PPT Template Creator
This skill creates SKILLS, not presentations. Use this when a user wants to turn their PowerPoint template into a reusable skill that can generate presentations later. If the user just wants to create a presentation, use the pptx skill instead.
The generated skill includes:
assets/template.pptx - the template fileSKILL.md - complete instructions (no reference to this meta skill needed)
For general skill-building best practices, refer to the skill-creator skill. This skill focuses on PPT-specific patterns.
Workflow
- User provides template (.pptx or .potx)
- Analyze template - extract layouts, placeholders, dimensions
- Initialize skill - use the
skill-creator skill to set up the skill structure
- Add template - copy .pptx to
assets/template.pptx
- Write SKILL.md - follow template below with PPT-specific details
- Create example - generate sample presentation to validate
- Package - use the
skill-creator skill to package into a .skill file
Step 2: Analyze Template
CRITICAL: Extract precise placeholder positions - this determines content area boundaries.
from pptx import Presentation
prs = Presentation(template_path)
print(f"Dimensions: {prs.slide_width/914400:.2f}\" x {prs.slide_height/914400:.2f}\"")
print(f"Layouts: {len(prs.slide_layouts)}")
for idx, layout in enumerate(prs.slide_layouts):
print(f"\n[{idx}] {layout.name}:")
for ph in layout.placeholders:
try:
ph_idx = ph.placeholder_format.idx
ph_type = ph.placeholder_format.type
# IMPORTANT: Extract exact positions in inches
left = ph.left / 914400
top = ph.top / 914400
width = ph.width / 914400
height = ph.height / 914400
print(f" idx={ph_idx}, type={ph_type}")
print(f" x={left:.2f}\", y={top:.2f}\", w={width:.2f}\", h={height:.2f}\"")
except:
pass
Key measurements to document:
- Title position: Where does the title placeholder sit?
- Subtitle/description: Where is the subtitle line?
- Footer placeholders: Where do footers/sources appear?
- Content area: The space BETWEEN subtitle and footer is your content area
Finding the True Content Start Position
CRITICAL: The content area does NOT always start immediately after the subtitle placeholder. Many templates have a visual border, line, or reserved space between the subtitle and content area.
Best approach: Look at Layout 2 or similar "content" layouts that have an OBJECT placeholder - this placeholder's y position indicates where content should actually start.
# Find the OBJECT placeholder to determine true content start
for idx, layout in enumerate(prs.slide_layouts):
for ph in layout.placeholders:
try:
if ph.placeholder_format.type == 7: # OBJECT type
top = ph.top / 914400
print(f"Layout [{idx}] {layout.name}: OBJECT starts at y={top:.2f}\"")
# This y value is where your content should start!
except:
pass
Example: A template might have:
- Subtitle ending at y=1.38"
- But OBJECT placeholder starting at y=1.90"
- The gap (0.52") is reserved for a border/line - do not place content there
Use the OBJECT placeholder's y position as your content start, not the subtitle's end position.
Step 5: Write SKILL.md
The generated skill should have this structure:
[company]-ppt-template/
├── SKILL.md
└── assets/
└── template.pptx
Generated SKILL.md Template
The generated SKILL.md must be self-contained with all instructions embedded. Use this template, filling in the bracketed values from your analysis:
---
name: [company]-ppt-template
description: [Company] PowerPoint template for creating presentations. Use when creating [Company]-branded pitch decks, board materials, or client presentations.
