Delete specific slides from a PowerPoint file

[zuhaibashfaq92]

Hi,

I am building a flow to automate presentation. I have a Template.pptx file stored in OneDrive which contains all of the slides. The flow creates a copy of this file and deletes some slides in the new file. Information about which slides are to be deleted is stored in an array (it is working perfectly).

What I am having trouble with is to be able to delete slides in the ppt file. I couldn't locate any connector that would enable me to delete any slide from an existing file.

Is there any workaround to delete slides from a PPT file, then let me know in the comments.

Thanks,

Zuhaib Ashfaq.

[AlexEncodian · Accepted solution]

@zuhaibashfaq92 

Encodian will be releasing this functionality at some point and may offer a work around for now. 

Use the Merge Presentations actions but input only one document. You can use the "documents slides item" to specify which slides which want included in the merge operation (you need to re-configure your delete array). This will extract the slides you want from the presentation and create a new presentation.

I tested the below with a single file input of a 2 slide presentation. I said to include only slide 1 and the output was just the 1 slide presentation.

[zuhaibashfaq92]

@AlexEncodian thanks for the help.

It seems like this will solve my problem. I understand your point of manipulating my array so it includes slides that I need to keep.

But whenever I test the flow, the Merge Operation keeps on running without giving any output. See the screenshot attached for configuration.

The object in 'Documents File Content' points to the output of 'GetFileContent' for same file as in 'Documents Filename - 1'. The file is present at the ROOT folder in OneDrive.

I am this close to solving this problem but not sure why I am not getting any output. Your help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

[AlexEncodian]

@zuhaibashfaq92 

See the screenshot I provided.

You have not provided Document Sort Position (try 1), nor slides to include (test it with just 1 as well) nor a file name of the output file. 

Are you creating the file after?

[zuhaibashfaq92]

@AlexEncodian 

I tried with every combination possible. I have also tried creating a blank file named "merge.pptx" in the root folder as well. But still not getting any output or error.

[AlexEncodian]

@zuhaibashfaq92 

Can you screenshot your entire flow please

[zuhaibashfaq92]

@AlexEncodian 

I am testing on just the Merge Presentation part for simplicity. 

I'm using Get File Metadata to get the Filename and Get File Content for the content. Output of these operators are passed in to the MergePresentation.

[AlexEncodian]

@zuhaibashfaq92 

And what you are doing with the File content output of the Encodian action? How are you seeing if its empty?

[zuhaibashfaq92]

@AlexEncodian 

I test it manually and see the output of the action. Also, merge.pptx is not updated with the slides.

One thing I just noticed is that it gives an error, if I let it run for too long

Raw Output:

[AlexEncodian]

@zuhaibashfaq92 

Your input is the issue - that's not a Base64 encoded string you are passing to Encodian.

Have a read of this article (especially the second half):

Working with Files and File Contents in Power Automate (encodian.com)

Its not an Encodian issue, its the bit before that's problematic. If you are still having issues after trying remedies in the above article, go to the Encodian support site and start a chat with the team (Encodian Customer Help)

[zuhaibashfaq92]

There was an issue with the type of file content that I was receiving from previous connector. Fixing that, I got my desired results. 

Thanks!