DEV Community: Tom

Add PowerPoint Export to Your SaaS in 5 Minutes

Tom — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 18:19:26 +0000

Add "Export to PowerPoint" to your SaaS product with a single API call â€” no python-pptx, no layout code, no font debugging. $0.03/slide, synchronous response, real editable .pptx.

The Integration (5 minutes)

Python

def export_to_pptx(dashboard_data):
    resp = requests.post(
        "https://api.slideforge.dev/v1/render",
        headers={"Authorization": "Bearer " + SLIDEFORGE_KEY},
        json={
            "template": "kpi_dashboard",
            "params": {"title": dashboard_data["title"], "metrics": dashboard_data["metrics"]},
            "theme_id": dashboard_data.get("theme", "consulting_blue"),
        },
    )
    return resp.json()["pptx_url"]

Node.js

async function exportToPptx(data) {
  const resp = await fetch("https://api.slideforge.dev/v1/render", {
    method: "POST",
    headers: { "Authorization": "Bearer " + process.env.SLIDEFORGE_API_KEY, "Content-Type": "application/json" },
    body: JSON.stringify({ template: "kpi_dashboard", params: { title: data.title, metrics: data.metrics } }),
  });
  return (await resp.json()).pptx_url;
}

Per-Customer Branding

Save a theme per customer â€” their brand on every export. Themes persist across sessions.

Cost at Scale

100 exports/month x 5 slides = $15/month
1,000 exports/month x 5 slides = $127.50/month (with volume discount)

Full guide | API docs

Originally published at slideforge.dev

Custom Themes: Brand Your SlideForge Output

Tom — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 18:18:07 +0000

Every slide SlideForge generates uses a theme â€” colors, fonts, and spacing that match your brand. 8 built-in themes work out of the box. Three ways to create custom themes: JSON API, upload a .pptx, or agent extraction.

Built-in Themes

Theme ID	Primary	Style
consulting_blue	#1E3A5F	Classic consulting
consulting_dark	#111827	Dark, amber accent
investor_pitch	#1A1A2E	Startup pitch deck
startup_bold	#6C2BD9	Bold purple

Use with: "theme_id": "consulting_blue" in any request.

Method 1: JSON API

curl -X POST https://api.slideforge.dev/v1/themes \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer sf_live_YOUR_KEY" \
  -d '{"name": "acme_brand", "colors": {"primary": "#2B5EA7", "accent": "#E87722"}}'

Method 2: Extract from .pptx

curl -X POST https://api.slideforge.dev/v1/themes/upload \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer sf_live_YOUR_KEY" \
  -F "file=@brand-template.pptx" -F "name=acme_from_pptx"

Method 3: Via MCP Agent

Your AI agent calls upload_file with purpose: "theme" and extracts colors automatically.

Themes persist across sessions. Auto-generates tint ramps and WCAG contrast checks.

Full guide | Browse themes

Originally published at slideforge.dev

How to Write Effective Briefs for AI Slide Generation

Tom — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 18:18:03 +0000

The quality of your SlideForge output depends almost entirely on the quality of your brief. A good brief produces a polished slide in one shot. A vague brief wastes iterations.

The #1 Mistake: Being Vague

Bad: "Make a slide about our revenue."

Good: "KPI dashboard: Revenue $12.4M (+18% YoY), New Clients 847 (+23%), Gross Margin 71% (-2pp), NPS 4.6 (+0.3). Kicker: Q1 2026 REVIEW."

5 Rules

Include actual data â€” never "include relevant metrics." The engine doesn't know your metrics.
Name the slide type â€” "SWOT analysis", "2x2 matrix", "timeline with 5 milestones"
Describe the visual structure â€” "3-column comparison table, highlight column 2 as recommended"
Specify chrome â€” title, kicker, footer, page number, source attribution
Use iteration for refinement, not generation â€” get structure right first, then iterate on details ($0.10 vs $0.20)

Brief Templates

KPI Dashboard:
"KPI dashboard: [Metric1] [Value] ([Trend]), [Metric2] [Value] ([Trend]). Kicker: [SECTION]."

Comparison Table:
"3-column comparison. Columns: [A], [B], [C]. Rows: [Feature1], [Feature2]. Use checkmarks. Highlight [B] as recommended."

