Agent skill · writing content · nousresearch
pptx-author
Build PowerPoint decks headless with python-pptx.
Why this skill is useful
Adds specific patterns and conventions for generating finance-related PowerPoint presentations that the AI wouldn't reliably generate on its own.
What it needs
Requires python-pptx installed locally. About 4k tokens when loaded. Last updated 2026-08-07. 226,679 stars on the source repository.
What this skill does
pptx-author Produce a .pptx file on disk using python-pptx. Use when you need to deliver a deck as a file artifact, not drive a live PowerPoint session. Adapted from Anthropic's pptx-author and pitch-deck skills in anthropics/financial-services. The MCP / Office-JS branches of the originals are dropped — this assumes headless Python. For the broader, already-shipped PowerPoint authoring skill (slides, speaker notes, embeds, media), see the built-in microsoft-office skill. This skill is a lighter-weight pattern tuned for model-backed decks (pitch decks, IC memos, earnings notes) where every number must trace to a source workbook. Output contract Write to ./out/<name>.pptx. Create ./out/ if it does not exist. Return the relative path in your final message. Setup Use python when it already imports pptx (the Hermes Docker image ships it). Otherwise, when hermes is on PATH, let Hermes build its shared, pinned documents environment under the Hermes home (safe to run from several agents at once); in a Docker sandbox without Hermes the block builds a venv in the sandbox home with the same pinned versions. It is the same block as the microsoft-office/pdf skills. Never pip install into the interpreter that runs Hermes: Run the deck-building Python with "$PY". Core conventions One idea per slide Title states the takeaway; body supports it. A slide titled "Q3 Revenue" is weak; "Revenue growth accelerated to 14% Y/Y in Q3" is strong. Every number traces to the model If a figure on a slide came from ./out/model.xlsx, footnote the sheet and cell. Never transcribe numbers from memory or from a summary — open the workbook, read the named range, and bind the deck value to it programmatically when you can. Use the firm template when one is mounted If ./templates/firm-template.pptx exists, load it so the deck inherits branded colors, fonts, and master layouts. …
How to use it
Reference it in AdaL, Claude Code, Cursor or any coding agent — nothing to install:
@skills nousresearch/pptx-author