Alternate Entry Flows — Detail

Load this file when the request is not a fresh linear Phase 0–6 build:

• a late-entry single task (QR code, export, shownotes) — read "Late Entry";
• adapting an existing talk — read "Adapting Existing Talks";
• a CFP abstract — read "CFP Abstract Writing";
• any sessions-catalog read or write — read "Sessions Catalog".

Vault loading (SKILL.md "Before You Start") is mandatory for every flow here.

Late Entry (single-task requests)

Even when the user asks for a single task, do not jump straight to the action. Minimum context before ANY Phase 6 action:

• speaker-profile.json — publishing config, shortener, URL patterns
• secrets.json — API keys for shorteners and Gemini
• outline.yaml — source of truth for talk slug, metadata, slides, and the shownotes URL. Read it via "{python_path}" "{speaker_toolkit_root}/skills/presentation-creator/scripts/outline_schema.py" (the pydantic model exposes talk.slug, talk.title, talk.shownotes_url_base, etc.) — never re-parse the YAML by hand.

If a file is missing or fails to validate, STOP and ask. Do not guess values that should come from files. Never hand-write code when a script exists — if the script isn't working, diagnose why (wrong args, missing config, missing secrets) and fix the inputs.

Phase 7 late entry requires the same files plus a YouTube video URL from the speaker. If shownotes don't exist and Step 7.2 is requested, STOP and ask — either run Phase 6 Step 6.1 first or get the shownotes URL manually.

Adapting Existing Talks

1. Check if the talk has been ingested by the vault. If not, process it first.
2. Read the original talk's analysis from {vault_root}/analyses/.
3. Copy the previous deck as the starting point — do NOT start from a fresh template.
4. Start at Phase 1 with the original spec pre-filled, modify as needed.
5. Auto-generate an adaptation checklist: footer, shownotes slug, time-sensitive content, slide budget, profanity register, locale references, commercial intent.
6. For structural edits (delete/reorder slides, import slides from another deck, global text replace), edit through real PowerPoint via "{speaker_toolkit_root}/skills/presentation-creator/scripts/run-deck-ops.sh". python-pptx editing is not used — it strips per-slide background fills, flattening illustrated decks. See rules/deck-editing-rules.md (macOS + Microsoft PowerPoint only). On first use, walk the user through references/deck-editing-setup.md (enable macros, import the macro, grant Automation consent) before invoking the script.

CFP Abstract Writing

1. Complete Phase 0–1 (lighter touch).
2. Skip Phase 2 — not needed for an abstract.
3. Write: title, abstract (200–300 words), key takeaways (3–5 bullets), speaker bio.
4. Phase 4 revision as normal.
5. Save approved materials to the Sessions Catalog.

Sessions Catalog

The sessions catalog ({vault_root}/sessions-catalog.md) is the single source of submission-ready materials for active talks. Load it during Phase 0 to know the active rotation and flag overlapping territory. Pull an existing entry before starting a new CFP; adapt rather than rewrite.

What goes in the catalog. Each entry contains:

• Title — including subtitle if any
• Abstract — submission-ready, anti-pattern-checked
• Outline — with section descriptions and time allocations
• Small Print — notes for the Program Committee: positioning, scope clarifications, or anything the PC should know. Internal, not public-facing.

Catalog maintenance.

• Save approved title, abstract, and outline after CFP abstract writing (step 5) and after Phase 4 if no entry exists yet. Remove or archive entries when a talk is retired.
• The catalog reflects the latest approved version — full history lives in the tracking database and analysis files.
• Run an anti-pattern check on entries before saving. Delegate it with Skill(skill: "blog-writer"), which returns the flagged phrasings for the abstract; apply them here and continue. If that skill is not installed, note that the check was skipped rather than approximating it. Keep the "Last updated" date current.
• Entries are separated by --- horizontal rules for easy scanning.