Google Slides Skill¶

Create and edit Google Slides presentations using Python and the Google Slides API.

Status: Alpha

This skill is in alpha and under active development. APIs may change.

Overview¶

The Google Slides skill enables your AI agent to:

Create new presentations
Read slide content
Add and modify slides
Insert text, shapes, and images
Apply themes and formatting

Current Capabilities¶

Feature	Status
Read presentation content	Available
Create presentations	Available
Add slides	Available
Insert text	Available
Basic shapes	Beta
Images	Beta
Charts	Planned
Transitions	Planned
Speaker notes	Planned

Quick Start¶

from gslides_utils import open_presentation, create_presentation

# Open existing presentation
pres = open_presentation("https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/.../edit")

# Get slides
slides = pres.get_slides()
print(f"Presentation has {len(slides)} slides")

# Create new presentation
new_pres = create_presentation("My New Presentation")
new_pres.add_slide("Title Slide", layout="TITLE")

Basic Operations¶

Opening a Presentation¶

from gslides_utils import open_presentation

pres = open_presentation("https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/PRESENTATION_ID/edit")

Reading Content¶

# Get all slides
slides = pres.get_slides()

# Get slide content
for slide in slides:
    print(f"Slide: {slide.title}")
    for element in slide.elements:
        print(f"  - {element.type}: {element.text}")

Creating Presentations¶

from gslides_utils import create_presentation

# Create empty presentation
pres = create_presentation("New Presentation")

# Create with theme
pres = create_presentation("New Presentation", theme="STREAMLINE")

Adding Slides¶

# Add title slide
pres.add_slide(layout="TITLE")

# Add content slide
pres.add_slide(layout="TITLE_AND_BODY")

# Add blank slide
pres.add_slide(layout="BLANK")

# Add slide at specific position
pres.add_slide(layout="TITLE_AND_BODY", index=2)

Slide Layouts¶

Layout	Description
`BLANK`	Empty slide
`TITLE`	Title and subtitle
`TITLE_AND_BODY`	Title with content area
`TITLE_AND_TWO_COLUMNS`	Title with two content areas
`TITLE_ONLY`	Title without content
`SECTION_HEADER`	Section divider
`BIG_NUMBER`	Large number display

Working with Text¶

Adding Text¶

# Add text to slide
slide = pres.get_slide(0)
slide.insert_text(
    text="Hello, World!",
    x=100,
    y=100,
    width=400,
    height=50
)

Formatting Text¶

# Create formatted text box
slide.insert_text(
    text="Important Message",
    x=100,
    y=200,
    font_size=24,
    font_family="Arial",
    bold=True,
    color="#FF0000"
)

Text in Shapes¶

# Add shape with text
slide.insert_shape(
    shape_type="RECTANGLE",
    x=100,
    y=300,
    width=200,
    height=100,
    text="Click Here",
    fill_color="#0000FF",
    text_color="#FFFFFF"
)

Working with Shapes¶

Basic Shapes¶

# Rectangle
slide.insert_shape("RECTANGLE", x=100, y=100, width=200, height=100)

# Circle (ellipse)
slide.insert_shape("ELLIPSE", x=350, y=100, width=100, height=100)

# Arrow
slide.insert_shape("RIGHT_ARROW", x=100, y=250, width=150, height=50)

Shape Properties¶

slide.insert_shape(
    shape_type="RECTANGLE",
    x=100,
    y=100,
    width=200,
    height=100,
    fill_color="#FFFF00",
    border_color="#000000",
    border_weight=2
)

Working with Images¶

# Insert image from URL
slide.insert_image(
    url="https://example.com/image.png",
    x=100,
    y=100,
    width=400,
    height=300
)

# Insert image from Google Drive
slide.insert_image_from_drive(
    file_id="DRIVE_FILE_ID",
    x=100,
    y=100,
    width=400,
    height=300
)

Templates and Placeholders¶

Using Templates¶

# Copy from template
template = open_presentation(template_url)
new_pres = template.copy("New Presentation from Template")

# Replace placeholders
new_pres.replace_text("{{TITLE}}", "Q4 Report")
new_pres.replace_text("{{DATE}}", "January 2024")
new_pres.replace_text("{{AUTHOR}}", "John Smith")

Working with Placeholders¶

# Get slide with placeholders
slide = pres.get_slide(0)

# Update title placeholder
slide.update_placeholder("TITLE", "New Title")

# Update body placeholder
slide.update_placeholder("BODY", "Content goes here")

Error Handling¶

from gslides_utils import open_presentation, PresentationNotFound, PermissionError

try:
    pres = open_presentation(url)
except PresentationNotFound:
    print("Presentation not found or not shared")
except PermissionError:
    print("No permission to access presentation")

Best Practices¶

1. Use Templates¶

For consistent presentations:

# Start from template
template = open_presentation(company_template_url)
new_pres = template.copy("Weekly Report")

# Fill in content
new_pres.replace_text("{{TITLE}}", "Weekly Status Report")

2. Batch Updates¶

Group changes for efficiency:

# WRONG: Multiple API calls
slide.insert_text("Line 1", x=100, y=100)
slide.insert_text("Line 2", x=100, y=150)

# CORRECT: Batch request
pres.batch_update([
    {"insert_text": {...}},
    {"insert_text": {...}}
])

3. Consistent Styling¶

Define styles upfront:

# Define constants
TITLE_STYLE = {
    "font_size": 36,
    "font_family": "Arial",
    "bold": True,
    "color": "#333333"
}

BODY_STYLE = {
    "font_size": 18,
    "font_family": "Arial",
    "color": "#666666"
}

# Use consistently
slide.insert_text("Title", **TITLE_STYLE, x=50, y=50)
slide.insert_text("Body text", **BODY_STYLE, x=50, y=150)

Limitations¶

Alpha Limitations¶

Complex animations not supported
Limited chart integration
Some layout options unavailable

API Limitations¶

Maximum slides: 100 per presentation
Maximum elements per slide: 500
Maximum image size: 25MB
Rate limits: 600 requests per minute per user

Use Cases¶

Automated Reports¶

# Generate weekly report
pres = create_presentation(f"Weekly Report - Week {week_number}")

# Title slide
pres.add_slide(layout="TITLE")
slide = pres.get_slide(0)
slide.update_placeholder("TITLE", f"Week {week_number} Report")
slide.update_placeholder("SUBTITLE", date.today().strftime("%B %d, %Y"))

# Metrics slide
pres.add_slide(layout="TITLE_AND_BODY")
# Add metrics content...

Presentation from Data¶

# Create presentation from data
data = get_monthly_data()  # From database or sheet

pres = create_presentation("Monthly Review")

for metric in data.metrics:
    pres.add_slide(layout="TITLE_AND_BODY")
    slide = pres.get_slide(-1)
    slide.update_placeholder("TITLE", metric.name)
    slide.update_placeholder("BODY", f"Value: {metric.value}\nChange: {metric.change}%")

Roadmap¶

Planned Features¶

Charts - Native chart creation from data
Transitions - Slide transition effects
Animations - Element animations
Speaker notes - Add and edit speaker notes
Themes - Apply and customize themes

Feedback¶

We're actively developing this skill. Share feedback or report issues through your internal support channels.

Related:

Google Sheets Skill - For spreadsheet operations
Google Docs Skill - For document operations