How to convert a .pptx to .pdf using Python

Question

I have been looking to convert a .pptx file to a .pdf file through a Python script for several hours but nothing seems to be working.

What I have tried: I have tried 1) this script which calls windows32.client, and 2) unoconv, but none of them seem to be working for me.

Problems encountered: Using script from first option throws up an error (com_error: (-2147352567, 'Exception occurred.', (0, None, None, None, 0, -2147024894), None)), whereas in second option Python can't seem to recognize unoconv even after installing it using pip.

I also saw some recommended Pandoc, but I can't understand how to use it for Python.

Versions I am using: Python 2.7.9, Windows 8.1

Answer 1

I found the answer with the help of this post and the answer from this question. Note that comtypes is only available for Windows.

import comtypes.client

def PPTtoPDF(inputFileName, outputFileName, formatType = 32):
    powerpoint = comtypes.client.CreateObject("Powerpoint.Application")
    powerpoint.Visible = 1

    if outputFileName[-3:] != 'pdf':
        outputFileName = outputFileName + ".pdf"
    deck = powerpoint.Presentations.Open(inputFileName)
    deck.SaveAs(outputFileName, formatType) # formatType = 32 for ppt to pdf
    deck.Close()
    powerpoint.Quit()

Answer 2

unoconv is a great tool to perform this task and it is indeed build in python. Regarding your problem, it might be related to a recurring problem with the way the python interpreter is set in the main unoconv file after it has been installed.

To run it with python3 interpreter, replace #!/usr/bin/env python with #!/usr/bin/env python3 or #!/usr/bin/python3 in unoconv file (/usr/bin/unoconv).

one liner:

sudo sed -i -e '1s:#!/usr/bin/env python$:#!/usr/bin/env python3:' /usr/bin/unoconv

You could also symlink /usr/bin/unoconv to /usr/local/bin/unoconv.