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Power point manipulation in copilot studio

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Posted on by PB-03011455-0 Microsoft Employee

HI all,

I'm looking for some help and suggestions.

CONTEXT

I'm trying to create an agent able to extract some information from different sources and summarize them in a specific format in a power point slide. I have the power point slide template (considering that it will be included in a bigger presentation), I have tagged inside it every section with variable like {{partner_name}} or {{period}}.

I have created in copilot studio 2 topics able to extract from different sources a JSON representation that contains the needed fields like partner_name or period.

ISSUE

I would like to fill my power point slide but I'm not able to do it in copilot studio.
1) I tried with a prompt tool + code interpreter attaching the template into the chat. I also suggested to use python tools and handle the file as power point but I continue to receive the error InvalidPredictionInput (400) and my prompt tool is not able to read the power point. I asked copilot and it says

Here is the hard limitation (and this causes the 400):
Prompt tools CANNOT accept file inputs in a usable way,even if the UI shows Any or file.

What actually happens:

✅ This is a platform limitation, not a mistake in your prompt.

The LLM receives an opaque object reference

It does not receive binary bytes
The runtime rejects the prompt as invalid input
You get InvalidPredictionInput (400)

2) I have also tried to use power automate flows but after several retries the only possible way I see is to use encodian - powerpoint manipulation/replace text tool and I have not the license right now for it. I tried before to handled the powerpoint file as a normal file and replace text in it but it was not working obviously. I also checked and there is not a way to use office scripts like in excel for powerpoint. Basically the only tool that I can use is the Encodian one.

CURRENT POSSIBLE SOLUTION

The current possible solutions that I have on my table and I'm going to implement are
- create a powerpoint slide from copilot studio that will not be compliant with the template but at least it will contain all the information
- move the powerpoint logic outside of copilot studio (that I will use only to use the LLM) and expose it through an azure function but then I will need to maintain it/

If you have any possible solution or suggestion it is more than welcome

Thanks

Categories:

Calling actions from Copilot Studio

Topic creation & management

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Valantis 3,490 on at

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Hi @PB-03011455-0,

You have correctly identified the limitations. The Prompt tool file input error is a confirmed platform limitation.

The LLM receives an object reference not file bytes, so it cannot process binary files like PPTX. No workaround on that path.

Two alternatives alongside Encodian that you have not mentioned:

1. Plumsail Documents. Has a dedicated Create PPTX from template action in Power Automate that uses the same {{placeholder}} syntax you already have in your template. Paid connector but has a 30-day free trial.
Ref: https://plumsail.com/docs/documents/v1.x/user-guide/processes/examples/create-pptx-from-template-processes.html

2. Cloudmersive Document Conversion. Has a Replace string in PowerPoint PPTX action in Power Automate with a free tier of 800 API calls per month.

No license needed to start.
Ref: https://cloudmersive.medium.com/how-to-replace-a-text-string-in-a-powerpoint-pptx-using-power-automate-7d7ac581fc90

For your Azure Function approach, that is the right long-term solution if you want full control and no third-party dependency. python-pptx handles {{placeholder}} replacement reliably, you expose it as an HTTP endpoint and call it from a Power Automate flow triggered by Copilot Studio.

The maintenance overhead is low once it is set up since python-pptx is a stable library.

Best regards,

Valantis

✅ If this helped solve your issue, please Accept as Solution so others can find it quickly.

❤️ If it didn’t fully solve it but was still useful, please click “Yes” on “Was this reply helpful?” or leave a Like :).

🏷️ For follow-ups @Valantis.

📝 https://valantisond365.com/

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Valantis 3,490 on at

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Hi @PB-03011455-0,

Just wanted to check in and see if everything is working now. If you still need any help, feel free to let me know.

Also, if the issue is resolved, it would be great if you could mark the answer as solved so others with the same question can find it easily.

Thanks and have a great day!

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PB-03011455-0 Microsoft Employee on at

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Hi @Valantis,

thank you for your reply.

Considering that I'm using the developer environment and I have not other licenses I was trying different path right now I figured out a way to create a pptx in the prompt tool even if it is not the most robust one.

I'm creating a pptx template with only textbox that I reference in the prompt as shapes and then I create a prompt tool with code interpreter enabled and I ask the tool to fill textboxes that are labeled with a specific name. Basically I tried to extend this Copilot Studio: Generate PowerPoint File From A Template guide. It is working for simple cases, I don't think it is very good for complex ones since pptx are not containing only textboxes but it is something for now.

Thanks

we can mark the issue as resolved.

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Valantis 3,490 on at

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Hi @PB-03011455-0,

happy to hear that it works now. feel free to mark it as Solved. enjoy your weekend. :)

Best regards,

Valantis

✅ If this helped solve your issue, please Accept as Solution so others can find it quickly.

❤️ If it didn’t fully solve it but was still useful, please click “Yes” on “Was this reply helpful?” or leave a Like :).

🏷️ For follow-ups @Valantis.

📝 https://valantisond365.com/

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