Presentation Maker

The Presentation Maker skill enables automated creation of professional PowerPoint presentations (.pptx) with custom layouts, themes, charts, images, and multimedia. Using libraries like pptxgenjs, this skill handles everything from simple slide decks to complex presentations with data visualizations and animations.

Create pitch decks, training materials, reports, project updates, and any presentation content programmatically. Support for master slides, themes, charts, tables, images, shapes, and speaker notes makes this a complete solution for presentation automation.

Core Workflows

Workflow 1: Create Basic Presentation

Purpose: Build a simple presentation with title and content slides

Steps:

1. Import pptxgenjs and create Presentation instance
2. Define presentation properties (title, author, company)
3. Add title slide with company branding
4. Add content slides with bullet points
5. Apply consistent theme and fonts
6. Add slide numbers
7. Export to .pptx file

Implementation:

const PptxGenJS = require('pptxgenjs');

function createBasicPresentation(content, outputPath) {
  const pptx = new PptxGenJS();

  // Set presentation properties
  pptx.author = 'Company Name';
  pptx.company = 'Company Name';
  pptx.subject = content.subject;
  pptx.title = content.title;

  // Title slide
  let slide = pptx.addSlide();
  slide.background = { color: '2C3E50' };
  slide.addText(content.title, {
    x: 0.5,
    y: 2.5,
    w: '90%',
    h: 1.5,
    fontSize: 44,
    bold: true,
    color: 'FFFFFF',
    align: 'center'
  });
  slide.addText(content.subtitle, {
    x: 0.5,
    y: 4.0,
    w: '90%',
    fontSize: 24,
    color: 'BDC3C7',
    align: 'center'
  });

  // Content slides
  content.slides.forEach(slideData => {
    let slide = pptx.addSlide();

    // Title
    slide.addText(slideData.title, {
      x: 0.5,
      y: 0.5,
      w: '90%',
      h: 0.75,
      fontSize: 32,
      bold: true,
      color: '2C3E50'
    });

    // Bullet points
    slide.addText(slideData.bullets, {
      x: 0.5,
      y: 1.5,
      w: '90%',
      h: 4.0,
      fontSize: 18,
      bullet: true,
      color: '34495E'
    });

    // Slide number
    slide.addText(`${pptx.getSlideNumber()}`, {
      x: 9.0,
      y: 7.0,
      w: 0.5,
      h: 0.3,
      fontSize: 12,
      color: '95A5A6',
      align: 'right'
    });
  });

  pptx.writeFile({ fileName: outputPath });
}

Workflow 2: Add Charts and Data Visualizations

Purpose: Create slides with embedded charts from data

Steps:

1. Create presentation
2. Prepare chart data (labels and values)
3. Add chart slide with title
4. Define chart type (bar, line, pie, scatter, etc.)
5. Configure chart options (colors, legend, axes)
6. Add data labels and formatting
7. Position chart on slide

Implementation:

function createPresentationWithCharts(data, outputPath) {
  const pptx = new PptxGenJS();

  // Bar chart slide
  let slide = pptx.addSlide();
  slide.addText('Quarterly Revenue', {
    x: 0.5, y: 0.5, w: '90%', fontSize: 32, bold: true
  });

  const chartData = [
    {
      name: 'Revenue',
      labels: data.quarters,
      values: data.revenue
    }
  ];

  slide.addChart(pptx.ChartType.bar, chartData, {
    x: 1.0,
    y: 1.5,
    w: 8.0,
    h: 4.5,
    chartColors: ['2E74B5'],
    showTitle: false,
    showLegend: true,
    legendPos: 'b',
    valAxisMaxVal: Math.max(...data.revenue) * 1.2,
    dataLabelFormatCode: '$#,##0',
    showValue: true
  });

  // Pie chart slide
  slide = pptx.addSlide();
  slide.addText('Market Share', {
    x: 0.5, y: 0.5, w: '90%', fontSize: 32, bold: true
  });

  const pieData = [
    { name: 'Product A', labels: ['Share'], values: [35] },
    { name: 'Product B', labels: ['Share'], values: [28] },
    { name: 'Product C', labels: ['Share'], values: [22] },
    { name: 'Others', labels: ['Share'], values: [15] }
  ];

  slide.addChart(pptx.ChartType.pie, pieData, {
    x: 2.0,
    y: 1.5,
    w: 6.0,
    h: 4.5,
    showPercent: true,
    chartColors: ['2E74B5', '5DA5DA', '60BD68', 'F17CB0']
  });

  // Line chart for trends
  slide = pptx.addSlide();
  slide.addText('Growth Trend', {
    x: 0.5, y: 0.5, w: '90%', fontSize: 32, bold: true
  });

  const lineData = [
    {
      name: '2024',
      labels: ['Jan', 'Feb', 'Mar', 'Apr', 'May', 'Jun'],
      values: [10, 15, 13, 18, 22, 25]
    },
    {
      name: '2025',
      labels: ['Jan', 'Feb', 'Mar', 'Apr', 'May', 'Jun'],
      values: [12, 18, 16, 22, 27, 32]
    }
  ];

  slide.addChart(pptx.ChartType.line, lineData, {
    x: 1.0,
    y: 1.5,
    w: 8.0,
    h: 4.5,
    lineSmooth: true,
    chartColors: ['2E74B5', 'E74C3C']
  });

  pptx.writeFile({ fileName: outputPath });
}

Workflow 3: Create Presentation from Template

Purpose: Use a master slide template for consistent branding

Steps:

1. Load or define master slide layouts
2. Set theme colors and fonts
3. Define slide layouts (title, content, two-column, etc.)
4. Create slides using predefined layouts
5. Apply company branding consistently
6. Add footer and logo to all slides
7. Export with template applied

Implementation:

function createFromTemplate(content, outputPath) {
  const pptx = new PptxGenJS();

  // Define theme colors
  pptx.defineLayout({ name: 'CUSTOM', width: 10, height: 5.625 });
  pptx.layout = 'CUSTOM';

  // Define master slide
  const masterSlide = pptx.defineSlideMaster({
    title: 'MASTER_SLIDE',
    background: { color: 'FFFFFF' },
    objects: [
      // Company logo
      { image: { x: 0.5, y: 0.2, w: 1.0, h: 0.4, path: 'company-logo.png' } },
      // Footer
      { text: { text: 'Company Confidential', options: { x: 0.5, y: 5.0, fontSize: 10, color: '95A5A6' } } }
    ]
  });

  // Use master slide for content
  content.slides.forEach(slideData => {
    let slide = pptx.addSlide({ masterName: 'MASTER_SLIDE' });

    slide.addText(slideData.title, {
      x: 2.0, y: 0.5, w: 7.5, fontSize: 28, bold: true, color: '2C3E50'
    });

    slide.addText(slideData.content, {
      x: 2.0, y: 1.5, w: 7.5, fontSize: 16, color: '34495E'
    });
  });

  pptx.writeFile({ fileName: outputPath });
}

Workflow 4: Add Images and Media

Purpose: Include images, shapes, and multimedia content

Steps:

1. Create presentation
2. Add image slides with captions
3. Resize and position images
4. Add shapes (rectangles, circles, arrows)
5. Layer elements with z-index
6. Add hyperlinks to images
7. Insert video placeholders (if supported)

Implementation:

function createWithMedia(content, outputPath) {
  const pptx = new PptxGenJS();

  // Image slide
  let slide = pptx.addSlide();
  slide.addText(content.title, {
    x: 0.5, y: 0.5, fontSize: 32, bold: true
  });

  // Add image
  slide.addImage({
    path: content.imagePath,
    x: 1.5,
    y: 1.5,
    w: 7.0,
    h: 4.0,
    sizing: { type: 'contain', w: 7.0, h: 4.0 }
  });

  // Add caption
  slide.addText(content.caption, {
    x: 1.5,
    y: 5.7,
    w: 7.0,
    fontSize: 14,
    italic: true,
    align: 'center',
    color: '7F8C8D'
  });

  // Slide with shapes
  slide = pptx.addSlide();

  // Background shape
  slide.addShape(pptx.ShapeType.rect, {
    x: 0.5,
    y: 1.5,
    w: 9.0,
    h: 4.5,
    fill: { color: 'ECF0F1' },
    line: { color: '3498DB', width: 2 }
  });

  // Arrow shapes for process flow
  slide.addShape(pptx.ShapeType.rightArrow, {
    x: 1.0,
    y: 3.0,
    w: 2.0,
    h: 1.0,
    fill: { color: '3498DB' }
  });

  slide.addText('Step 1', {
    x: 1.3, y: 3.3, w: 1.4, fontSize: 16, color: 'FFFFFF', bold: true, align: 'center'
  });

  pptx.writeFile({ fileName: outputPath });
}

Workflow 5: Add Tables and Data

Purpose: Display structured data in table format

Steps:

1. Create slide
2. Define table structure (rows and columns)
3. Add header row with styling
4. Populate data rows
5. Apply cell formatting (colors, borders, alignment)
6. Set column widths
7. Add table title

Implementation:

function createWithTables(data, outputPath) {
  const pptx = new PptxGenJS();

  let slide = pptx.addSlide();
  slide.addText('Project Status', {
    x: 0.5, y: 0.5, fontSize: 32, bold: true
  });

  // Define table rows
  const tableData = [
    [
      { text: 'Task', options: { bold: true, fill: '2C3E50', color: 'FFFFFF' } },
      { text: 'Owner', options: { bold: true, fill: '2C3E50', color: 'FFFFFF' } },
      { text: 'Status', options: { bold: true, fill: '2C3E50', color: 'FFFFFF' } },
      { text: 'Due Date', options: { bold: true, fill: '2C3E50', color: 'FFFFFF' } }
    ]
  ];