---
# [Company] PPT Template
Template: `assets/template.pptx` ([WIDTH]" x [HEIGHT]", [N] layouts)
## Creating Presentations
```python
from pptx import Presentation
prs = Presentation("path/to/skill/assets/template.pptx")
# DELETE all existing slides first
while len(prs.slides) > 0:
rId = prs.slides._sldIdLst[0].rId
prs.part.drop_rel(rId)
del prs.slides._sldIdLst[0]
# Add slides from layouts
slide = prs.slides.add_slide(prs.slide_layouts[LAYOUT_IDX])
```
## Key Layouts
| Index | Name | Use For |
|-------|------|---------|
| [0] | [Layout Name] | [Cover/title slide] |
| [N] | [Layout Name] | [Content with bullets] |
| [N] | [Layout Name] | [Two-column layout] |
## Placeholder Mapping
**CRITICAL: Include exact positions (x, y coordinates) for each placeholder.**
### Layout [N]: [Name]
| idx | Type | Position | Use |
|-----|------|----------|-----|
| [idx] | TITLE (1) | y=[Y]" | Slide title |
| [idx] | BODY (2) | y=[Y]" | Subtitle/description |
| [idx] | BODY (2) | y=[Y]" | Footer |
| [idx] | BODY (2) | y=[Y]" | Source/notes |
### Content Area Boundaries
**Document the safe content area for custom shapes/tables/charts:**
```
Content Area (for Layout [N]):
- Left margin: [X]" (content starts here)
- Top: [Y]" (below subtitle placeholder)
- Width: [W]"
- Height: [H]" (ends before footer)
For 4-quadrant layouts:
- Left column: x=[X]", width=[W]"
- Right column: x=[X]", width=[W]"
- Top row: y=[Y]", height=[H]"
- Bottom row: y=[Y]", height=[H]"
```
**Why this matters:** Custom content (textboxes, tables, charts) must stay within these boundaries to avoid overlapping with template placeholders like titles, footers, and source lines.
## Filling Content
**Do NOT add manual bullet characters** - slide master handles formatting.
```python
# Fill title
for shape in slide.shapes:
if hasattr(shape, 'placeholder_format'):
if shape.placeholder_format.type == 1: # TITLE
shape.text = "Slide Title"
# Fill content with hierarchy (level 0 = header, level 1 = bullet)
for shape in slide.shapes:
if hasattr(shape, 'placeholder_format'):
idx = shape.placeholder_format.idx
if idx == [CONTENT_IDX]:
tf = shape.text_frame
for para in tf.paragraphs:
para.clear()
content = [
("Section Header", 0),
("First bullet point", 1),
("Second bullet point", 1),
]
tf.paragraphs[0].text = content[0][0]
tf.paragraphs[0].level = content[0][1]
for text, level in content[1:]:
p = tf.add_paragraph()
p.text = text
p.level = level
```
## Example: Cover Slide
```python
slide = prs.slides.add_slide(prs.slide_layouts[[COVER_IDX]])
for shape in slide.shapes:
if hasattr(shape, 'placeholder_format'):
idx = shape.placeholder_format.idx
if idx == [TITLE_IDX]:
shape.text = "Company Name"
elif idx == [SUBTITLE_IDX]:
shape.text = "Presentation Title | Date"
```
## Example: Content Slide
```python
slide = prs.slides.add_slide(prs.slide_layouts[[CONTENT_IDX]])
for shape in slide.shapes:
if hasattr(shape, 'placeholder_format'):
ph_type = shape.placeholder_format.type
idx = shape.placeholder_format.idx
if ph_type == 1:
shape.text = "Executive Summary"
elif idx == [BODY_IDX]:
tf = shape.text_frame
for para in tf.paragraphs:
para.clear()
content = [
("Key Findings", 0),
("Revenue grew 40% YoY to $50M", 1),
("Expanded to 3 new markets", 1),
("Recommendation", 0),
("Proceed with strategic initiative", 1),
]
tf.paragraphs[0].text = content[0][0]
tf.paragraphs[0].level = content[0][1]
for text, level in content[1:]:
p = tf.add_paragraph()
p.text = text
p.level = level
```
Step 6: Create Example Output
Generate a sample presentation to validate the skill works. Save it alongside the skill for reference.
PPT-Specific Rules for Generated Skills
- Template in assets/ - always bundle the .pptx file
- Self-contained SKILL.md - all instructions embedded, no external references
- No manual bullets - use
paragraph.level for hierarchy
- Delete slides first - always clear existing slides before adding new ones
- Document placeholders by idx - placeholder idx values are template-specific