pptx

pptx

Work with PowerPoint .pptx files using python-pptx (preinstalled). A .pptx is a ZIP of XML parts; python-pptx handles the structure so you rarely touch XML. Drop to raw OOXML only for the few things the library can't express (see Advanced).

Use exec with complete Python source (language: python). Keep asset creation, deck generation, reopening, and structural verification in one call when possible; later calls can revise the same relative filename. Follow the turn's User workspace instructions for locating inputs, output boundaries, and presenting the finished deck.

Mental model

• A presentation has slides; each slide is built from a layout; layouts live on slide masters. Layouts define placeholders (title, body, picture, etc.) by idx and type.
• A slide holds shapes: placeholders, text boxes, pictures, tables, charts.
• Shapes with text expose .text_frame → .paragraphs → .runs. A run is the unit that carries formatting (font, size, bold, color).
• Units are EMU. Use the helpers: from pptx.util import Inches, Pt, Emu.

Read / extract

from pptx import Presentation

prs = Presentation("deck.pptx")
print(len(prs.slides), prs.slide_width, prs.slide_height)  # EMU dims

for i, slide in enumerate(prs.slides, 1):
    print(f"--- slide {i} (layout: {slide.slide_layout.name}) ---")
    for shape in slide.shapes:
        if shape.has_text_frame:
            print(shape.text_frame.text)  # \n-joined paragraphs
        elif shape.has_table:
            for row in shape.table.rows:
                print([c.text for c in row.cells])
    if slide.has_notes_slide:
        notes = slide.notes_slide.notes_text_frame.text
        if notes:
            print("NOTES:", notes)

Iterate slide.placeholders to see placeholder idx / placeholder_format.type. For a fast text-only dump, just collect shape.text_frame.text across slides.

Create from an outline

List the layouts first — indices vary by template. With the default template, layout 0 = Title, 1 = Title+Content, 5 = Title Only, 6 = Blank.

from pptx import Presentation
from pptx.util import Inches, Pt

prs = Presentation()  # or Presentation("template.pptx") to inherit a theme
for idx, lay in enumerate(prs.slide_layouts):
    print(idx, lay.name, [(p.placeholder_format.idx, p.name) for p in lay.placeholders])

# Title slide
s = prs.slides.add_slide(prs.slide_layouts[0])
s.shapes.title.text = "My Deck"
s.placeholders[1].text = "Subtitle"  # idx from the listing above

# Title + bullets
s = prs.slides.add_slide(prs.slide_layouts[1])
s.shapes.title.text = "Agenda"
tf = s.placeholders[1].text_frame
tf.text = "First point"  # first paragraph
for line, lvl in [("Second", 0), ("Sub-point", 1)]:
    p = tf.add_paragraph()
    p.text = line
    p.level = lvl

prs.save("out.pptx")

Always set text via placeholders/shapes — never hand-write bullet glyphs (•); indentation/bullets come from the layout via paragraph.level.