# powerpoint-ppt

Generates and edits PowerPoint presentations using an MCP server or a local python-pptx fallback.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 1600 installs · ★ 21
- Author: PracticalSwan
- License: MIT · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/PracticalSwan/agent-skills/tree/HEAD/powerpoint-ppt/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-10-19
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/powerpoint-ppt

## What it does

This skill guides coding assistants through PowerPoint `.pptx` workflows. It instructs the agent on assembling slide decks from outlines, applying design templates, adjusting layout structures, inserting graphics, and extracting text for review. The protocol treats text crowding as an error and enforces one core idea per slide.

Tool execution adapts to your client host. When the client does not expose native PowerPoint MCP endpoints, the workflow pivots to the included `scripts/ppt-automation.py` script backed by `python-pptx`.

Keep in mind that the offline fallback strictly requires Python and the `python-pptx` library installed in the workspace. Running outside an MCP setup without that package will cause file generation to fail.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add PracticalSwan/agent-skills --skill powerpoint-ppt -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/powerpoint-ppt/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/powerpoint-ppt/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add PracticalSwan/agent-skills --skill powerpoint-ppt -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/powerpoint-ppt/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add PracticalSwan/agent-skills --skill powerpoint-ppt -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/powerpoint-ppt/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install PracticalSwan/agent-skills powerpoint-ppt
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/powerpoint-ppt/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add PracticalSwan/agent-skills --skill powerpoint-ppt -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/PracticalSwan/agent-skills --path powerpoint-ppt
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/powerpoint-ppt/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add PracticalSwan/agent-skills --skill powerpoint-ppt -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/PracticalSwan/agent-skills/tree/HEAD/powerpoint-ppt/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- build `.pptx` decks from structured outlines
- apply branding templates and layout rules to slides
- extract text content from decks for review or translation
- verify slide layouts and note fields before delivery

## Example prompts
- Generate a 5-slide deck from outline.md using our template.pptx layout.
- Extract all text from product-deck.pptx for a translation review.
- Update images and headers in report.pptx via local fallback without MCP.

## Source text · SKILL.md · MIT

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: e98b128c5a2dd212.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE e98b128c5a2dd212
```text
---
name: powerpoint-ppt
version: "2.0"
last_updated: 2026-09-08
tags: [slides, ppt, docs, writing, quality]
description: "PowerPoint (.pptx) manipulation via MCP server. Use for creating slides, formatting presentations, managing placeholders, adding images, applying templates, or extracting text from .pptx files."
---
# PowerPoint Presentation Workflows

> Tech Stack Target / Version: PowerPoint current desktop or web releases and `python-pptx` automation.

Use this skill when a `.pptx` deck is the output and slide composition matters.

- Leverage native parallel subagent dispatch and 200k+ context windows where available.


## Current MCP Reality

Presentation MCP tooling is host-dependent. Some clients expose Office presentation tools directly, while others do not. Do not assume stable public tool names. If the current client lacks those tools, use the included local automation script or generate the content structure first and import it into PowerPoint.

## Activation Conditions

Use symptom -> action triggers: when one matches, apply this skill and verify with the protocol below.

- Creating a deck from structured content
- Applying templates, branding, and slide layouts
- Updating text, images, or charts inside an existing presentation
- Extracting slide text for review or translation

## Practical Workflow

1. Confirm whether the client exposes presentation tools.
2. Prefer template-driven decks over manual one-off slide formatting.
3. Keep one idea per slide and treat text density as a defect.
4. Validate the final deck visually before calling it done.

## MCP Fallback – Native Automation

When MCP is unavailable, use native automation: `python-pptx` for `.pptx`, image export or screenshot checks for visual validation, and manual review for animations or speaker notes. Preserve slide order, layouts, theme fonts, media, notes, and aspect ratio, then reopen or render the deck before claiming success.

<!-- MCP:START -->

<!-- PORTABILITY:START -->
## Cross-Client Portability

This skill is written to stay usable across GitHub Copilot, Claude Code, and Codex.

- GitHub Copilot: keep the folder in a Copilot-visible skill path or wrap the
  workflow in project instructions when folder discovery is unavailable.
- Claude Code: keep the folder in a local skills directory or a compatible plugin source.
- Codex: install or sync the folder into
  `$CODEX_HOME/skills/powerpoint-ppt` and restart Codex after major changes.

<!-- PORTABILITY:END -->

## MCP Availability And Fallback

Preferred MCP Server: PowerPoint MCP

- Fallback prompt: "Use the PowerPoint Presentation Workflows skill without MCP. Follow the documented local or manual fallback, show the selected tool surface, and report the verification evidence."
- Use `python-pptx`, PowerPoint desktop, or a scriptable slide generator when the MCP surface is unavailable.
- Render the final deck and manually verify layout, overflow, and speaker-facing notes before delivery.
- Do not claim an MCP operation was used when the active host does not expose it.
```
END THIRD-PARTY FILE e98b128c5a2dd212

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