Timeline:
"Horizontal timeline with [N] milestones: [Date1]: [Event1], [Date2]: [Event2]. Highlight [Date2] as current."

Full guide with more templates | Try in Playground

Originally published at slideforge.dev

Declarative Slides: CSS Flexbox Layout for PowerPoint

Tom — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 18:17:27 +0000

Build PowerPoint slides from JSON specs using CSS Flexbox layout and 24 composable components. Deterministic rendering in <1s. Like React for slides, but the output is an editable .pptx.

The Idea

Instead of "describe what you want" (unpredictable AI), declare the exact structure:

{
  "spec": {
    "chrome": {"title": "Q1 Dashboard"},
    "body": {
      "display": "flex",
      "direction": "column",
      "gap": 20,
      "children": [
        {"component": "Metric", "params": {"metrics": [
          {"value": "$12.4M", "label": "Revenue", "trend": "+18%", "trend_dir": "up"}
        ]}},
        {"component": "BarList", "params": {"items": [
          {"name": "Enterprise", "value": 64},
          {"name": "Mid-Market", "value": 28}
        ]}}
      ]
    }
  }
}

24 Components

Category	Components
Metrics	Metric, KPIGrid, ScoreCard, Gauge
Charts	BarList, BarChart, StackedBar, DonutChart, Sparkline
Layouts	Card, Grid, Columns, SplitPane
Content	TextBlock, BulletList, Quote, Callout
Diagrams	Steps, Timeline, Funnel, FlowChart
Status	Tracker, RAGStatus, ProgressBar

Same spec = same output, every time. $0.05/slide, <1s.

Browse components | Sign up free

Originally published at slideforge.dev

Translate PowerPoint Files Programmatically in 2026

Tom — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 18:17:23 +0000

Translate .pptx files into 8 languages while preserving fonts, colors, charts, and layout. Text-run-level replacement via API â€” no regeneration, no broken formatting. $0.02/slide.

The Problem

Translating slides manually means copy-pasting into Google Translate, then pasting back into 47 text boxes. German text is ~30% longer than English, so boxes overflow. Fonts break. Hours wasted.

The API Call

curl -X POST https://api.slideforge.dev/v1/translate \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer sf_live_YOUR_KEY" \
  -d '{"job_id": "SLIDE_JOB_ID", "target_language": "de"}'

Returns a job_id â€” poll for completion. The translated .pptx preserves all formatting.

Supported Languages

English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Polish.

Options

concise_mode: true â€” shorter translations for tight text boxes
include_notes: true â€” also translate speaker notes
include_tables: true â€” translate table cells (default)

$0.02/slide. A 20-slide deck costs $0.40.

Full docs | Sign up free

Originally published at slideforge.dev

Every Way to Generate Slides Programmatically in 2026

Tom — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 18:16:50 +0000

Compare every way to generate slides programmatically in 2026: SlideForge, Gamma, SlideSpeak, 2Slides, FlashDocs, python-pptx, Aspose, and Presenton. Features, pricing, and how to choose.

Quick Comparison

Tool	Type	Output	Pricing	Best For
SlideForge	API + MCP (27 tools)	Native .pptx + PDF + PNG	$0.03-$0.20/slide	Developers, AI agents
Gamma	Consumer + API	Web native (export breaks)	$10-$20/mo	Web presentations
SlideSpeak	Consumer + API	.pptx	$29-$34/mo	Document summarization
2Slides	API + MCP	.pptx (template) / Images (AI)	$0.025-$1.10/slide	Budget templates
python-pptx	Python library	.pptx (full control)	Free	Full programmatic control
Aspose.Slides	Library (.NET/Java)	.pptx + conversion	$3,000-$4,000/yr	Enterprise format conversion
Presenton	Open source	.pptx / PDF	Free (BYO keys)	Self-hosted, privacy

How to Choose

API-first with editable .pptx â†’ SlideForge
Web presentations for humans â†’ Gamma
Full programmatic control, free â†’ python-pptx
Enterprise format conversion â†’ Aspose.Slides
Self-hosted with your own keys â†’ Presenton

Full comparison on slideforge.dev

Originally published at slideforge.dev

How to Generate PowerPoint from Python in 2026

Tom — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 18:16:46 +0000

Three ways to create .pptx files from Python in 2026: python-pptx (free library), SlideForge API ($0.03/slide), and PptxGenJS. This tutorial covers working code for each, the pain points, and when to use which.

