Has anybody tried to create a custom PowerPoint template [Export to PowerPoint for SPM plugin] ?

[PaulaaO]

Hi Community,

I am interested in finding out if anybody has managed to create a custom PowerPoint template and export data accurately using it.

I have installed the Export to PowerPoint for Strategic Portfolio Management plugin and I have been asked to create a different template from the OOTB one.

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LE -> New template requirements:

• remove Total Costs slide
• add current status and status history widgets as slides
• update some of the columns from the key milestones and RIDAC, for example
  • key milestones slide: add Variance as a column in the PPT template
  • risk slide: add 2 custom fields from the risk and risk_baseline table in the PPT template
  • issue slide: add impact, due date in the PPT template
  • etc.

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I managed to cover the following - have not modified anything from the OOTB components so I could use them as point of reference

• created a brand new PowerPoint Template record (sn_ppt_export_ppt_template)
• downloaded the actual PowerPoint attachment from the default template and done some updated
• attached the changed PowerPoint file to the new template created
• I created a new report type as well, but mirroring the Project status report one (sn_ppt_export_ppt_report_type)
  • the reason for this is because I needed to change something on both the related tables and on the scripted elements related lists
    • replicated most of those from the existent report type: Project status report one

That's as far as I went in terms of configuring - the blocker I have now is that the system does not let me select the new template I created, it still lists just the default template that comes OOTB. Is it because I have created a new report type (even though it's still based on project_status table)?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thank you.

Paula

 

[RahulKmr · Accepted solution]

Just now I checked it is reproducible OOB. It is kept like this on purpose, but if you want to add your new template then you will have to edit UI page "ppm_project_status_export" in the client script change the query (at line number 12 ppttemplateoptions) from 

report_type=53ded38177030110c974206acd5a994f to 

report_typeIN53ded38177030110c974206acd5a994f,<POL project status report type sys_id> (keep the , but replace the "<sys_id>" appropriately)

Thanks
Rahul

[PaulaaO]

Thank you so much, that worked 🙂

I have updated my post with the actual requirements of the template, but what I need to figure it out now is how to ensure values will be displayed in the template if I change some of the columns, for example I added Percent Complete in the key milestones as a new column (validated that this field appears in the main table and the baseline one)

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I also need to add these 2 widgets on the slides - they are part of the OOTB Status Report in this view. Is it something easy to do (I imagine they would need to be added in the Scripted Elements related table from the Report Type) ?

[RahulKmr]

You should not add it manually (just mere copy and paste won't work), so for percent complete you should not put the token like this {key_milestones.percent_complete} rather you should use add in for this purpose. Addin will actually insert some metadata along with that otherwise this won't work.

Thanks
Rahul

[PaulaaO]

Hi Rahul, actually I've tested this with some dummy data and it seemed to work but want to carry out more testing to be sure:

We want to avoid installing the add-in: would this pose an issue in configuring new templates?

Thank you.

Paula

[RahulKmr]

It will eventually when you will try to add new column which is currently not available in OOB template. Addin will help you to do that easily.