SKILLoptionalHermes Optional Skills

Pptx Author

Name: Pptx Author
Author: Anthropic (adapted by Nous Research)

Build PowerPoint decks headless with python-pptx

powerpointpptxpython-pptxpresentationfinanceOptionalHermes skill

Last registry verification2026-08-18v1.0.0Anthropic (adapted by Nous Research)

Open original source ↗اقرأ بالعربية

Plain meaning

What does it add to Hermes?

Build PowerPoint decks headless with python-pptx

Pptx Author is a skill related to security and identity. It focuses on risk checks or access management. These tools are sensitive because they may see account or infrastructure information.

This plain-language explanation is based on the publisher description. The original text remains visible for verification.

Use it when

Use it when your goal in security and identity is clear and you can limit it to the data and actions it actually needs.

Skip it when

Do not add it merely to experiment when Hermes already has a simpler path, or when you cannot review its source and permissions.

Who is it for?

Best for users who want a repeatable way of working inside Hermes.

Safe first test

Use test data or read-only access and confirm findings include evidence without automatic action.

Original publisher description

Build PowerPoint decks headless with python-pptx

✓

Data source

This entry was indexed from Hermes Optional Skills. Our explanation interprets the type and domain without inventing a capability not present upstream.

Security review

The source is official or editorially reviewed, but you still need to review permissions and version compatibility.

Safe setup path

Inspect, install, then test.

01
Open the source
Match the publisher, license, and description to your need. Check the real update history.
02
Review permissions and secrets
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03
Copy setup only after review
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04
Test with a non-sensitive task
Inspect the visible tools, then exclude write or delete tools you do not need.

Install command

Review the command, then copy it.

hermes skills install pptx-author

Hermes Belarabi does not execute this command. Installation happens on your device and remains subject to Hermes scanning and your review.

The full skill definition

Exactly what Hermes loads when this skill runs.

Reproduced from the official documentation. Read it before enabling the skill: this text becomes the agent's instructions.

Build PowerPoint decks headless with python-pptx.

Skill metadata

A lookup table. Do not read it all; find the row that applies to you.

Source	Optional — install with `hermes skills install official/finance/pptx-author`
Path	`optional-skills/finance/pptx-author`
Version	`1.0.0`
Author	Anthropic (adapted by Nous Research)
License	Apache-2.0
Platforms	linux, macos, windows
Tags	`powerpoint`, `pptx`, `python-pptx`, `presentation`, `finance`
Related skills	`excel-author`, `powerpoint`

Reference: full SKILL.md

Explains the idea itself. Read it slowly; the later sections build on it.

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 powerpoint 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

Explains the idea itself. Read it slowly; the later sections build on it.

Write to ./out/<name>.pptx. Create ./out/ if it does not exist.
Return the relative path in your final message.

Setup

Ordered, practical steps. Run one and confirm it worked before moving on.

Shell1 line

pip install "python-pptx>=0.6"

Core conventions

Explains the idea itself. Read it slowly; the later sections build on it.

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.

Text1 line

Revenue: $1,250M  (Source: model.xlsx, Inputs!C3)

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.

Python5 lines

from pptx import Presentation
from pathlib import Path

template = Path("./templates/firm-template.pptx")
prs = Presentation(str(template)) if template.exists() else Presentation()

Charts: PNG-from-model beats native pptx charts

When fidelity matters (the model's chart styling must match the deck exactly), render the chart to PNG from the source workbook and embed the image. Native pptx.chart charts are fragile and often don't match firm conventions.

Python4 lines

from pptx.util import Inches
slide.shapes.add_picture("./out/charts/football_field.png",
                         Inches(1), Inches(2),
                         width=Inches(8))

No external sends

This skill writes a file. It never emails, uploads, or posts. Orchestration layers handle delivery.

Skeleton

Explains the idea itself. Read it slowly; the later sections build on it.

Python46 lines

from pptx import Presentation
from pptx.util import Inches, Pt
from pptx.dml.color import RGBColor
from pathlib import Path

template = Path("./templates/firm-template.pptx")
prs = Presentation(str(template)) if template.exists() else Presentation()

# Title slide
slide = prs.slides.add_slide(prs.slide_layouts[0])
slide.shapes.title.text = "Project Aurora — Strategic Alternatives"
slide.placeholders[1].text = "Preliminary Discussion Materials"

# Valuation summary slide (title-only layout)
slide = prs.slides.add_slide(prs.slide_layouts[5])
slide.shapes.title.text = "Valuation implies $38–$52 per share across methodologies"

# Add a table bound to model outputs
rows, cols = 5, 4
tbl_shape = slide.shapes.add_table(rows, cols,
                                   Inches(0.5), Inches(1.5),
                                   Inches(9), Inches(3))
tbl = tbl_shape.table
headers = ["Methodology", "Low ($)", "Mid ($)", "High ($)"]
for c, h in enumerate(headers):
    tbl.cell(0, c).text = h

# In a real deck, read these from the model workbook with openpyxl
data = [
    ("Trading comps",     "35", "41", "48"),
    ("Precedent M&A",     "39", "45", "52"),
    ("DCF (base)",        "36", "43", "51"),
    ("LBO (10% IRR)",     "33", "38", "44"),
]
for r, row in enumerate(data, start=1):
    for c, val in enumerate(row):
        tbl.cell(r, c).text = val

# Embed a chart rendered from the model
slide = prs.slides.add_slide(prs.slide_layouts[5])
slide.shapes.title.text = "Football field — current price $42"
slide.shapes.add_picture("./out/charts/football_field.png",
                         Inches(1), Inches(1.8), width=Inches(8))

Path("./out").mkdir(exist_ok=True)
prs.save("./out/pitch-aurora.pptx")

Binding deck numbers to the source workbook

Explains the idea itself. Read it slowly; the later sections build on it.

Read named ranges or specific cells from your Excel model so deck numbers never drift.

Python11 lines

from openpyxl import load_workbook

wb = load_workbook("./out/model.xlsx", data_only=True)
def nr(name):
    """Resolve a named range to its current computed value."""
    rng = wb.defined_names[name]
    sheet, coord = next(rng.destinations)
    return wb[sheet][coord].value

revenue_fy24 = nr("RevenueFY24")
implied_mid  = nr("ImpliedSharePriceBase")

Then build deck content using those values:

Python1 line

slide.shapes.title.text = f"Implied share price of ${implied_mid:.2f} (base case)"

Remember to recalculate the workbook before reading it — openpyxl only sees computed values if something has already calculated the sheet. Run the recalc helper in the excel-author skill first, or open/save through a real Excel session.

Slide-type checklist for pitch decks

Explains the idea itself. Read it slowly; the later sections build on it.

A typical banking pitch deck follows this structure. Not prescriptive, but useful as a starting skeleton:

Cover / title
Disclaimer
Table of contents
Situation overview
Company snapshot (the target)
Market / sector context
Valuation summary (football field) — the money slide
Trading comps detail
Precedent transactions detail
DCF summary
Illustrative LBO / sponsor case
Process considerations
Appendix

When NOT to use this skill

Explains the idea itself. Read it slowly; the later sections build on it.

Users in a live PowerPoint session with an Office MCP available — drive their live doc instead.
Non-financial slideware (quarterly all-hands, marketing decks) — use the broader powerpoint skill.
Decks with heavy animation, transitions, or speaker notes — use the broader powerpoint skill.

Attribution

Explains the idea itself. Read it slowly; the later sections build on it.

Conventions adapted from Anthropic's Claude for Financial Services plugin suite, Apache-2.0 licensed. Original: https://github.com/anthropics/financial-services/tree/main/plugins/agent-plugins/pitch-agent/skills/pptx-author