python-pptx: The DIY Approach

from pptx import Presentation
from pptx.util import Inches, Pt

prs = Presentation()
slide = prs.slides.add_slide(prs.slide_layouts[6])
txBox = slide.shapes.add_textbox(Inches(1), Inches(2), Inches(8), Inches(1))
txBox.text_frame.text = "Q1 Revenue: $12.4M"
txBox.text_frame.paragraphs[0].font.size = Pt(28)
prs.save("report.pptx")

Works great for simple slides. But for consulting-quality output (KPI dashboards, SWOT matrices, timelines), you're looking at 60+ lines per slide â€” fonts, alignment, colors, spacing, all manual.

SlideForge API: 5 Lines

import requests

resp = requests.post(
    "https://api.slideforge.dev/v1/render",
    headers={"Authorization": "Bearer sf_live_YOUR_KEY"},
    json={"template": "kpi_dashboard", "brief": "Revenue $12.4M +18%, Clients 847 +23%, NPS 4.6"},
)
print(resp.json()["pptx_url"])  # ready in <1s

50 templates, $0.03/slide for templates, $0.20 for AI-designed custom layouts. Real editable .pptx.

When to Use Which

	python-pptx	SlideForge
Cost	Free	$0.03-$0.20/slide
Setup time	Hours-days	5 minutes
Design quality	You manage	Consulting-grade
Templates	Build your own	50 built-in
Best for	Full control, offline	Speed, quality, API automation

Full tutorial on slideforge.dev

Originally published at slideforge.dev

Using MCP to Generate Slides from Claude Desktop

Tom — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 15:08:30 +0000

SlideForge has a native MCP server that lets Claude Desktop generate consulting-quality PowerPoint files. Connect in 30 seconds with OAuth 2.1. Your agent gets 27 tools.

What is MCP?

MCP (Model Context Protocol) lets AI agents call external tools. Instead of Claude trying to generate a .pptx itself, it calls SlideForge â€” consulting-grade templates, AI creative generation, and visual QA.

Step 1: Connect (30 seconds)

Add this to your claude_desktop_config.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "slideforge": {
      "url": "https://api.slideforge.dev/mcp/"
    }
  }
}

Restart Claude Desktop. OAuth handles authentication automatically.

Also works with: Cursor, Windsurf, Claude Code, and any MCP-compatible client.

Step 2: Generate a slide

Ask Claude: "Create a KPI dashboard: revenue $12.4M (+18% YoY), 847 new clients (+23%), NPS 71"

Claude calls suggest_template, finds a KPI template, calls render_slide, returns the .pptx with an inline preview. Under 2 seconds.

Step 3: Iterate

"Make the Revenue metric larger and add a green checkmark icon"

Claude calls iterate_slide with your feedback. $0.10 per iteration.

Step 4: Build a deck

"Create a 5-slide deck about our cloud migration strategy for the CTO"

Claude calls generate_deck â€” plans slides, matches templates, generates in parallel, compiles into one .pptx. ~30 seconds.

27 MCP Tools

Category	Tools
Slide Generation	render_slide, generate_slide, iterate_slide, render_spec, suggest_layout, render_preflight
Deck Workflows	generate_deck, consulting_deck, assemble_deck, fork_deck, translate_deck
Discovery	suggest_template, search_templates, list_templates, search_components, list_components
Jobs & Status	get_slide_status, list_jobs
Account	get_me, get_usage, get_capabilities, get_agent_onboarding, list_themes
Utilities	upload_file, submit_feedback

Pricing

Template render: $0.03-$0.05/slide (<1s)
AI generate: $0.20/slide (~30s)
Iterate: $0.10
Translate: $0.02/slide
PDF to PPTX: $0.01/page
Free trial: $3 credit on signup

Full MCP setup guide | Sign up free

Originally published at slideforge.dev

Automate PowerPoint Reports from Excel with Python

Tom — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 15:03:54 +0000

You can automate your weekly PowerPoint reports from Excel data with 10 lines of Python â€” no manual formatting, no copy-pasting charts, no last-minute slide tweaks. This guide shows two approaches: python-pptx for full control, and SlideForge's API for consulting-quality output in seconds.

