Template Deck Builder

Build decks INTO the company template and make them argue something. The three ways decks go wrong are: rebuilding the template from scratch (floating text boxes, hard-coded colors, ignored layouts), having no storyline (topic-label titles, one slide per data dump), and shipping without looking (overflowing text, boxes over charts). This skill has one step for each.

Scripts need python-pptx (pip install python-pptx), plus LibreOffice (soffice) and poppler (pdftoppm) for the render. Anthropic's generic pptx skill covers raw pptx manipulation from scratch. Use this skill when a template exists or the deck has to read like consulting work.

Files

• scripts/inspect_template.py: template to layout_map.json (layouts, placeholders, geometry, theme, recommended layout per slide type).
• scripts/build_deck.py: storyboard JSON to deck, filling placeholders. Also edits an existing deck in place (--edit).
• scripts/qa_deck.py: checks, render, contact sheet, report. Exits 1 on any ERROR.
• references/storyboard-schema.md: every storyboard field, with examples.
• references/storyline.md: action titles, pyramid, SCR, ghost deck, chart choice.
• references/python-pptx-notes.md: placeholder mechanics, autofit limits, EMU, charts, breakages.
• tests/run_tests.sh OUT_DIR: builds a sample template, a good 6-slide deck and a bad one, and checks that QA passes the first and catches the second.

Workflow

1. Inspect the template (never skip)