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
- Confirm whether the client exposes presentation tools.
- Prefer template-driven decks over manual one-off slide formatting.
- Keep one idea per slide and treat text density as a defect.
- 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.
Anti-Patterns
- Writing for the author instead of the reader: It bakes in unstated context and leaves the actual audience unsure what to do next.
- Skipping concrete examples or commands: Abstract guidance is easy to approve and hard to apply correctly.
- Letting links, screenshots, or versions drift: Polished formatting does not help if the instructions are no longer true.
Verification Protocol
Before claiming "skill applied successfully":
- Pass/fail: The Powerpoint Ppt artifact type, target format, and required output fidelity are stated before editing.
- Pass/fail: MCP availability is checked and the native automation fallback path is named when MCP is absent.
- Pass/fail: The produced file or formula is opened, parsed, rendered, or otherwise validated locally.
- Pressure-test scenario: Apply the workflow to a file with formatting, metadata, or conversion edge cases and verify nothing important is lost.
- Success metric: Zero unverified document claims; the artifact itself is the evidence.
Deck Checklist
- Title slide is present
- Slide layouts are consistent
- Fonts and colors match the template
- Images are high-resolution and not stretched
- Final slides were reviewed in slideshow size, not just as raw XML or text
References & Resources
Documentation
- PowerPoint References - Supporting notes for formatting, structure, and automation expectations
Scripts
- PPT Automation Script - Local fallback for building or updating presentation content
Examples
- Presentation Examples - Example deck structures and content patterns
Cross-Client Portability
This skill is written to stay usable across GitHub Copilot, Claude Code, Codex, and Gemini CLI.
- GitHub Copilot: keep the folder in a Copilot-visible skill or plugin path, or wrap the workflow as project instructions if the host does not support portable skill folders directly.
- Claude Code: keep the folder in a local skills directory or a compatible plugin or marketplace source.
- Codex: install or sync the folder into
$CODEX_HOME/skills/<skill-name>and restart Codex after major changes. - Gemini CLI: this repository generates a project command named
/skills:powerpoint-pptfrom this skill. Rebuild commands withpython scripts/export-gemini-skill.py powerpoint-pptand then run/commands reloadinside Gemini CLI.
MCP Availability And Fallback
Preferred MCP Server: PowerPoint MCP
- Fallback prompt: "Use the PowerPoint Presentation Workflows skill without MCP. Rely on the local
SKILL.md, bundled references or scripts, and manual verification. Show the exact commands, evidence, and final checks you used before concluding." - 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.
Related Skills
- documentation-authoring: Use it when the workflow also needs drafting structured technical or product documents.
- documentation-patterns: Use it when the workflow also needs reusable documentation structures and templates.
- documentation-quality: Use it when the workflow also needs documentation review standards and quality gates.
- documentation-verification: Use it when the workflow also needs final documentation validation before publishing.