PowerPoint: Populate a template

Use this action to dynamically update a Powerpoint template to create customized Powerpoint presentations. This action can take a predefined template and create a presentation with new information each instance.

Use case

If the original Powerpoint file has {{company-name}} in it and a previous step (for example, a webform) gathers the company name as PagerDuty Workflow Automation, this step will replace {{company-name}} reference with PagerDuty Workflow Automation.

• Save time by creating custom powerpoint presentations based on dynamic values
• Reduce errors from doing a find-replace on an existing deck
• Increase brand consistency by ensuring a standard template is used

How to configure this action

This action works by replacing {{field-name}} references in a template .pptx PowerPoint file with field values to create a new file. Both text and images can be replaced.

Images are added in field reference format, {{my-image}}, but must have a “%” prefix: e.g., {{%my-images}}. The tag must be placed in a text box in the .pptx template that is not part of the default layout on the slide.

    {{#field-name}} This text will only display if field-name DOES exist. {{/field-name}}

✅   Heads-up: This action supports .JPEG, .GIF, .BMP, and .PNG files. If an unsupported image file type is used, the action will complete without adding the image.

Fields for this action

• Template file

  • Reference the field where the file template is stored.

  • The file template can be uploaded two ways: in an Instance Field or through a previous action. Use a reference to locate the file in either case.

    • If using an Instance Field, upload the file as a default and reference the field here.
    • If another person should upload the template, add a required file field in preceding task and reference the field here.

• New file name

  • Enter a name for the new updated file, this is what the updated file will be named and saved as.

  • If left blank, the new file will have the same name as the template file.
    
    💡   Tip: The .pptx extension will be added to this name automatically and does not need to be included.

• Keep unmatched fields

  • If a reference field in a template file does not match with a field in the Workflow, Select True or False from the drop down to change how this unmatched field is handled.
  • For example, if the field {{company-name}} is empty and has no value, the matching reference in the .pptx template {{company-name}} field would be considered unmatched.
    • Select True for any unmatched fields in the initial file template to be retained, showing {{field-name}} in the document
    • Select False or leave blank for any unmatched fields to be removed

• Output field name

  • The name of the field in which the result should be saved. The step name is used by default.

What will this output?

This action will produce a new file field with all updated data. The Output field name can be referenced as: {{output-field-name}} as chosen above.

Get help with a problem or question

If something’s not working as expected, or you’re looking for suggestions, check through the options below.

Why do the text or images I add not show up?

There are three things to check:

1. Check to make sure all of the references inside the .pptx file are in text boxes.
2. Check to make sure references for images are added in with the prefix “%”, e.g., {{%my-images}}.
3. Check that the references are in a text box in the .pptx template that is not part of the default layout on the slide.

Here’s a small example of the way the references are added: