Slide Generation Rules

Build the Deck With BuildDeck — Not python-pptx, Not MCP

Slide structure is created by the real PowerPoint app via the BuildDeck macro (scripts/build-deck.sh), driven by a flat op sequence — never python-pptx, never the MCP PPT server. The agent emits the ops; BuildDeck executes them. Op vocabulary and state rules: skills/presentation-builder/references/deckops-spec.md.

Speaker Notes — Separate Batch Pass

Speaker notes MUST be injected as a separate step AFTER all slides are created, never inline during slide creation. Inject them with scripts/inject-notes.sh — see Keynote Compatibility below.

Template Stripping — Handled by BuildDeck

The clean deck retains only the template's layout definitions, no demo/sample slides. BuildDeck deletes the template's demo slides before creating content, so stripping is not a separate step.

Keynote Compatibility

Keynote uses a stricter OOXML parser than PowerPoint. The rules below prevent generated .pptx files from being rejected on import.

Speaker notes — written by real PowerPoint

Inject notes via the real PowerPoint app (scripts/inject-notes.sh); it writes the required <p:notesMasterIdLst> element natively. No manual patch — the python-pptx pass that omitted-then-patched it is retired. See rules/deck-editing-rules.md.

The notes driver sets each note through PowerPoint's AppleScript object model, never through run VB macro.

Use rectangles for decorative lines — never connectors

Connectors emit <p:cxnSp> elements that Keynote's parser may reject. For a decorative line, emit a thin SHAPE op with a rectangle msoAutoShapeType (a small height makes it read as a line) — never a connector.

Never create slide shapes then remove them via raw XML in the same flow

This applies to any residual python-pptx editing of a deck (e.g. the scrim / title apply pass). Do not create a shape through python-pptx and then delete it with element.getparent().remove(element) in the same flow — python-pptx's internal state diverges from the serialized XML and strict parsers (Keynote) reject the result. If a shape is not needed, do not create it. Narrowly scoped XML cleanup utilities that remove pre-existing elements are fine — they operate on elements not managed by python-pptx's in-memory state.