Generating & Downloading

The final step in creating a presentation is generating and downloading the PowerPoint file.

What is Generating?

Generating is the process of finalizing your presentation:

• Converts staged changes to permanent
• Generates the final PowerPoint (.pptx) file
• Stores the file in the backend
• Makes it available for download
• Marks the slide deck as complete

Before generate, all your work is "staged" - prepared but not permanent. Generating makes it real.

The Generate Process

1. Final Review

Before generating, do one last check:

Content Review:

• All slides present and correct?
• Data accurate?
• No typos or errors?
• Key messages clear?

Completeness:

• Nothing missing?
• All required sections included?
• Appropriate level of detail?

Quality:

• Ready to present?
• Professional quality?
• Meets your standards?

2. Initiating Commit

When ready:

1. Click "Generate Final Deck" or "Commit" button
2. Optionally provide a final name for the slide deck
3. Confirm the commit action
4. Wait for processing

Processing time: Usually 30-60 seconds

3. Completion

Once processing completes:

• Success message appears
• Download link becomes available
• Slide Deck marked as generated
• File stored in backend

Downloading Your Presentation

After successful commit:

1. Click the download button/link

   • Downloads a .pptx file
   • File name based on slide deck name
   • Example: q1_board_meeting_2024.pptx

2. Open in PowerPoint

   • Works with PowerPoint 2007+
   • Compatible with PowerPoint 365
   • Also works with Keynote, Google Slides

3. Review in PowerPoint

   • Check all slides
   • Verify formatting
   • Test on presentation hardware
   • Make any final manual adjustments

What Happens During Commit

Behind the scenes:

1. Validation

   • Checks that all slides are properly formatted
   • Ensures data integrity
   • Validates against template

2. File Generation

   • Applies all staged changes to template
   • Updates all shapes with content
   • Maintains template styling
   • Generates presentation-level metadata

3. Storage

   • Saves .pptx file to backend storage
   • Records creation metadata
   • Links to template and workflow (if used)
   • Makes available for download

4. Cleanup

   • Removes staging data
   • Clears session data
   • Updates slide deck status

After Commit

What You Can Do

Download Multiple Times:

• Download link remains available
• Can download again later
• Same file each time

Create New Versions:

• Can't edit generated slide deck
• Instead, create new slide deck
• Use previous as starting point

Share the File:

• Download and share normally
• Email, cloud storage, etc.
• Just like any PowerPoint file

What You Cannot Do

Edit the Generated Slide Deck:

• Generated slide decks are read-only
• Cannot modify or regenerate
• Must create new slide deck for changes

Why? This prevents accidental modifications and ensures version stability.

Creating New Versions

If you need to make changes after commit:

Option 1: Edit in PowerPoint

• Download the file
• Edit manually in PowerPoint
• Save as new file
• Quick for minor changes

Option 2: Create New Slide Deck

• Start fresh slide deck
• Copy content from original
• Make desired changes
• Generate new version
• Better for major changes

Option 3: Duplicate and Modify

• Duplicate the generated slide deck (if feature available)
• Modify the duplicate
• Commit as new version

Commit Failures

Rarely, commits can fail:

Common Causes

Template Issues:

• Template no longer available
• Template modified since slide deck creation
• Incompatible template changes

System Issues:

• Backend service unavailable
• Network problems
• Storage issues

Error Messages

You'll see specific error messages indicating:

• What went wrong
• Suggested actions
• Whether to retry

Solutions

If commit fails:

1. Note the error message
2. Try generating again (many errors are transient)
3. If persistent, go back to Refine Phase
4. Make adjustments based on error
5. Try generating again
6. Contact support if still failing

Best Practices

Before Generating

Triple-Check Critical Slides:

• Opening slide
• Key data slides
• Closing slide

Verify Data:

• All numbers correct?
• Sources cited if needed?
• Calculations accurate?

Test Flow:

• Read through like you're presenting
• Logical progression?
• Smooth transitions?

Get Feedback:

• Share draft with colleague if possible
• Fresh eyes catch issues
• Incorporate feedback before generating

After Generating

Test the File:

• Open in PowerPoint immediately
• Check on actual presentation hardware
• Test any links or animations
• Verify charts and tables render correctly

Make Manual Adjustments: If needed in PowerPoint:

• Fine-tune formatting
• Adjust image positions
• Add speaker notes
• Customize animations

Save Your Work:

• Save to cloud storage
• Keep backups
• Maintain version history

File Details

File Format

Format: PowerPoint (.pptx)

• XML-based format
• Introduced in PowerPoint 2007
• Compatible with modern versions

Compatibility:

• PowerPoint 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365
• Keynote (with minor formatting differences)
• Google Slides (import supported)
• LibreOffice Impress

File Contents

The .pptx file includes:

• All slides with generated content
• Template styling and formatting
• Charts and tables
• Slide layouts from template
• Metadata (creation date, etc.)

The file does NOT include:

• Octigen-specific metadata
• Link back to original slide deck
• Edit history

It's a standard PowerPoint file.

File Size

Typical file sizes:

• Text-heavy: 500KB - 2MB
• With charts: 1MB - 5MB
• Image-heavy: 5MB - 20MB
• Video/complex: 20MB+

Size depends on template complexity and content.

Accessing Generated Slide Decks

From Template Page

1. Navigate to template
2. View slide decks list
3. Find your slide deck
4. Click to view details
5. Download again if needed

Slide Deck Information

For each generated slide deck:

• Name
• Creation date
• Last modified date
• Template used
• Workflow used (if applicable)
• Download link

Data Retention

How long are files kept?

• Check your organization's policy.
• May have storage limits.
• Download and backup important files.

What if I delete a slide deck?

• Slide Deck record removed
• File may be deleted
• Download link no longer works
• Action may be irreversible

Common Questions

Q: Can I edit the PowerPoint file after download? A: Yes! It's a normal PowerPoint file. Edit freely in PowerPoint.

Q: What if I find an error after generating? A: Download, fix in PowerPoint, and save as new file. Or create a new slide deck in Octigen.

Q: Can I recommit a slide deck? A: No, generated slide decks are final. Create a new version instead.

Q: Why can't I edit after commit? A: To ensure version stability and prevent accidental changes. Think of it as "publishing."

Q: Can I download in other formats (PDF, etc.)? A: Only .pptx initially. Convert using PowerPoint: Save As → PDF.

Q: What if download fails? A: Try again. Check internet connection. Clear browser cache. Contact support if persistent.

Q: Can others download my generated slide deck? A: Depends on your organization's permissions. Typically, workspace members can access.

Next Steps

After your first successful presentation:

• Learn best practices - Tips for even better results
• Explore AI Assistants - Master the tools
• Create workflows - Standardize recurring presentations
• Refine your templates - Improve template configuration

Ready to create another?

• Start a new slide deck
• Try a different workflow
• Experiment with freeform mode
• Test different templates