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Convert PowerPoint Presentation

The Convert PowerPoint Presentation action converts a PowerPoint presentation (.ppt, .pptx) to another format and returns the resulting file content.

Parameters

NameTypeRequiredDescription
DocumentFile contentYes

PowerPoint document content (e.g. output of a Get file content action from SharePoint or OneDrive).

Output FormatStringYes

Desired target format. One of: .ppt, .pptx, .pptm, .ppsx, .ppsm, .potx, .potm, .pdf, .xps, .tiff, .html, .swf.

Include slides(optional)StringNo

Comma‑separated list of 1‑based slide indices to convert, e.g. 1,2,5. Defaults to all slides.

Optional Parameters per Output Format

HTML
ParameterTypeDescriptionOptions
Delete Pictures Cropped AreasBooleanRemove any cropped regions of imagesYes, No
Jpeg QualityIntegerQuality level for JPEG encodingAny integer
Pictures CompressionStringCompression/resolution strategy for picturese.g. Document resolution
PDF
ParameterTypeDescriptionOptions
ComplianceEnumPDF standard conformancepdf14, pdf15, pdf16, pdf17, pdfA1a, pdfA1b, pdfA2a, pdfA2b, pdfA2u, pdfA3a, pdfA3b, pdfA3u
Draw slides frameBooleanInclude a border/frame around each slideYes, No
PasswordStringUser password to protect the PDFAny string
Sufficient ResolutionIntegerDPI resolution for images embedded in the PDFAny integer
SWF
ParameterTypeDescriptionOptions
CompressedBooleanApply SWF file compressionYes, No
Jpeg QualityIntegerQuality level for embedded JPEG imagesAny integer
Show Bottom PaneBooleanDisplay the bottom navigation paneYes, No
Show Full ScreenBooleanEnable full‑screenYes, No
Show Left PaneBooleanDisplay the left navigation paneYes, No
Show Page BorderBooleanDraw slide bordersYes, No
Show Page StepperBooleanInclude page‑step controlsYes, No
Show SearchBooleanInclude a search boxYes, No
Show Top PaneBooleanDisplay the top navigation paneYes, No
Start Open Left PaneBooleanOpen the left pane on startupYes, No
Viewer IncludedBooleanInclude the SWF viewerYes, No
TIFF
ParameterTypeDescriptionOptions
Compression TypeEnumCompression algorithm for TIFF outputCCITT3, CCITT4, Default, LZW, None, RLE
DPI XIntegerHorizontal resolution in dots per inchAny integer
DPI YIntegerVertical resolution in dots per inchAny integer
Image WidthIntegerWidth of the rendered image (pixels)Any integer
Image HeightIntegerHeight of the rendered image (pixels)Any integer
XPS
ParameterTypeDescriptionOptions
Draw slides frameBooleanInclude a border/frame around each slideYes, No

Returns

NameTypeDescription
File contentString (base64‑encoded)Base64‑encoded bytes of the converted file, suitable for downstream actions.

Troubleshooting

Click to expand common errors and fixes

Document Missing, Truncated, or Invalid

Cause:
Input is empty, truncated, or not a valid PowerPoint binary.

Fix:

  • Provide the full presentation binary/base64.
  • Verify the payload decodes to a valid PowerPoint file and is not truncated.

Unsupported or Misspelt Output Format

Cause:
Output Format value is incorrect or not supported.

Fix:

  • Confirm the output format exactly matches one of the supported values.
  • Correct any spelling errors and retry.

Password-Protected or Encrypted Presentation

Cause:
File requires a password or is encrypted.

Fix:

  • Supply an unprotected copy of the presentation.
  • Remove encryption before converting.

Include Slides List Invalid or Out of Range

Cause:
Include slides contains non-numeric entries, zero-based indices, or indices greater than the slide count.

Fix:

  • Use a comma-separated list of one-based integers.
  • Ensure each index is within the total number of slides.
  • Omit this option to convert all slides.

Images Missing, Low Quality or Excessively Compressed

Cause:
Resolution/DPI or compression settings are too low or incompatible with the image content.

Fix:

  • Increase DPI or image quality settings.
  • Choose less aggressive compression.
  • Test settings on a sample slide to evaluate trade-offs.

Layout Reflow, Missing Animations, or Slide Fidelity Loss

Cause:
Complex layouts, animations, transitions, embedded multimedia, or slide master features may not map exactly to the target format.

Fix:

  • For visual fidelity, use output formats that preserve layout (e.g., high-quality images or PDF).
  • Expect animations and transitions to be lost in static formats.
  • If animations are required, consider formats that support them (where applicable).

Output Corrupted or Cannot Be Opened

Cause:
Returned payload is truncated, incorrectly encoded, or not matching the expected type.

Fix:

  • Ensure the output is a complete base64 string and decodes without error.
  • Re-run with a sample to check for consistent truncation.

Performance, Timeouts or Large File Resource Limits

Cause:
Very large decks, many high-resolution images, or complex embedded content exceed processing limits.

Fix:

  • Reduce file size (compress or downscale images).
  • Convert subsets of slides or convert slides in batches.
  • Test with representative samples to determine safe limits.

Invalid Format-Specific Option Values

Cause:
Numeric ranges exceeded or invalid enum values supplied for parameters like DPI, compression, or quality.

Fix:

  • Validate all numeric ranges and enum values for the selected output format.
  • Remove conflicting options and retry.

Generic Runtime or Transient Failure

Cause:
Malformed inputs, intermittent conversion engine error, or unexpected internal state.

Fix:

  • Reproduce the issue with a minimal presentation and minimal option set.
  • Validate inputs and retry to rule out transient failures.

Quick Checklist

  • Document is the complete .ppt / .pptx / .pptm binary/base64 (not a path or URL).
  • Output Format is one of the supported values and spelt exactly.
  • Include slides (if used) is a comma-separated list of one-based indices within range.
  • Format options (JPEG quality, compression, DPI, page/frame settings) are valid for the chosen format.
  • Presentation is not password protected or corrupted.
  • Expect animations and transitions to be lost in static outputs; choose formats accordingly.
  • For image fidelity, tune DPI and quality settings and test with a sample slide.
  • If conversion fails, reproduce with a minimal presentation and the exact option set - that input set is essential to isolate the root cause.