The problem: manual report decks

Every Monday morning, someone opens an Excel file, copies numbers into a PowerPoint template, screenshots a chart, pastes it, adjusts the alignment. For a 15-slide weekly report, this takes 1-2 hours. Every week.

Approach 1: python-pptx (free, full control)

import pandas as pd
from pptx import Presentation
from pptx.util import Inches, Pt

df = pd.read_excel("weekly_metrics.xlsx", sheet_name="Summary")
prs = Presentation()
slide = prs.slides.add_slide(prs.slide_layouts[6])
txBox = slide.shapes.add_textbox(Inches(1), Inches(2), Inches(10), Inches(2))
txBox.text_frame.text = "Weekly Report"
txBox.text_frame.paragraphs[0].font.size = Pt(36)
# ... 500+ lines for a full 15-slide deck
prs.save("weekly_report.pptx")

This works, but maintaining 500+ lines of layout code is a burden.

Approach 2: SlideForge API (10 lines)

import requests

resp = requests.post(
    "https://api.slideforge.dev/v1/render",
    headers={"Authorization": "Bearer sf_live_YOUR_KEY"},
    json={
        "template": "kpi_dashboard",
        "params": {
            "title": "Week 14 Performance",
            "metrics": [
                {"value": "$12.4M", "label": "Revenue", "trend": "+18%", "trend_dir": "up"},
                {"value": "847", "label": "Clients", "trend": "+23%", "trend_dir": "up"},
            ],
        },
        "theme_id": "consulting_blue",
    },
)
print(resp.json()["pptx_url"])  # ready in <1s

$0.03 per slide. For a full deck, use the deck endpoint (~3s for 5 slides in parallel).

Scheduling

Cron: 0 7 * * 1 python3 weekly_report.py

GitHub Actions:

on:
  schedule:
    - cron: '0 7 * * 1'

Also works with Airflow, n8n, and Zapier.

Cost comparison

python-pptx: Free, 500+ lines, 2-4 hours to build
SlideForge: $0.03-$0.05/slide = $23-39/year for a 15-slide weekly report
Manual: 1-2 hours/week = $2,500-5,000/year

Originally published at slideforge.dev

How to Convert PDF to Editable PowerPoint via API

Tom — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 15:01:55 +0000

SlideForge can convert a PDF back into an editable .pptx file — with real text boxes, shapes, and images — not a rasterized image pasted onto a slide. Upload a PDF exported from PowerPoint, Keynote, Google Slides, Canva, or LaTeX Beamer, and get an editable deck in seconds. $0.01 per page, fully automated via API.

The problem: PDFs are a dead end

You receive a competitor's deck as a PDF. A client sends last quarter's board presentation. Your design team exports to PDF "for safety." Now you need to update one number, swap a logo, or translate it into German. You can't. The PDF is a sealed format.

The usual options are terrible:

Adobe Acrobat "Export to PowerPoint" — rasterizes every element into background images. Text boxes are fake overlays. Fonts don't match.
SmallPDF / iLovePDF / CloudConvert — same approach. OCR + image paste. Not editable in any meaningful way.
Manual recreation — open the PDF, squint at the layout, rebuild it from scratch in PowerPoint. Takes hours per deck.

How SlideForge does it differently: vector extraction

SlideForge doesn't OCR your PDF. It reads the actual vector content stream — the same drawing commands that placed shapes, positioned text runs, and embedded images. The engine reconstructs these as real PowerPoint objects: text boxes with the original font and size, rectangles with the original fill colors, images at their source resolution.

The result: you open the .pptx in PowerPoint and click on any element. It's a real shape. You can edit the text, change the color, move it, delete it.

Step 1: Analyze (free)

Before converting, check what you're working with:

Step 2: Convert

Returns with a . Poll for progress and the final .

What gets preserved

Text — original font family, size, color, bold/italic
Shapes — rectangles, rounded rects, ovals, lines, freeform paths
Images — embedded at source resolution
Tables — reconstructed as PowerPoint table objects
Layout — element positioning matches the original PDF

Supported sources

PowerPoint, Apple Keynote, Google Slides, Canva, LaTeX Beamer, LibreOffice Impress. The endpoint tells you whether a specific PDF is supported.

Pricing

$0.01 per page. A 24-page deck costs $0.24. Failed extractions are refunded.

Get started

Originally published at slideforge.dev