How to Retrospectively Link PowerPoint Tables and Charts to Displayr Outputs

Want to update your old PowerPoint file with new data? Even if it wasn't originally exported from Displayr, you can update the file by manually linking outputs between the PPT file and Displayr, using a unique id called a GUID. When Displayr updates the file, all the linked outputs have their data values refreshed. This means that the original table styles and any manual changes to formatting are maintained. This post describes how to link outputs created in Displayr...

...to respective outputs created in PowerPoint...

...and update the PowerPoint outputs with revised data from the outputs in Displayr.

This approach can be used to link and update an existing PowerPoint report, or to populate specific tables and charts with data from tables created in Displayr.

Requirements

Requirements for PowerPoint outputs supported:
- A chart or table
  - The chart or table must be one that is compatible with Displayr charts/tables, see: Displayr Compatible PowerPoint Chart Deck.
  - A Displayr table and/or chart with Statistics (e.g., %, count) matching what is shown in PowerPoint.
  - A Displayr table and/or chart with a matching layout to the chart used in PowerPoint.
    - If the data layout doesn't match: in Displayr, select the table/chart and go to the object inspector > Data > Data Source and select Switch rows and columns.
- An image
  - Requires one of the following in Displayr:
    - An image
    - A Table or Visualization where Object Inspector > Appearance > Export to PowerPoint > Format > Image.
    - A Calculation where Object Inspector > Data > Output > Show as > HTML or Widget.
- A Text Box
  - Requires one of the following in Displayr:
    - A text box
    - A Calculation on the page where Object Inspector > Data > Output > Show as > Text.
See our technical notes for exceptions and other important info.

Method - linking a Displayr table to a PowerPoint table

Ensure that the Statistics and layout of the Displayr table match the content and layout of the table in PowerPoint.
In Displayr, right-click the output and select Copy > Copy GUID. Or go to the Object Inspector > General > General > GUID, highlight it, and right-click > Copy (or CTRL+C).
In PowerPoint, select the table you wish to link to the Displayr table.
Right-click on the table and select View Alt Text...
Paste the GUID from Step 2 into the Alt Text field.

You are now ready to update the PowerPoint report with data from Displayr. See How to Update an Existing PowerPoint Document for complete details.

Method - linking a Displayr table to a PowerPoint chart

Ensure that the Statistics and layout of the Displayr table match the content and layout of the table in PowerPoint. To check the required layout, open your PowerPoint document, select the chart, right-click, and select Edit data.
In Displayr, right click the table and select Copy > Copy GUID. Or go to the Object Inspector > General > General > GUID, highlight it and right-click > Copy (or CTRL+C).
In PowerPoint, select the chart you wish to link to the Displayr table.
Right-click on the chart and select View Alt Text...
Paste the GUID from Step 2 into the Alt Text field.

You are now ready to update the PowerPoint report with data from Displayr. See How to Update an Existing PowerPoint Document for complete details.

Method - linking a Displayr chart to a PPT chart

Ensure that the Statistics and layout of the Displayr table match the content and layout of the table in PowerPoint. To check the required layout, open your PowerPoint document, select the chart, right-click, and select Edit data.
To check the table layout in Displayr, select the chart and go to the Object Inspector > Table. To change the table back to the previous state, Undo the previous action.
In Displayr, right click the chart and select Copy > Copy GUID. Or go to the Object Inspector > General > General > GUID, highlight it and right-click > Copy (or CTRL+C).
In PowerPoint, select the chart you wish to link the Displayr table to.
Right-click on the chart border and select View Alt Text...
Paste the GUID from Step 2 into the Alt Text field.

Method - linking an output in Displayr to a respective output in PowerPoint

In Displayr, right click the output and select Copy > Copy GUID. Or go to the Object Inspector > General > General > GUID, highlight it and right-click > Copy (or CTRL+C).
In PowerPoint, select the output you wish to link to the Displayr output.
Right-click on the chart and select View Alt Text...
Paste the GUID from Step 2 into the Alt Text field that pops up.