slide(prs, "Slide Title", 4, TOTAL,
        notes="Speaker notes...")
    # ... add tables, cards, code blocks, etc. ...

    # ── Last. Closing ──
    create_closing_slide(prs,
        title="Key Takeaways",
        takeaways=["Point 1", "Point 2", "Point 3"],
        cta_title="Get Started",
        cta_url="link.here",
        cta_items=[("Big", "Small"), ...],
        page_num=TOTAL, total=TOTAL,
        notes="...")

    out = os.path.join(SCRIPT_DIR, "topic-level-duration.pptx")
    save_presentation(prs, out)

if __name__ == "__main__":
    print("Generating {TOPIC} PowerPoint...")
    build()
    print("  Done!")

Step 4: Run the script

python3 outputs/slides/generate_{topic}_pptx.py

Verify:

• Output file exists in outputs/slides/
• Slide count matches expected
• No errors in terminal

QA (Required)

After generating the .pptx, run the programmatic QA checks, then invoke pptx-qa-subagent for content review.

Quick checklist:

1. Run programmatic QA via run_pptx_qa_checks tool or: python skills/pptx-generator/pptx_qa_checks.py outputs/slides/{OUTNAME}.pptx --expected-slides {TOTAL}
2. Invoke pptx-qa-subagent with PPTX path, programmatic results, and expected slide descriptions
3. Fix CRITICAL/MAJOR issues and re-verify until CLEAN

Critical Rules

1. Always import from pptx_utils - never duplicate color constants, shape helpers, or slide templates
2. Always use create_presentation() to initialize - it sets the correct slide dimensions and resolves asset paths
3. Always include add_ms_logo() on every slide - create_standard_slide(), create_section_divider(), create_lead_slide(), and create_closing_slide() do this automatically
4. Always copy speaker notes verbatim from the plan using the notes= parameter - these are full presenter transcripts; never summarize or shorten them
5. Content area bounds: use CONTENT_LEFT (0.8"), CONTENT_TOP (1.2"), CONTENT_WIDTH (11.0") to avoid overlapping with title bar, bottom bar, or logo
6. No hardcoded colors - always use the MS_* constants from pptx_utils
7. Section dividers use MS_DARK_BLUE background (#243A5E) with white text and logo at bottom-right - dark background ensures the MS logo is clearly readable
8. Lead slides use the background image from assets/lead-bg.jpg
9. Tables: pass col_widths parameter to control column proportions, max ~8 rows
10. Code blocks: keep to ~15 lines max, use add_code_block() for light-themed rendering (light gray background, dark text). Pass height=None (or omit) to auto-size the block to its code content. Returns ElementBox for vertical chaining.
11. python-pptx must be installed: pip install python-pptx
12. Clean title style - create_standard_slide() renders titles in MS_BLUE with Segoe UI Semibold and no underline or accent bar. Do NOT call add_top_accent_bar() or manually add underline rectangles on standard slides.
13. Rounded card borders - add_rounded_card() defaults to no border. Only pass border= when a box needs explicit separation from a white background (rare).
14. Callout / warning box line breaks - When a callout box has multiple sentences, separate them with \n so each sentence renders on its own line. This avoids walls of text. Example: "First point.\nSecond point.\nThird point.". Height auto-sizes to content when height=None.
15. Embedded text - composite helpers (add_badge, add_callout_box, add_code_block, add_blue_speech_panel, add_metric_card, add_stats_row, add_layered_architecture, add_process_flow, add_activity_bars, add_timeline boxes) embed text in shapes. Do NOT add separate add_textbox() overlays for these.
16. Auto contrast - add_icon_circle, add_badge, add_layered_architecture, add_activity_bars, and add_blue_speech_panel use auto_text_color() / ensure_contrast(). You do NOT need to check light/dark fills manually.
17. Shrink-to-fit - use shrink_to_fit=True on add_textbox() when text length is unpredictable. Critical for custom card layouts: whenever you place text inside a fixed-height card (e.g., add_rounded_card + add_textbox overlay, or _set_shape_text on a card), you MUST use shrink_to_fit=True so PowerPoint auto-scales text that exceeds the card height. Without this, long text overflows past the card boundary and overlaps with elements below.
18. Use add_metric_card() for both metrics and KPIs - it supports optional trend and trend_positive parameters. Do NOT use add_kpi_card() (deprecated alias).
19. Function Decision Guide - see the table in references/api-reference.md to pick the right function for your content pattern.
20. Bold markup - use **word** (double-asterisk) inside any text string to make a word or phrase bold in the rendered slide. Bold runs automatically use Segoe UI Semibold for a polished typographic weight distinction (not just synthetic bold). This works in add_textbox(), add_bullet_list() (plain string items), add_numbered_list(), add_callout_box(), add_styled_table() (data cells), add_card_grid(), add_pillar_cards(), add_feature_grid(), add_numbered_items(), add_colored_columns(), add_header_card_with_bullets(), add_checklist(), _set_shape_text(), and _add_shape_paragraph(). Use bold markup generously to highlight key terms, product names, technical concepts, and important phrases within body text and bullet items - for example: "Use **GitHub Copilot** to accelerate development" or "Runs on **GitHub Actions** with **read-only** permissions". Aim for 2-4 bold phrases per text block or bullet list. The tuple format (bold_prefix, rest) in bullet lists still works unchanged.

Overlap Prevention and Layer Order Rules

These rules prevent the most common visual bugs:

ElementBox return pattern - chain elements without overlap:

All composite functions return an ElementBox(shape, left, top, width, height) namedtuple. This includes: add_bullet_list, add_numbered_list, add_checklist, add_numbered_items, add_card_grid, add_feature_grid, add_stats_row, add_pillar_cards, add_metric_card, add_comparison_columns, add_colored_columns, add_layered_architecture, add_agenda_list, add_icon_row, add_pricing_table, add_swot_grid, add_maturity_model, add_roadmap, add_timeline, add_activity_bars, add_process_flow, add_callout_box, add_warning_box, and add_quote_block. Use the returned box to chain elements vertically:

eb1 = add_callout_box(slide, text1, left, top, width)
eb2 = add_bullet_list(slide, items, left, eb1.top + eb1.height + Inches(0.15), width)
eb3 = add_quote_block(slide, quote, left=left, top=eb2.top + eb2.height + Inches(0.2), width=width)

Check remaining space before placing elements:

Use remaining_height(from_top) to check available vertical space before placing the next element. This prevents content from overflowing past CONTENT_BOTTOM (6.8"):

eb = add_bullet_list(slide, items, left, top, width)
next_top = eb.top + eb.height + Inches(0.15)
avail = remaining_height(next_top)
# avail is EMU space left; compare with the height of the next element
if avail < Inches(2.0):
    # not enough room -- shrink card_h or move to next slide

Auto-sizing lists - let height fit content:

add_bullet_list(), add_numbered_list(), and add_checklist() default to height=None which auto-sizes the container to its content. Pass explicit height=Inches(X) only when you need a fixed-size container. Auto-sizing prevents both overflow (text cut off) and wasted space (huge empty box).

Bounds validation:

Grid and stacking functions (add_card_grid, add_feature_grid, add_pillar_cards, add_stats_row, add_icon_row, add_numbered_items, add_agenda_list, add_layered_architecture, add_timeline, add_activity_bars, add_process_flow, add_maturity_model, add_pricing_table, add_roadmap) emit warnings when content would extend beyond slide boundaries. Minimum card width is Inches(1.5) -- grids with too many columns will warn when cards become too narrow to fit readable text.

Layer order (z-order = insertion order; last added = on top):

1. Background fills / color bands / full-slide images
2. Structural containers (cards, panels) -- draw ALL containers first in a dedicated loop
3. Arrows / connectors (add_arrow_right(), add_arrow_down()) -- draw AFTER all cards
4. Text boxes, icons, number badges -- draw LAST so they always sit on top

Always use two passes in loops:

# Pass 1: containers
for i, item in enumerate(items):
    add_rounded_card(slide, x, y, ...)

# Pass 2: arrows (drawn after all cards so arrows are above cards)
for i in range(len(items) - 1):
    add_arrow_down(slide, cx, bottom_of_card[i] + Inches(0.05))

# Pass 3: text/icons (always last)
for i, item in enumerate(items):
    add_textbox(slide, item.title, ...)

Positioning rules:

1. Never use Inches(i) in loop arithmetic - Inches() converts to EMUs; use plain i * item_height not Inches(i) * item_height
2. Title bar occupies 0-1.0" - never place content above CONTENT_TOP (1.2")
3. Bottom bar + logo occupy 6.8-7.5" - keep content above CONTENT_BOTTOM (6.8")
4. Logo safe zone: bottom-right 1.6" x 0.7" is reserved for the Microsoft logo on standard slides
5. Use add_arrow_right() for horizontal flow and add_arrow_down() for vertical flow -- never use text characters like "->" or "v"
6. When placing a right-side card, reduce the width of left-side content to avoid overlap - e.g., if a card starts at 8.5", use width Inches(7.2) instead of CONTENT_WIDTH for left content
7. add_numbered_items() auto-calculates spacing - verify that top + len(items) * item_height < 6.8"
8. Tables: total height = 0.38" * row_count - verify it fits between top position and 6.8"
9. Code blocks: estimate height as line_count * 0.19" + 0.3" padding

References

• API Reference: references/api-reference.md - Complete function signatures and usage