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

 

[PaulaaO]

Hi @manita1 I was able to, yes. It' been a while and we haven't went ahead with its implementation but had a decent progress on it. Are you interested in something specific?

[manita1]

Yes, I have a PowerPoint template of status report and I want to add some custom fields in int along with sone more slides if ooob fields. I tried adding the fields with reference to project status table like : project_status.comments in summary slide but in the export it only shows the label and no value. How did you pull the values ? did you modify any script includes or widgets ?

[Jesper Slot]

It's doable, just pay attention to the brackets... there's a link on the ending backet. Check this example from the out-of-the-box ppt file: 

It's pretty straight forward when you just use a field on the project_status table, but when you need to drill down through a related table, then the links gets way more complex - here the plugin really comes in handy. 
I just did this as a test, and it worked fine. These are fields on the project_status table, (one is custom - on our sandbox), the link in the ending brackets is the same as in the above screenshot. 

I struggled so much getting that plugin installed in PowerPoint, but in the end I found this guide and it really helped: Sideload Office Add-ins for testing from a network share - Office Add-ins | Microsoft Learn
Download the manifest.xml file via "ServiceNow Add-Ins for Office > Office Add-Ins Manifests" in ServiceNow and follow the guide for sideloading it on one computer.

You don't really need plugin available for everyone in the company, just the employee who creates the template.