Python Pptx

Overview

Python-pptx is a Python library for creating and updating PowerPoint (.pptx) presentations. This skill covers comprehensive patterns for presentation automation including:

• Presentation creation with multiple slide layouts
• Shape manipulation including text boxes, images, and geometric shapes
• Chart generation for data visualization within slides
• Table creation for structured data display
• Master slide customization for branding consistency
• Template-based generation for consistent presentations
• Placeholder management for dynamic content insertion

When to Use This Skill

USE when:

• Generating presentations from data automatically
• Creating standardized report presentations
• Building slide decks with consistent branding
• Automating dashboard presentations
• Creating training materials from templates
• Generating client presentations from databases
• Building presentation pipelines for regular reports
• Creating slides with charts and tables from data
• Mass-producing presentations with variable content

DON'T USE when:

• Need real-time presentation editing (use PowerPoint)
• Creating presentations with complex animations
• Need advanced transitions (limited support)
• Require embedded videos with playback controls
• Need to preserve complex PowerPoint features
• Creating presentations from scratch without Python (use PowerPoint)

Prerequisites

Installation

# Basic installation
pip install python-pptx

# Using uv (recommended)
uv pip install python-pptx

# With image support
pip install python-pptx Pillow

# Full installation for charts
pip install python-pptx Pillow lxml

Verify Installation

from pptx import Presentation
from pptx.util import Inches, Pt
from pptx.enum.shapes import MSO_SHAPE
from pptx.enum.text import PP_ALIGN

print("python-pptx installed successfully!")

Version History

1.0.0 (2026-01-17)

• Initial skill creation
• Core capabilities documentation
• 6 complete code examples
• Template-based generation patterns
• Chart and table creation

Resources

• Official Documentation: https://python-pptx.readthedocs.io/
• GitHub Repository: https://github.com/scanny/python-pptx
• PyPI Package: https://pypi.org/project/python-pptx/

Related Skills

• python-docx - Word document generation
• openpyxl - Excel workbook automation
• plotly - Interactive chart generation
• pypdf - PDF manipulation

This skill provides comprehensive patterns for PowerPoint automation refined from production presentation generation systems.

Sub-Skills

• 1. Basic Presentation Creation
• 2. Advanced Text Formatting
• 3. Chart Generation
• 4. Table Creation
• 5. Image and Shape Manipulation
• 6. Template-Based Generation
• Data-Driven Presentation from Database (+1)
• 1. Template Design (+2)
• Common Issues