1# Generate slide decks | Codex use cases1---
2 2name: Generate slide decks
3Codex use cases3tagline: Manipulate pptx files and use image generation to automate slide creation.
4 4summary: Use ChatGPT to update existing presentations or build new decks by
55 editing slides directly through code, generating visuals, and applying
6 6 repeatable layout rules slide by slide.
77skills:
8 8 - token: $slides
9Codex use case9 description: Create and edit `.pptx` decks in JavaScript with PptxGenJS, bundled
10 10 helpers, and render and validation scripts for overflow, overlap, and font
11# Generate slide decks11 checks.
12 12 - token: $imagegen
13Manipulate pptx files and use image generation to automate slide creation.13 description: Generate illustrations, cover art, diagrams, and slide visuals that
14 14 match one reusable visual direction.
15Difficulty **Easy**15bestFor:
16 16 - Teams turning notes or structured inputs into repeatable slide decks
17Time horizon **30m**17 - Creating new visual presentations from scratch
18 18 - Rebuilding or extending decks from screenshots, PDFs, or reference
19Use Codex to update existing presentations or build new decks by editing slides directly through code, generating visuals, and applying repeatable layout rules slide by slide.19 presentations
20 20starterPrompt:
21## Best for21 title: Create a new slide deck
22 22 body: >-
23- Teams turning notes or structured inputs into repeatable slide decks23 Use the $slides and $imagegen skills to edit this slide deck in the
24- Creating new visual presentations from scratch24 following way:
25- Rebuilding or extending decks from screenshots, PDFs, or reference presentations25
26 26 - If present, add logo.png in the bottom right corner on every slide
27# Contents27
28 28 - On slides X, Y and Z, move the text to the left and use image generation
29[← All use cases](https://developers.openai.com/codex/use-cases)29 to generate an illustration (style: abstract, digital art) on the right
30 30
31Copy page [Export as PDF](https://developers.openai.com/codex/use-cases/generate-slide-decks/?export=pdf)31 - Preserve text as text and simple charts as native PowerPoint charts where
32 32 practical.
33Use Codex to update existing presentations or build new decks by editing slides directly through code, generating visuals, and applying repeatable layout rules slide by slide.33
34 34 - Add these slides: [describe new slides here]
35Easy35
36 36 - Use the existing branding on new slides and new text (colors, fonts,
3730m37 layout, etc.)
38 38
39Related links39 - Render the updated deck to slide images, review the output, and fix layout
40 40 issues before delivery.
41[Image generation guide](https://developers.openai.com/api/docs/guides/image-generation)41
42 42 - Run overflow and font-substitution checks before delivery, especially if
43## Best for43 the deck is dense.
44 44
45- Teams turning notes or structured inputs into repeatable slide decks45 - Save reusable prompts or generation notes when you create a batch of
46- Creating new visual presentations from scratch46 related images.
47- Rebuilding or extending decks from screenshots, PDFs, or reference presentations47
48 48
49## Skills & Plugins49 Output:
50 50
51- Slides51 - A copy of the slide deck with the changes applied
52 52
53 Create and edit `.pptx` decks in JavaScript with PptxGenJS, bundled helpers, and render and validation scripts for overflow, overlap, and font checks.53 - notes on which slides were generated, rewritten, or left unchanged
54- ImageGen54relatedLinks:
55 55 - label: Image generation guide
56 Generate illustrations, cover art, diagrams, and slide visuals that match one reusable visual direction.56 url: /api/docs/guides/image-generation
57 57---
58| Skill | Why use it |
59| --- | --- |
60| Slides | Create and edit `.pptx` decks in JavaScript with PptxGenJS, bundled helpers, and render and validation scripts for overflow, overlap, and font checks. |
61| ImageGen | Generate illustrations, cover art, diagrams, and slide visuals that match one reusable visual direction. |
62
63## Starter prompt
64
65Use the $slides and $imagegen skills to edit this slide deck in the following way:
66- If present, add logo.png in the bottom right corner on every slide
67- On slides X, Y and Z, move the text to the left and use image generation to generate an illustration (style: abstract, digital art) on the right
68- Preserve text as text and simple charts as native PowerPoint charts where practical.
69- Add these slides: [describe new slides here]
70- Use the existing branding on new slides and new text (colors, fonts, layout, etc.)
71- Render the updated deck to slide images, review the output, and fix layout issues before delivery.
72- Run overflow and font-substitution checks before delivery, especially if the deck is dense.
73- Save reusable prompts or generation notes when you create a batch of related images.
74Output:
75- A copy of the slide deck with the changes applied
76- notes on which slides were generated, rewritten, or left unchanged
77
78Open in the Codex app
79
80Use the $slides and $imagegen skills to edit this slide deck in the following way:
81- If present, add logo.png in the bottom right corner on every slide
82- On slides X, Y and Z, move the text to the left and use image generation to generate an illustration (style: abstract, digital art) on the right
83- Preserve text as text and simple charts as native PowerPoint charts where practical.
