The Presentation object is the top-level container for a PowerPoint presentation. It provides access to slides, slide masters, layouts, and presentation-level properties.
Creating and opening presentations
Opening a new presentation
Create a new presentation from the built-in default template:
from pptx import Presentation
prs = Presentation()
prs.save('new-presentation.pptx')
Opening an existing presentation
Open and modify an existing PowerPoint file:
prs = Presentation('existing-presentation.pptx')
# Make changes...
prs.save('modified-presentation.pptx')
If you use the same filename for opening and saving, the original file will be overwritten without warning.
Opening from file-like objects
You can also work with file-like objects for scenarios like network transfers or database storage:
from io import BytesIO
# Open from file-like object
with open('presentation.pptx', 'rb') as f:
prs = Presentation(f)
# Save to file-like object
output = BytesIO()
prs.save(output)
output.seek(0)
Core properties
Access Dublin Core document properties like title, author, and subject:
from pptx import Presentation
prs = Presentation()
core_props = prs.core_properties
core_props.title = 'Annual Report 2024'
core_props.author = 'Jane Smith'
core_props.subject = 'Financial Overview'
core_props.comments = 'Q4 results and projections'
prs.save('report.pptx')
core_properties attribute returns a CoreProperties object with read/write access to metadata.
Slide dimensions
Control the width and height of all slides in the presentation:
from pptx import Presentation
from pptx.util import Inches
prs = Presentation()
# Read current dimensions
width = prs.slide_width
height = prs.slide_height
# Set to widescreen (16:9)
prs.slide_width = Inches(10)
prs.slide_height = Inches(7.5)
# Set to standard (4:3)
prs.slide_width = Inches(10)
prs.slide_height = Inches(7.5)
prs.save('custom-size.pptx')
Inches, Cm, or Pt classes from pptx.util for convenience.
Both slide_width and slide_height return None if no dimensions are defined. They can be set using Length values.
Slide masters and layouts
Accessing slide masters
Slide masters define the overall theme and formatting for a presentation:
from pptx import Presentation
prs = Presentation()
# Access all slide masters
slide_masters = prs.slide_masters
print(f"Number of masters: {len(slide_masters)}")
# Most presentations have a single slide master
master = prs.slide_master
print(f"Master name: {master.name}")
slide_masters property returns a SlideMasters collection that supports indexing, iteration, and len().
Working with slide layouts
Slide layouts are templates derived from the master that define placeholder arrangements:
from pptx import Presentation
prs = Presentation()
# Access layouts through the first slide master
layouts = prs.slide_layouts
# Iterate through available layouts
for idx, layout in enumerate(layouts):
print(f"{idx}: {layout.name}")
# Common layout indices (standard PowerPoint themes):
title_layout = prs.slide_layouts[0] # Title slide
content_layout = prs.slide_layouts[1] # Title and Content
section_layout = prs.slide_layouts[2] # Section Header
blank_layout = prs.slide_layouts[6] # Blank
slide_layouts property is a convenience shortcut to prs.slide_masters[0].slide_layouts.
Layout indices may vary between themes. Open your template in PowerPoint’s Slide Master view to verify the order.
Working with slides
The presentation’s slides are accessed through the slides collection:
from pptx import Presentation
prs = Presentation()
# Add slides
title_layout = prs.slide_layouts[0]
slide = prs.slides.add_slide(title_layout)
# Access existing slides
first_slide = prs.slides[0]
slide_count = len(prs.slides)
# Iterate through slides
for idx, slide in enumerate(prs.slides):
print(f"Slide {idx}: {slide.slide_id}")
Saving presentations
Save your presentation to a file or file-like object:
from pptx import Presentation
prs = Presentation()
# Save to file path (string)
prs.save('output.pptx')
# Save to file-like object
with open('output.pptx', 'wb') as f:
prs.save(f)
save() method accepts either a file path (string) or a file-like object open for writing bytes.
Notes master
Access the notes master for the presentation:
from pptx import Presentation
prs = Presentation()
# Access notes master (created if not present)
notes_master = prs.notes_master
# Work with notes master placeholders
for placeholder in notes_master.placeholders:
print(f"{placeholder.placeholder_format.type}")
Complete example
Here’s a complete example demonstrating presentation creation and configuration:
from pptx import Presentation
from pptx.util import Inches
# Create new presentation
prs = Presentation()
# Set properties
prs.core_properties.title = 'Q4 Business Review'
prs.core_properties.author = 'Marketing Team'
# Configure dimensions (16:9 widescreen)
prs.slide_width = Inches(13.333)
prs.slide_height = Inches(7.5)
# Add title slide
title_layout = prs.slide_layouts[0]
slide = prs.slides.add_slide(title_layout)
title = slide.shapes.title
subtitle = slide.placeholders[1]
title.text = "Q4 Business Review"
subtitle.text = "December 2024"
# Add content slides
content_layout = prs.slide_layouts[1]
slide = prs.slides.add_slide(content_layout)
slide.shapes.title.text = "Key Metrics"
# Save presentation
prs.save('business-review.pptx')
API reference
Presentation class
Properties:
core_properties - CoreProperties object for document metadatanotes_master - NotesMaster instance for the presentationslide_height - Height of slides in EMU (read/write)slide_width - Width of slides in EMU (read/write)slide_layouts - SlideLayouts collection from first masterslide_master - First SlideMaster objectslide_masters - SlideMasters collectionslides - Slides collection
Methods:
save(file) - Save presentation to file path or file-like object
The Presentation class is not meant to be constructed directly. Use the pptx.Presentation() function to create or open presentations.