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Templates
Configuring Templates

Configuring Templates

After uploading a template, you need to configure it so the AI understands how to use it effectively. This involves categorizing slides, naming shapes, and setting usage rules.

Why Configuration Matters

A well-configured template enables the AI to:

  • Select the right slide layouts for different content types
  • Know which text boxes to fill with content
  • Preserve branding elements like logos
  • Create more professional, consistent presentations

Configuration Overview

Configuration involves three main tasks:

  1. Categorize slides by their purpose.
  2. Name shapes and slides descriptively.
  3. Set usage rules for shapes.

Categorizing Slides

What is Slide Categorization?

Each slide is assigned a category that describes its purpose. This helps the AI select appropriate slides when generating content.

Available Categories

Structural Slides

  • Presentation Title - Opening slide with title/subtitle
  • Table of Contents - Agenda or overview
  • Section Divider - Transitions between topics

Content Slides

  • Text Content - Paragraphs, bullets, key points
  • Visual Content - Image-focused slides
  • Quantitative Content - Charts and tables only
  • Mixed Text & Visual - Text combined with images
  • Mixed Text & Quantitative - Text with charts/tables

Special Purpose

  • Contacts - Team info, testimonials, contact details
  • Closing Content - Summary, thank you, call to action

How to Categorize a Slide

  1. Open the template configuration page
  2. For each slide, click the category dropdown
  3. Select the most appropriate category
  4. Changes save automatically

Categorization Guidelines

Look at the slide layout

  • Does it have mostly text? → Text Content
  • Is there a large image? → Visual Content or Mixed
  • Is there a chart or table? → Quantitative Content or Mixed

Consider the slide's purpose

  • First slide? → Presentation Title
  • Lists next topics? → Table of Contents
  • Just a section heading? → Section Divider
  • Has contact info? → Contacts
  • Wraps up the presentation? → Closing Content

When in doubt

  • Multiple images but no text? → Visual Content
  • Equal text and visual? → Mixed Text & Visual
  • Mostly text with small icon? → Text Content

Naming Shapes

Why Name Shapes?

PowerPoint assigns default names like "TextBox 1", "Rectangle 3", "Chart 5". These don't tell the AI anything useful.

Descriptive names like "Revenue Chart", "Product Description", "Customer Quote" help the AI understand what content belongs in each shape.

Shape Naming Guidelines

Be descriptive and specific

  • ❌ Bad: "TextBox 1", "Text", "Box"
  • ✅ Good: "Main Title", "Key Benefits List", "Q3 Revenue"

Describe the content purpose

  • ❌ Bad: "Shape 1", "Left Text", "Top Box"
  • ✅ Good: "Product Features", "Executive Summary", "Quarterly Metrics"

Use consistent naming patterns

  • For similar shapes across slides: "Main Title", "Main Content", "Supporting Data"
  • For chart series: "Revenue Chart", "Profit Chart", "Growth Chart"

Keep it concise

  • Aim for 2-4 words
  • Avoid full sentences
  • Use title case

How to Rename Shapes

  1. Click on any shape in the slide preview
  2. Edit the shape name directly
  3. Press Enter or click outside to save
  4. The change is staged automatically

You can also use the Template Assistant to rename shapes in bulk (see below).

Setting Usage Rules

What are Usage Rules?

Usage rules tell the AI how to handle each shape during slide generation:

  • Any (default) - AI can modify or leave unchanged
  • No Touch - AI must never modify this shape
  • Must Touch - AI must always update this shape

When to Use "No Touch"

Mark shapes as "No Touch" when they contain:

  • Company logos
  • Legal disclaimers or copyright notices
  • Page numbers or slide numbers
  • Background design elements
  • Branding elements that should never change
  • Date/time placeholders

Example: On every slide, you have a logo in the corner and a page number. Mark both as "No Touch" so they're never accidentally modified.

When to Use "Must Touch"

Mark shapes as "Must Touch" when they are:

  • The main content area that should always have content
  • Critical data fields that should never be empty
  • Titles that must always be updated

Example: The main title text box on a slide should probably be "Must Touch" to ensure it always has appropriate content.

When to Use "Any"

Use "Any" (the default) for:

  • Content that might or might not be used depending on the presentation
  • Optional descriptions or supporting text
  • Elements that could be removed if not needed

How to Set Usage Rules

  1. Click on a shape
  2. In the shape details panel, find the "Usage Classification" dropdown
  3. Select "Any", "No Touch", or "Must Touch"
  4. Changes save automatically

Setting Slide Titles

Each slide should have a descriptive title that appears in the template navigation.

Default Titles

PowerPoint doesn't require slides to have titles. When a slide lacks a title, Octigen generates one from:

  1. The title placeholder text (if present)
  2. A generic name like "Slide 1".

How to Set Slide Titles

  1. Click on a slide
  2. Look for the "Slide Title" field
  3. Enter a descriptive title
  4. Changes save automatically

Good Slide Titles

  • Describe the slide's purpose: "Executive Summary", "Q3 Results"
  • Match the category: "Product Benefits" for Text Content
  • Be unique: Don't use "Data Slide" for five different slides

Using the Template Assistant

The Template Assistant AI can help with bulk configuration tasks.

Common Assistant Tasks

Bulk Categorization

  • "Categorize all slides based on their content"
  • "Mark all slides with charts as Quantitative Content"

Bulk Naming

  • "Rename all shapes with descriptive names"
  • "Give better names to all text shapes"
  • "Rename all charts to describe their data"

Bulk Usage Rules

  • "Mark all logos as no touch"
  • "Set all page numbers to no touch"
  • "Mark all main title shapes as must touch"

Bulk Title Setting

  • "Give all slides descriptive titles"
  • "Update slide titles to match their content"

How to Use the Assistant

  1. Open the template configuration page
  2. Click the chat icon to open the Template Assistant
  3. Describe what you want to do
  4. Review the proposed changes
  5. Accept or reject changes in the GUI
  6. Commit changes when satisfied

The assistant works in a "preview mode" - changes aren't permanent until you commit them.

Configuration Workflow

Here's a recommended workflow for configuring a new template:

  1. Initial Review (5 minutes)

    • Browse through all slides.
    • Understand what's available.

  2. Use Template Assistant (10-15 minutes)

    • "Categorize all slides".
    • "Rename all shapes descriptively".
    • "Set usage rules for logos and page numbers".
    • Review and refine suggestions.
    • Commit your changes to save them.

  3. Manual Fine-Tuning (10-15 minutes)

    • Fix any categorizations the AI got wrong.
    • Improve shape names where needed.
    • Verify all "no touch" elements are marked.
    • Commit your changes to save them.

  4. Set Slide Titles (5 minutes)

    • Use assistant: "Give all slides descriptive titles".
    • Or do manually for each slide.
    • Commit your changes to save them.

  5. Check Analytics (2 minutes)

    • Aim for 80%+ on all scores.
    • If scores are low, revisit problem areas.

Updating Existing Templates

Templates can be reconfigured at any time:

  1. Go to the template page
  2. Make changes as needed
  3. Commit updates
  4. New slide decks will use the updated configuration
  5. Existing slide decks are not affected

Next Steps

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