84- Add these slides: [describe new slides here]
85- Use the existing branding on new slides and new text (colors, fonts, layout, etc.)
86- Render the updated deck to slide images, review the output, and fix layout issues before delivery.
87- Run overflow and font-substitution checks before delivery, especially if the deck is dense.
88- Save reusable prompts or generation notes when you create a batch of related images.
89Output:
90- A copy of the slide deck with the changes applied
91- notes on which slides were generated, rewritten, or left unchanged
92 58
93## Introduction59## Introduction
94 60
95You can use Codex to manipulate PowerPoint decks in a systematic way, using the slides system skill, which comes with Codex by default, to create and edit decks with PptxGenJS, and using image generation to generate visuals for the slides.61You can use ChatGPT to manipulate PowerPoint decks in a systematic way, using the slides system skill, which comes with ChatGPT by default, to create and edit decks with PptxGenJS, and using image generation to generate visuals for the slides.
96 62
97Skills can be installed directly from the Codex app–see our [skills documentation](https://developers.openai.com/codex/skills) for more details.63Skills can be installed directly from the ChatGPT desktop app—see our [skills documentation](https://developers.openai.com/codex/build-skills) for more details.
98 64
99You can create new decks from scratch, describing what you want, but the ideal workflow is to start from an existing deck–already set up with your branding guidelines–and ask Codex to edit it.65You can create new decks from scratch, describing what you want, but the ideal workflow is to start from an existing deck–already set up with your branding guidelines–and ask ChatGPT to edit it.
100 66
101## Start from the source deck and references67## Start from the source deck and references
102 68
103If a deck already exists, ask Codex to inspect it before making changes.69If a deck already exists, ask ChatGPT to inspect it before making changes.
104 70
105The slides system skill is opinionated here: match the source aspect ratio before you rebuild layout, and default to 16:9 only when the source material does not already define the deck size. If the references are screenshots or a PDF, ask Codex to render or inspect them first so it can compare slide geometry visually instead of guessing.71The slides system skill is opinionated here: match the source aspect ratio before you rebuild layout, and default to 16:9 only when the source material does not already define the deck size. If the references are screenshots or a PDF, ask ChatGPT to render or inspect them first so it can compare slide geometry visually instead of guessing.
106 72
107## Keep the deck editable73## Keep the deck editable
108 74
109When building out new slides, ask Codex to keep the slides editable: when slides contain text, charts, or simple layout elements, those should stay PowerPoint-native when practical. Text should stay text. Simple bar, line, pie, and histogram visuals should stay native charts when possible. For diagrams or visuals that are too custom for native slide objects, Codex can generate or place SVG and image assets deliberately instead of rasterizing the whole slide.75When building out new slides, ask ChatGPT to keep the slides editable: when slides contain text, charts, or simple layout elements, those should stay PowerPoint-native when practical. Text should stay text. Simple bar, line, pie, and histogram visuals should stay native charts when possible. For diagrams or visuals that are too custom for native slide objects, ChatGPT can generate or place SVG and image assets deliberately instead of rasterizing the whole slide.
110 76
111For example, if you want to build a complex timeline with illustrations, instead of generating a whole image, ask Codex to generate each illustration separately (using a set style prompt as reference), place them on the slide, then link them using native lines. The text and dates should be text objects as well, and not included in the illustrations.77For example, if you want to build a complex timeline with illustrations, instead of generating a whole image, ask ChatGPT to generate each illustration separately (using a set style prompt as reference), place them on the slide, then link them using native lines. The text and dates should be text objects as well, and not included in the illustrations.
112 78
113## Generate visuals intentionally79## Generate visuals intentionally
114 80
115The imagegen system skill is already installed with Codex and is most useful when the slides need a cover image, a concept illustration, or a lightweight diagram that would otherwise take manual design work. Ask Codex to define the visual direction first, then reuse that direction consistently across the whole deck.81The imagegen system skill is already installed with ChatGPT and is most useful when the slides need a cover image, a concept illustration, or a lightweight diagram that would otherwise take manual design work. Ask ChatGPT to define the visual direction first, then reuse that direction consistently across the whole deck.
116 82
117When several slides need related visuals, have Codex save the prompts or generation notes it used. That makes the deck easier to extend later without starting over stylistically.83When several slides need related visuals, have ChatGPT save the prompts or generation notes it used. That makes the deck easier to extend later without starting over stylistically.