  // Add data rows
  data.tasks.forEach(task => {
    const statusColor = task.status === 'Complete' ? '27AE60' :
                       task.status === 'In Progress' ? 'F39C12' : 'E74C3C';

    tableData.push([
      { text: task.name },
      { text: task.owner },
      { text: task.status, options: { fill: statusColor, color: 'FFFFFF' } },
      { text: task.dueDate }
    ]);
  });

  slide.addTable(tableData, {
    x: 0.5,
    y: 1.5,
    w: 9.0,
    colW: [3.0, 2.0, 2.0, 2.0],
    border: { pt: 1, color: 'BDC3C7' },
    fontSize: 14,
    align: 'center',
    valign: 'middle'
  });

  pptx.writeFile({ fileName: outputPath });
}

Workflow 6: Add Speaker Notes

Purpose: Include presenter notes for each slide

Steps:

1. Create slides with content
2. Add speaker notes to each slide
3. Format notes with key talking points
4. Include timing suggestions
5. Add references and sources
6. Export with notes included

Implementation:

content.slides.forEach(slideData => {
  let slide = pptx.addSlide();

  slide.addText(slideData.title, {
    x: 0.5, y: 0.5, fontSize: 32, bold: true
  });

  slide.addText(slideData.content, {
    x: 0.5, y: 1.5, fontSize: 18, bullet: true
  });

  // Add speaker notes
  slide.addNotes(`
    Key Points:
    - ${slideData.notes.keyPoints.join('\n    - ')}

    Timing: ${slideData.notes.timing}

    Additional Context:
    ${slideData.notes.context}
  `);
});

Quick Reference

Best Practices

• Consistency: Use templates and master slides for uniform appearance
• Simplicity: Keep slides clean with minimal text (6x6 rule: max 6 bullets, 6 words each)
• Visuals: Use charts and images to convey information effectively
• Color Scheme: Stick to 2-3 primary colors aligned with brand
• Font Size: Minimum 18pt for body text, 28pt+ for headings
• Contrast: Ensure text is readable against backgrounds
• Slide Count: Aim for one slide per minute of presentation time
• Data Visualization: Choose appropriate chart types for data
• White Space: Don't overcrowd slides; use white space effectively
• Animations: Use sparingly and only when they add value (not supported in pptxgenjs)
• File Size: Compress images before embedding
• Accessibility: Include alt text for images when possible

Common Patterns

Pitch Deck:

const pitchSlides = [
  { type: 'title', title: 'Company Name', subtitle: 'Investor Pitch' },
  { type: 'content', title: 'Problem', bullets: ['Pain point 1', 'Pain point 2'] },
  { type: 'content', title: 'Solution', bullets: ['Our approach', 'Key benefits'] },
  { type: 'chart', title: 'Market Size', chartType: 'bar' },
  { type: 'content', title: 'Business Model', bullets: ['Revenue streams'] },
  { type: 'chart', title: 'Financial Projections', chartType: 'line' },
  { type: 'content', title: 'Team', image: 'team-photos.png' },
  { type: 'content', title: 'Ask', bullets: ['Funding amount', 'Use of funds'] }
];

Training Presentation:

slides.forEach((slide, idx) => {
  let s = pptx.addSlide();
  s.addText(slide.title, { x: 0.5, y: 0.5, fontSize: 28, bold: true });
  s.addText(slide.content, { x: 0.5, y: 1.5, fontSize: 16 });
  if (slide.example) {
    s.addText('Example:', { x: 0.5, y: 4.0, fontSize: 14, italic: true });
    s.addText(slide.example, { x: 0.5, y: 4.4, fontSize: 14 });
  }
  s.addNotes(slide.trainerNotes);
});

Dependencies

Install required packages:

npm install pptxgenjs

Alternative libraries:

npm install officegen  # Legacy option
npm install node-pptx  # Another alternative

Error Handling

• File Paths: Verify image paths exist before adding to slides
• Data Validation: Ensure chart data is properly formatted
• Memory: For presentations with many high-res images, monitor memory usage
• Compatibility: Test output in PowerPoint, Google Slides, and Keynote
• Chart Limits: Some chart types have data point limitations
• Text Overflow: Monitor text length to prevent overflow on slides

Performance Tips

• Compress images before adding to presentation
• Reuse image objects when same image appears on multiple slides
• Batch slide creation operations
• Use web-optimized images (72-96 DPI sufficient for screens)
• Limit number of slides in a single file (<100 slides)

Advanced Features

Custom Layouts:

const layout = pptx.defineSlideMaster({
  title: 'TWO_COLUMN',
  background: { color: 'FFFFFF' },
  objects: [
    { rect: { x: 0, y: 0, w: 5, h: 5.625, fill: 'F0F0F0' } },
    { rect: { x: 5, y: 0, w: 5, h: 5.625, fill: 'FFFFFF' } }
  ]
});

Hyperlinks:

slide.addText('Visit Website', {
  x: 1, y: 3, fontSize: 18,
  hyperlink: { url: 'https://example.com', tooltip: 'Click to visit' },
  color: '0000FF',
  underline: true
});

Gradients:

slide.background = {
  fill: { type: 'solid', color: '2C3E50' },
  transparency: 0
};