The record lines from Spec can be exported to a PowerPoint file, allowing for easy and efficient use of the information in creating a presentation. Each record line will export to a single slide and the information will be arranged based on the template slide layout.

Enabling Experimental Mode in Spec

In the current state, the PowerPoint export tool is available through the Experimental Mode setting only. As development continues, it will be made available in the regular state. 

1. Open Spec from a windows search or the Desktop Icon and verify that you are updated to the 9.0 version. You can find the version number under the About icon on the Help tab.

   

2. Click the Tools Tab and then the Settings Icon to open the Settings dialog. 

   

    

3. Check the box next to Experimental Mode to enable it and click OK to apply. 

   

4. You should now see the PowerPoint option in the File menu Export section.

   

    

Installing the PowerPoint Toolbox

Download the Setup.zip file (click to download) for the PowerPoint Spec Template Toolbox. 

Right-click the Setup.zip file, the select Properties. On the General tab, some users may see an Unblock checkbox. Click to check the box, then click Apply and OK. 

Extract the contents of Setup.zip to a folder.

Open the extracted folder and double click the setup.exe file to run the installation.

Follow the installation prompts to install the toolbox for PowerPoint. 

After installation, open PowerPoint and a new Spec tab should appear in the ribbon. 

Using the Template Toolbox

In PowerPoint, click the Spec tab. 

Click Show Template Toolbox. 

The field list toolbox will appear on the right side of PowerPoint.

You can now edit an existing PowerPoint template or create a new one. 

To add Spec fields to the template slides, double click a field in the toolbox. After placing a field, you can left click to move, resize, or format the font style as needed. 

The field's text characters must remain exactly as they appears when first inserted. If the text is changed, Spec will not recognize the field and will not be able to place the data appropriately.

Exporting to PowerPoint

Click on the File menu and hover over Export to see the export options. Click on PowerPoint. 

The Export dialog will allow you to select the record range to be exported with a variety of criteria. 

Enter a file name and click Browse to select the exported file's save location. By default, this will be located in the ProjectSpec Quotes folder.

Click OK to apply the selections and continue with the export. 

Click Cancel to exit the dialog without continuing. 

The next screen will allow a template selection from one of the two defaults provided as well as additional options. 

Select File - Opens a File Explorer dialog to allow for selecting an existing file for one time use.

Add - Opens a File Explorer dialog to allow for selecting an existing file to add a new template.

Edit - Opens PowerPoint where the selected file can be edited.

Export - Exports the records to the selected template.

Close - Closes the dialog without exporting any records.

By default, the PowerPoint Templates will be saved in the ProjectSpec Print Templates folder.

Once the export is complete, the file will open in PowerPoint. 

Troubleshooting

If you don't see the PowerPoint option in the Export section of the File menu, check that Experimental Mode is enable in Settings. See the top of this article for more details. 

If the slides have no content, check the following.

1. Make sure the selected export range contains rows with product information.
2. Make sure slide 1 of the selected PowerPoint template file includes valid placeholders.
3. Confirm the placeholders are spelled correctly. The fields must match exactly for the data to be transferred accurately.