anthropics/ppt-template-creator

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 file
• SKILL.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

1. User provides template (.pptx or .potx)
2. Analyze template - extract layouts, placeholders, dimensions
3. Initialize skill - use the skill-creator skill to set up the skill structure
4. Add template - copy .pptx to assets/template.pptx
5. Write SKILL.md - follow template below with PPT-specific details
6. Create example - generate sample presentation to validate
7. 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

1. Template in assets/ - always bundle the .pptx file
2. Self-contained SKILL.md - all instructions embedded, no external references
3. No manual bullets - use paragraph.level for hierarchy
4. Delete slides first - always clear existing slides before adding new ones
5. Document placeholders by idx - placeholder idx values are template-specific