Headless PowerPoint Author
Generate a deliverable PPTX file in managed-agent sessions without an open Office application.
The skill limits itself to headless operation, writes only to ./out/<name>.pptx, states that it does not email or upload, and requires model-cell traceability for figures. These provide basic least external effect and data-flow transparency. It lacks user confirmation, sensitive financial-data handling guidance, rollback procedures, and a pinned python-pptx dependency, so points are deducted.
The output contract, Python example, template fallback, and non-use condition are broadly consistent, making the key path understandable from source. There are no dependency installation notes, input validation, exception handling, diagnostic failure messages, or executed tests; under static calibration the score cannot exceed 10, so 7 is warranted.
The target is clearly headless managed-agent/CMA use without an open Office application, with an output location, template behavior, and boundary versus live Office tools. Input requirements, non-fit cases, missing-template/model behavior, and Chinese-content support are not sufficiently specified, so points are deducted.
The document is concise and layered, covering name, description, output contract, workflow, conventions, and non-use cases; the repository supplies Apache-2.0 licensing and plugin-validation CI. The skill itself lacks versioning, changelog, dependency installation, FAQs, named maintenance responsibility, and an update path, so the score is limited.
It plausibly completes the core task of producing a collectible PPTX file and provides a directly adaptable python-pptx example. The no-external-send rule and figure-footnote convention improve financial-work-product usefulness. No representative output or execution evidence is committed, and charts, templates, and complex layouts still require user work and review; the static ceiling is 7, so 6 is assigned.
The skill provides concrete paths, code, and inspectable conventions, while repository CI validates plugin manifests. It lacks tests covering the skill's key generation path, committed output samples, or third-party execution evidence, and this review did not execute the code, so only 3 points are justified.
- Before use, confirm that a compatible python-pptx version is installed and consider pinning the dependency.
- Behavior for missing templates, model files, or output directories is unspecified; verify that the PPTX is created, figure footnotes are complete, and content receives human review.
- The skill does not define sensitive-financial-data redaction, user confirmation, or recovery procedures; it should not be treated as an automated publishing or decision-making tool.
What it does & when to use it
pptx-author is designed for headless execution, where a PowerPoint deck must be written to disk instead of edited in a live PowerPoint document. It uses Python and python-pptx and requires the output at ./out/<name>.pptx. The instructions emphasize one idea per slide and traceability for model-derived figures. It fits Managed Agent workflows that need a file artifact, but it does not send or upload files.
Creates ./out/ when needed; writes and runs a short Python script through Bash; uses python-pptx to create or open a presentation, add slides, text, tables, or charts; uses ./templates/firm-template.pptx when a firm template is mounted; saves the result as ./out/<name>.pptx; and returns the relative path in the final response.
- An investment-banking analyst needs a pitch deck file from a managed-agent session without an open Office application.
- A financial researcher has model outputs and needs them placed into an estimate summary, table, or chart in PPTX format.
- An operations team needs PowerPoint files generated through an automated, non-interactive workflow.
- A Managed Agent pipeline needs to hand a presentation file to a downstream orchestration layer.
Pros & cons
- Provides a clear output contract for orchestration layers to collect the PPTX artifact.
- Designed specifically for managed-agent sessions without an open Office application.
- Supports firm templates and promotes takeaway-oriented slides with traceable figures.
- Explicitly limits scope to file creation and excludes external sending.
- Requires Python and python-pptx, but the source gives no version requirements or tested platforms.
- Provides no complete production script, template asset, or test suite.
- A different workflow is preferred when live Office PowerPoint tools are available.
- The source does not specify support for advanced layouts, animations, or other complex PowerPoint features.
How to install
The skill is located at plugins/vertical-plugins/financial-analysis/skills/pptx-author/SKILL.md. The README does not document a standalone installation command for this skill; following the collection instructions, add the marketplace and install the core plugin with: claude plugin marketplace add anthropics/financial-services, then claude plugin install financial-analysis@claude-for-financial-services.
How to use
In a headless or Managed Agent session, request a PowerPoint file artifact. Write and run a Python script using python-pptx, save the presentation to ./out/<name>.pptx, and return that relative path. Use ./templates/firm-template.pptx when provided. If mcp__office__powerpoint_* tools are available, use the live Office workflow instead.
Compared to similar skills
Compared with live Office PowerPoint tools, pptx-author targets headless file generation; the source explicitly recommends the live editing workflow when mcp__office__powerpoint_* tools are available.