118 84
119## Keep slide logic explicit85## Keep slide logic explicit
120 86
121Deck automation works better when Codex treats each slide as its own decision. Some slides should preserve exact copy, some need a stronger headline and cleaner structure, and some should stay mostly untouched apart from asset cleanup or formatting fixes.87Deck automation works better when ChatGPT treats each slide as its own decision. Some slides should preserve exact copy, some need a stronger headline and cleaner structure, and some should stay mostly untouched apart from asset cleanup or formatting fixes.
122 88
123The slides system skill also ships with bundled layout helpers. Ask Codex to copy those helpers into the working directory and reuse them instead of reimplementing spacing, text-sizing, and image-placement logic on every deck.89The slides system skill also ships with bundled layout helpers. Ask ChatGPT to copy those helpers into the working directory and reuse them instead of reimplementing spacing, text-sizing, and image-placement logic on every deck.
124 90
125## Validation before delivery91## Validation before delivery
126 92
127Decks are easy to get almost right and still ship with clipped text, substituted fonts, or layout drift that only shows up after export. The slides system skill includes scripts to render decks to per-slide PNGs, build a quick montage for review, detect overflow beyond the slide canvas, and report missing or substituted fonts.93Decks are easy to get almost right and still ship with clipped text, substituted fonts, or layout drift that only shows up after export. The slides system skill includes scripts to render decks to per-slide PNGs, build a quick montage for review, detect overflow beyond the slide canvas, and report missing or substituted fonts.
128 94
129Ask Codex to use those checks before it hands back the final deck, especially when slides are dense or margins are tight.95Ask ChatGPT to use those checks before it hands back the final deck, especially when slides are dense or margins are tight.
130 96
131## Example ideas97## Example ideas
132 98
135### New deck from scratch101### New deck from scratch
136 102
137You can create new slide decks from scratch, describing what you want slide by slide and the overall vibe.103You can create new slide decks from scratch, describing what you want slide by slide and the overall vibe.
138If you have assets like logos or images, you can copy them in the same folder so that Codex can easily access them.104If you have assets like logos or images, you can copy them in the same folder so that ChatGPT can easily access them.
139
140Create a new slide deck with the following slides:
141- Slide 1: Title slide with the company logo (logo.png) and the title of the presentation
142- Slide 2: Agenda slide with the key points of the presentation
143- Slide 3: [TITLE] [TAGLINE] [DESCRIPTION]
144- ...
145- Slide N: Conclusion slide with the key takeaways
146- Slide N+1: Q&A slide with my picture (my-picture.png)
147 105
148### Deck template update106### Deck template update
149 107
150You can update a deck template on a regular basis (weekly, monthly, quarterly, etc.) with new content.108You can update a deck template on a regular basis (weekly, monthly, quarterly, etc.) with new content.
151If you’re doing this frequently, create a file like `guidelines.md` to define the content and structure of the deck and how it should be updated.109If you're doing this frequently, create a file like `guidelines.md` to define the content and structure of the deck and how it should be updated.
152 110
153Combine it with other skills to fetch information from your preferred data111Combine it with other skills to fetch information from your preferred data
154sources.112 sources.
155 113
156For example, if you need to give quarterly updates to your stakeholders, you can update the deck template with new numbers and insights.114For example, if you need to give quarterly updates to your stakeholders, you can update the deck template with new numbers and insights.
157 115
158Update the deck template, pulling content from [integration 1] and [integration 2].
159Make sure to follow guidelines defined in guidelines.md.
160
161### Adjust existing deck116### Adjust existing deck
162 117
163If you built a deck but want to adjust it to fix spacing, misaligned text, or other layout issues, you can ask Codex to fix it.118If you built a deck but want to adjust it to fix spacing, misaligned text, or other layout issues, you can ask ChatGPT to fix it.
164
165Adjust the deck to make sure the following layout rules are followed:
166- Spacing should be consistent when there are multiple items on the same slide displayed in a row or grid.
167- When there are multiple items on the same slide displayed in a row or grid, the items are aligned horizontally or vertically depending on the content.
168- All text boxes should be aligned left, except when they are below an illustration
169- All titles should use the font [font name] and size [size]
170- All captions should be in [color]
171- ....
172
173## Related use cases
174
175[
176
177### Turn feedback into actions
178
179Connect Codex to multiple data sources such as Slack, GitHub, Linear, or Google Drive to...
180
181Data Integrations](https://developers.openai.com/codex/use-cases/feedback-synthesis)[
182
183### Query tabular data
184
185Use Codex with a CSV, spreadsheet, dashboard export, Google Sheet, or local data file to...
186
187Data Knowledge Work](https://developers.openai.com/codex/use-cases/analyze-data-export)[
188
189### Clean and prepare messy data
190
191Drag in or mention a messy CSV or spreadsheet, describe the problems you see, and ask Codex...
192
193Data Knowledge Work](https://developers.openai.com/codex/use-cases/clean-messy-data)
194