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]

Hi Jesper,
I am assuming that those widgets are extracting data from some table (or maybe calculated data). So, let's take current status widget -> it represents all those five fields (overall, cost.. etc). If these fields are directly present on project_status table then we can use addin to add those columns directly in the powerpoint template. Also to apply the formatter shape like green tick/filled circle we can use powerpoint formatter mapping configuration(you can check oob examples for that).

[Jesper Slot]

Hi @RahulKmr, thank you very much for your time and reply.

Yes, the current statuses is no problem, I have that and also formatted (I created a formatter for scope and schedule). My issue is with the history of previous statuses from previous status reports.

As far as I can see, the "Project Weekly Status" widget on the project_status_report portal page, pulls the data via the current status reports relation to the project record and the project records relation to the project status table, to loop through the most recent status reports. 

But I cannot see how I can do this with the addin - for related tables I have these available (but not the status report table itself) in below screenshot from powerpoint addin:

Any ideas?

Kr

Jesper

[M_48]

Hi Rahul,

If I understand correctly, I can’t directly populate data in the PowerPoint template using a structure like this:

pm_project.u_project_owner

Doing so wouldn’t add the necessary metadata. Instead, I would need to use the add-in so that the required metadata is included, correct?

Also, I need to script a value for one of the fields in the template. Specifically, we’d like the PowerPoint to display the date the presentation is generated. My idea is to use a script that retrieves today’s date and populates it in the template.

Previously, we used Office templates where we could assign values to fields via script, similar to how a transform map works. You mentioned this could be done, but with a lot of customization. Could you confirm if this is still feasible and how? Thanks in advance for your guidance

[PaulaaO]

I have done a bit more testing in my PDI and I noticed that it recognises my new template if I use the same Report type as OOTB (not the one I created).

I used it to export some status reports already existent and it seemed to work, however it did not reflect the values from the Key Milestones widget for which I added a new column in the PPT file and validated it existed in the baseline table (percent_complete).

I then tried to create a brand new report status and then I got an error message when trying to select the new template, which I imagine is what you were referring to in your reply.

I will update my main post with some clarifications around my actual requirements as it seems this might be quite complex to implement and would be good to understand it it's feasible at all. 

[manita1]

Hi, were you able to achieve pulling the data without the add-in plugin ?