PowerPoint Toolkit

Setup (First Use)

python3 scripts/setup_deps.py

Installs: python-pptx, Pillow, pyyaml. Skip if already installed.

Workflow Decision Tree

1. Inspect structure → Run scripts/inspect_pptx.py
2. Extract text → Run scripts/extract_text.py
3. Analyze & get improvement suggestions → Run scripts/analyze_pptx.py
4. Generate visual thumbnails → Run scripts/thumbnails.py
5. Create new presentation → Use python-pptx (see references/design-and-creation.md)
6. Edit existing presentation → Use python-pptx or OOXML (see references/ooxml-editing.md)

Quick-Start Scripts

Inspect File Structure

python3 scripts/inspect_pptx.py deck.pptx                    # Overview
python3 scripts/inspect_pptx.py deck.pptx --text              # With all text
python3 scripts/inspect_pptx.py deck.pptx --notes             # With speaker notes
python3 scripts/inspect_pptx.py deck.pptx --layouts           # With layout details
python3 scripts/inspect_pptx.py deck.pptx --slide 0           # Single slide
python3 scripts/inspect_pptx.py deck.pptx --text --notes      # Full content

Returns JSON: slide count, dimensions, shapes, text, images, charts, tables, notes.

Extract Text

python3 scripts/extract_text.py deck.pptx                     # Markdown format
python3 scripts/extract_text.py deck.pptx --format json        # Structured JSON
python3 scripts/extract_text.py deck.pptx --format text        # Plain text
python3 scripts/extract_text.py deck.pptx --notes              # Include speaker notes

Analyze & Improve

python3 scripts/analyze_pptx.py deck.pptx                     # Full analysis
python3 scripts/analyze_pptx.py deck.pptx --verbose            # Extra detail

Returns JSON with stats (fonts, sizes, layouts, text density) and issues (readability, consistency, missing notes, visual balance).

Generate Thumbnails

python3 scripts/thumbnails.py deck.pptx                        # Default 4-col grid
python3 scripts/thumbnails.py deck.pptx preview --cols 3       # Custom layout

Requires LibreOffice + poppler (pdftoppm). Creates a JPEG grid for visual review.

Creating Presentations

Design Principles

Before writing code, always:

1. Analyze content — What topic, tone, audience?
2. Choose palette — See references/design-and-creation.md for 10 curated palettes
3. Plan layout — Decide slide types: title, content, section, closing
4. State approach — Explain design choices before implementation

Key Rules

• Use web-safe fonts only: Arial, Verdana, Georgia, Tahoma, Trebuchet MS, Times New Roman, Courier New
• Create clear visual hierarchy through size, weight, and color
• Keep text concise — aim for ≤6 bullet points, ≤6 words per bullet
• Ensure strong contrast between text and backgrounds
• Use consistent spacing and alignment across all slides
• Add speaker notes for presentation delivery

Quick Creation Template

from pptx import Presentation
from pptx.util import Inches, Pt
from pptx.dml.color import RGBColor

prs = Presentation()
prs.slide_width = Inches(13.333)
prs.slide_height = Inches(7.5)

# Title slide
slide = prs.slides.add_slide(prs.slide_layouts[0])
slide.shapes.title.text = "Title"
slide.placeholders[1].text = "Subtitle"

# Content slide
slide = prs.slides.add_slide(prs.slide_layouts[1])
slide.shapes.title.text = "Section"
body = slide.placeholders[1].text_frame
body.text = "First point"
p = body.add_paragraph()
p.text = "Second point"
p.level = 0

prs.save("output.pptx")

For full creation reference (shapes, formatting, charts, tables, images, notes) → see references/design-and-creation.md.

Editing Presentations

Simple Edits (python-pptx)

from pptx import Presentation

prs = Presentation("existing.pptx")
slide = prs.slides[0]

for shape in slide.shapes:
    if shape.has_text_frame:
        for para in shape.text_frame.paragraphs:
            for run in para.runs:
                run.text = run.text.replace("old", "new")

prs.save("modified.pptx")

Advanced Edits (OOXML)

For operations beyond python-pptx (animations, complex formatting, raw XML manipulation) → see references/ooxml-editing.md.

Providing Improvement Feedback

When asked to review or improve a presentation:

1. Run scripts/inspect_pptx.py deck.pptx --text --notes
2. Run scripts/analyze_pptx.py deck.pptx
3. Optionally generate thumbnails for visual review
4. Present findings in this order:
   • Overview: slide count, layout types, visual balance
   • Content Issues: text density, empty slides, missing titles
   • Design Issues: font consistency, size readability, color contrast
   • Structure Issues: flow, pacing, section organization
   • Suggestions: specific actionable improvements with slide references

Common Slide Patterns