Looking for a solution to export a dashboard of visualizations to a Google Slide deck on their template. Below were the options I was able to outline. Spoiler alert: none are ideal.
(1) Python Script
Overview
Allows you to take a template slide deck and push viz images onto them
Pros
Most complete, detailed solution
Works with Google Slides
Very automatic solution once complete - would scale well
Cons
Requires significant dev time to create the solution
Minor maintenance may be required to make changes over time
(2) LiveSlides
Overview
Embed live visualizations into MS PPT presentation
Pros
Embed interactive visualizations into a PPT presentation
Very easy to get set up
Will update with live data with no work. No need to export images
Cons
Only available in MS PowerPoint
Cannot be exported to PDF
(3) Use a webhook tool like Zapier
Overview
Use a tool like Zapier to send a visualization from Looker and place it on slides
Pros
Uses Google Slides
Could potentially allow you to update slides directly from Looker
Cons
Unproven method - haven’t seen it implemented before
May need to create specific endpoints in Zapier for every image, which would be time consuming.
One potential workaround is to send the data from your visualization to Google Sheets, using the new Looker Actions - Google Sheets integration. Maybe not ideal because you will need to use Google Sheets charts as your visualization, but live charts from Google Sheets can be directly embedded into Google Slides. Here’s what you’d need to do:
Have your admin enable the action
Create and prep a destination Google Sheet
Schedule the delivery of the data from your visualization
Create (recreate) your charts in Google Sheets
Copy and paste the the chart into Google Slide (choose Link to spreadsheet when prompted)
Like with some of the other options some initial work is needed, but once set up it can be fully automated.
@LucianaPadua@KarlR you should check out Rollstack. It allows you to connect Looker to Slides and automate the process of creating and updating slide decks and documents from Looker, Tableau, Metabase, etc.
For home-grown solutions, your best bet is still either DIY (Python etc) or using the Looker → Sheets → Slides method. I’m not sure how flexible that method is though when it comes to configuration and collaboration.
There are also some proprietary, 3rd party services cropping up. We are developing one such tool that incorporates both PPT and Google Slides. Users can upload highly customized templates and link key elements to charts, tables, etc from their preferred BI/external system. Check us out at slideform.co or just shoot me an email at james@slideform.co if you want to learn more.