Automate PowerPoint Reports from Excel with Python

You can automate your weekly PowerPoint reports from Excel data with 10 lines of Python — 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. Both connect to pandas for data extraction and work with any scheduler (cron, Airflow, n8n).

The problem: manual report decks

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

The fix is a Python script that reads the data, generates the slides, and emails the deck. Run it via cron at 7 AM Monday. Your team walks into a meeting with the deck already in their inbox.

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

python-pptx gives you pixel-level control over every shape. The tradeoff: you manage all layout, fonts, colors, and alignment yourself.

pip install python-pptx pandas openpyxl

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

# 1. Read data from Excel
df = pd.read_excel("weekly_metrics.xlsx", sheet_name="Summary")

# 2. Create presentation
prs = Presentation()
prs.slide_width = Inches(13.333)
prs.slide_height = Inches(7.5)

# 3. Title slide
slide = prs.slides.add_slide(prs.slide_layouts[6])  # blank
txBox = slide.shapes.add_textbox(Inches(1), Inches(2), Inches(10), Inches(2))
tf = txBox.text_frame
tf.text = "Weekly Report — Week " + str(df['week'].iloc[0])
tf.paragraphs[0].font.size = Pt(36)
tf.paragraphs[0].font.color.rgb = RGBColor(0x1E, 0x3A, 0x5F)

# 4. KPI slide — manually position each metric
slide = prs.slides.add_slide(prs.slide_layouts[6])
metrics = [
    ("Revenue", "$" + format(df['revenue'].iloc[0], ',.0f')),
    ("Clients", format(df['clients'].iloc[0], ',')),
    ("Margin",  format(df['margin'].iloc[0], '.1f') + "%"),
]

for i, (label, value) in enumerate(metrics):
    left = Inches(1 + i * 4)
    txBox = slide.shapes.add_textbox(left, Inches(2), Inches(3), Inches(1))
    txBox.text_frame.text = value
    txBox.text_frame.paragraphs[0].font.size = Pt(32)
    txBox.text_frame.paragraphs[0].font.bold = True
    txBox = slide.shapes.add_textbox(left, Inches(3), Inches(3), Inches(0.5))
    txBox.text_frame.text = label
    txBox.text_frame.paragraphs[0].font.size = Pt(14)
    # ... repeat for trend arrows, colors, alignment

# 5. Save
prs.save("weekly_report.pptx")
# That's ~60 lines for ONE slide type. A 15-slide deck = 500+ lines.

This works, but maintaining 500+ lines of layout code per report is a burden. Every font change, color update, or new metric means touching Python code.

Approach 2: SlideForge API (10 lines, consulting-quality)

SlideForge handles the layout, design, and rendering. You send data, you get back a .pptx.

import pandas as pd
import requests

# 1. Read data from Excel
df = pd.read_excel("weekly_metrics.xlsx", sheet_name="Summary")
row = df.iloc[0]

# 2. Generate KPI slide via API ($0.03, <1s)
resp = requests.post(
    "https://api.slideforge.dev/v1/render",
    headers={"Authorization": "Bearer sf_live_YOUR_KEY"},
    json={
        "template": "kpi_dashboard",
        "params": {
            "title": "Week %d Performance" % int(row['week']),
            "metrics": [
                {"value": "$%s" % format(row['revenue'], ',.0f'), "label": "Revenue",
                 "trend": "%+.1f%%" % row['revenue_growth'], "trend_dir": "up"},
                {"value": "%s" % format(int(row['clients']), ','), "label": "Clients",
                 "trend": "%+.1f%%" % row['client_growth'], "trend_dir": "up"},
                {"value": "%.1f%%" % row['margin'], "label": "Margin",
                 "trend": "%+.1fpp" % row['margin_change'], "trend_dir": "down"},
            ],
        },
        "theme_id": "consulting_blue",
        "chrome": {"footer": "Confidential", "kicker": "WEEKLY REVIEW"}
    },
)
data = resp.json()
print("Slide ready:", data['pptx_url'])  # download link

That's one slide for $0.03. For a full deck, use the deck endpoint to generate all slides in parallel:

# Generate a 5-slide weekly report deck ($0.15-$0.25, ~3s)
resp = requests.post(
    "https://api.slideforge.dev/v1/deck",
    headers={"Authorization": "Bearer sf_live_YOUR_KEY"},
    json={
        "slides": [
            {"render": {"template": "title_slide", "brief": "Weekly Report — Week 14"}},
            {"render": {"template": "kpi_dashboard", "params": kpi_data}},
            {"render": {"template": "bar_chart", "params": chart_data}},
            {"render": {"template": "data_table", "params": table_data}},
            {"render": {"template": "next_steps", "params": actions_data}},
        ],
        "theme_id": "consulting_blue",
        "title": "Weekly Report W14"
    },
)
deck = resp.json()
# Poll GET /v1/jobs/<job_id> for completion -> pptx_url

Scheduling the pipeline

Cron (simplest)

# Run every Monday at 7 AM
0 7 * * 1 /usr/bin/python3 /opt/reports/weekly_report.py

GitHub Actions (free for public repos)

# .github/workflows/weekly-report.yml
name: Weekly Report
on:
  schedule:
    - cron: '0 7 * * 1'  # Monday 7 AM UTC
jobs:
  generate:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
      - run: pip install requests pandas openpyxl
      - run: python generate_weekly_report.py
        env:
          SLIDEFORGE_API_KEY: ${{ secrets.SLIDEFORGE_API_KEY }}

Airflow / n8n / Zapier

Any orchestrator that can run Python works. Airflow: create a DAG with a PythonOperator. n8n: use the Code node. Zapier: use the Code by Zapier step (Python).

Adding email delivery

import smtplib
from email.mime.multipart import MIMEMultipart
from email.mime.base import MIMEBase
from email import encoders

# Download the generated PPTX
pptx_bytes = requests.get(data["pptx_url"]).content

# Send via SMTP
msg = MIMEMultipart()
msg["Subject"] = "Weekly Report — Week " + str(int(row['week']))
msg["From"] = "reports@yourcompany.com"
msg["To"] = "team@yourcompany.com"

attachment = MIMEBase("application",
    "vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.presentationml.presentation")
attachment.set_payload(pptx_bytes)
encoders.encode_base64(attachment)
attachment.add_header("Content-Disposition",
    "attachment; filename=weekly_report.pptx")
msg.attach(attachment)

with smtplib.SMTP("smtp.yourcompany.com", 587) as server:
    server.starttls()
    server.login("reports@yourcompany.com", "password")
    server.send_message(msg)

Cost comparison

A 15-slide weekly report using template rendering:

• python-pptx: Free, but 500+ lines of layout code. 2-4 hours initial build, ongoing maintenance.
• SlideForge templates: $0.03-$0.05/slide = $0.45-$0.75/week = $23-39/year. Zero layout code.
• Manual creation: 1-2 hours/week × $50/hr = $2,500-5,000/year. The most expensive option by far.

Browse templates for reports

50 templates cover the most common report slide types: browse the gallery. Popular for reports:

• kpi_dashboard — 2-6 metric cards with trends
• data_table — structured data in rows and columns
• bar_chart / stacked_bar — visual comparisons
• waterfall_chart — revenue bridges, P&L walkthroughs
• timeline — milestones and deadlines

Get started

Sign up for $3 free credit (enough for 60-100 template slides), or read the render API docs. Need help picking templates? Read the briefs guide.