Availability: Some of the features described in this article are only available in the Pro and Premium Edition.
You can upload your own PowerPoint templates in Meisterplan to export project data using a customized layout.
Required User Rights
To export data to PowerPoint templates, users need to have the Export Data right under Manage > User Groups > Integrations. They will only see data for which they have user rights in the PowerPoint file.
To upload custom templates, users must have the Upload PowerPoint Templates right enabled under Manage > User Groups > Integrations.
Exporting Data to PowerPoint
To share Meisterplan data outside the tool - for example, in board or status meetings -, you can quickly export your project data to a predefined PowerPoint template.
Exporting a Single Project's Data
To export the data of one project, open its project details and in the toolbar, click Export to PowerPoint:
If you have multiple PowerPoint templates on your system, you can select the appropriate template from a drop-down list.
The PowerPoint file will automatically download to your computer. You can edit the exported file to further customize the content and layout.
Exporting Data of Several Projects
You can also export the data of several projects into a template. Open the List view, select the projects, and click Export to PowerPoint:
If you have multiple PowerPoint templates in your system, you can select the appropriate template from a drop-down list.
For each selected project, the template slides with placeholders (except for the timestamp and title placeholders) will be duplicated and populated with the project's data.
The PowerPoint file will automatically download to your computer. You can edit the exported file to further customize the content and layout.
Meisterplan Default Template
If no custom templates are uploaded or if all custom templates have been deleted, Meisterplan will automatically use the default template. The default template is only available in English and includes a selection of supported fields. In this article, you will find a complete overview of fields, placeholders, and those included in the default template.
In Pro and Premium editions of Meisterplan, you can upload up to ten custom templates to ensure your exports match your company’s branding and include only the relevant details.
In Basic editions and systems where no custom templates are uploaded, data will be exported to the Meisterplan Default Template.
Preparing Your TemplatesProPremium
Your PowerPoint templates (.pptx) can include any text, formatting, and layout, as long as the file size does not exceed 5 MB.
To export project data to your file, insert placeholders for the desired fields as editable text. These can be placed in text boxes or tables,. For an overview of all available fields and their placeholders, see the article List of Available Fields for PowerPoint Export Templates.
- Under Integrations > Microsoft PowerPoint, click the Meisterplan Default Template to download it to your computer.
- Customize the default template with your preferred layout and fields by adding their placeholders, then save it under a new name.
- Upload your template (see below).
- Open a project's details and click Export to PowerPoint in the toolbar to review the results.
- Repeat as needed until the configuration meets your requirements.
If you delete your custom template, the Meisterplan Default Template will be automatically restored.
Uploading Your Templates
- Under Integrations > Microsoft PowerPoint, click Upload New Template:
- Drag and drop your file or select it from your computer, then click Validate in the top right.
- On the right side, you will see a list of all invalid placeholders in your file. When you click through the file preview, the incorrect placeholders are displayed in red. When you download the uploaded file, the red highlighting remains.
- Correct the errors in your file.
- Re-upload the corrected file and validate again.
- When your file has no errors, click Upload in the top right.
Your template will now be used to export data to PowerPoint. You can test it both in the Project Details and the List view.
Deleting Your Custom Templates
To delete an uploaded template, hover over the file name under Integrations > Microsoft PowerPoint and click the trash can icon. If you delete all PowerPoint templates, the Meisterplan Default Template will be uploaded again. You cannot delete the Meisterplan Default Template, but you can replace it by uploading a new template.
Dos and Don'ts
Formatting Tips
For best layout results, follow these recommendations:
- Add one text box per text or URL field placeholder.
- Remove all empty lines from text boxes after the placeholders, because the text box adjusts to the length of the text during export, and additional empty lines unnecessarily enlarge the text box.
Don'ts
Do not include the following PowerPoint elements in your custom templates as they may cause problems when uploading your templates or exporting data:
- Cameos
- SmartArt graphics
- 3D Models
- Charts
- Complex Groupings
- Complex Diagrams
- Add-Ins (Exception: Trusted add-ins such as Tableau, Power BI, Visio, Think Cell, Office Timeline, OnePager, MekkoGraphics, and Efficient Elements are allowed.)