Generate a Presentation with Slide-by-Slide Generation

This guide demonstrates how to use the SlideSpeak API’s slide-by-slide endpoint to generate a custom presentation with multiple slides, each with specific layouts and content. This approach gives you complete control over your presentation’s structure and flow.

When to Use Slide-by-Slide Generation

The slide-by-slide endpoint is ideal when you need:

Precise Control: Define exactly what content goes on each slide
Custom Flow: Create presentations with specific narrative structures
Mixed Content Types: Combine different layouts (timeline, comparison, items, etc.) in one presentation
Complex Presentations: Build presentations that require specific slide sequences

Benefits of Slide-by-Slide Generation

Exact Content Control: Specify exactly what text appears on each slide
Layout Flexibility: Mix and match different slide layouts within one presentation
Structured Flow: Create logical presentation sequences with specific transitions
Image Integration: Add specific images to slides
Efficient Workflow: Generate complex presentations in a single API call

Example: Business Plan Presentation

Let’s create a 5-slide business plan presentation for a sustainable coffee shop startup. This example demonstrates different layouts and how they work together.

Step 1: Prepare the Request Body

{
  "template": "default",
  "language": "ENGLISH",
  "fetch_images": true,
  "verbosity": "standard",
  "include_cover": true,
  "include_table_of_contents": true,
  "slides": [
    {
      "title": "Market Opportunity Analysis",
      "layout": "comparison",
      "item_amount": 2,
      "content": "Current Market: Traditional coffee shops dominate with 85% market share, limited sustainable options available, high prices for organic coffee. Our Opportunity: Growing demand for sustainable products (23% annual growth), underserved market segment, competitive pricing strategy with premium positioning."
    },
    {
      "title": "Key Success Factors",
      "layout": "items",
      "item_amount": 4,
      "content": "Sustainable Sourcing: Partner with certified organic coffee farms, implement fair trade practices, ensure traceability from bean to cup. Location Strategy: Target high-traffic areas near offices and universities, focus on walkable neighborhoods, consider co-working space partnerships. Brand Positioning: Premium sustainable coffee experience, community-focused atmosphere, transparent sourcing story. Technology Integration: Mobile ordering app, loyalty program, digital menu boards, contactless payment options."
    },
    {
      "title": "Financial Projections",
      "layout": "big-number",
      "item_amount": 3,
      "content": "$450,000: First-year revenue projection based on market research and competitor analysis. 35%: Expected profit margin through efficient operations and premium pricing strategy. 18 months: Break-even timeline with conservative growth assumptions and proper capital allocation."
    },
    {
      "title": "Implementation Timeline",
      "layout": "timeline",
      "item_amount": 5,
      "content": "Month 1-2: Market research and location scouting, secure initial funding and partnerships. Month 3-4: Lease negotiation and space design, obtain permits and licenses. Month 5-6: Renovation and equipment installation, staff hiring and training. Month 7: Soft launch with limited menu, gather customer feedback and refine operations. Month 8+: Full launch with complete menu, marketing campaigns, and expansion planning."
    },
    {
      "title": "Risk Assessment",
      "layout": "swot",
      "item_amount": 4,
      "content": "Strengths: Strong market demand for sustainable options, experienced team, unique value proposition. Weaknesses: Limited initial capital, new brand recognition, dependency on coffee suppliers. Opportunities: Growing sustainability trend, potential for franchise expansion, online coffee subscription service. Threats: Competition from established chains, fluctuating coffee bean prices, changing consumer preferences."
    }
  ]
}

Step 2: Make the API Request

const API_KEY = 'your-api-key';
const API_BASE = 'https://api.slidespeak.co/api/v1';

async function generateBusinessPlanPresentation() {
  const response = await fetch(`${API_BASE}/presentation/generate/slide-by-slide`, {
    method: 'POST',
    headers: {
      'X-API-Key': API_KEY,
      'Content-Type': 'application/json'
    },
    body: JSON.stringify({
      template: 'default',
      language: 'ENGLISH',
      fetch_images: true,
      verbosity: 'standard',
      include_cover: true,
      include_table_of_contents: true,
      slides: [
        {
          title: 'Market Opportunity Analysis',
          layout: 'comparison',
          item_amount: 2,
          content: "Current Market: Traditional coffee shops dominate with 85% market share, limited sustainable options available, high prices for organic coffee. Our Opportunity: Growing demand for sustainable products (23% annual growth), underserved market segment, competitive pricing strategy with premium positioning."
        },
        {
          title: 'Key Success Factors',
          layout: 'items',
          item_amount: 4,
          content: "Sustainable Sourcing: Partner with certified organic coffee farms, implement fair trade practices, ensure traceability from bean to cup. Location Strategy: Target high-traffic areas near offices and universities, focus on walkable neighborhoods, consider co-working space partnerships. Brand Positioning: Premium sustainable coffee experience, community-focused atmosphere, transparent sourcing story. Technology Integration: Mobile ordering app, loyalty program, digital menu boards, contactless payment options."
        },
        {
          title: 'Financial Projections',
          layout: 'big-number',
          item_amount: 3,
          content: "$450,000: First-year revenue projection based on market research and competitor analysis. 35%: Expected profit margin through efficient operations and premium pricing strategy. 18 months: Break-even timeline with conservative growth assumptions and proper capital allocation."
        },
        {
          title: 'Implementation Timeline',
          layout: 'timeline',
          item_amount: 5,
          content: "Month 1-2: Market research and location scouting, secure initial funding and partnerships. Month 3-4: Lease negotiation and space design, obtain permits and licenses. Month 5-6: Renovation and equipment installation, staff hiring and training. Month 7: Soft launch with limited menu, gather customer feedback and refine operations. Month 8+: Full launch with complete menu, marketing campaigns, and expansion planning."
        },
        {
          title: 'Risk Assessment',
          layout: 'swot',
          item_amount: 4,
          content: "Strengths: Strong market demand for sustainable options, experienced team, unique value proposition. Weaknesses: Limited initial capital, new brand recognition, dependency on coffee suppliers. Opportunities: Growing sustainability trend, potential for franchise expansion, online coffee subscription service. Threats: Competition from established chains, fluctuating coffee bean prices, changing consumer preferences."
        }
      ]
    })
  });
  const result = await response.json();
  return result;
}

Step 3: Poll the Task Status

async function pollTask(taskId) {
  const response = await fetch(`${API_BASE}/task_status/${taskId}`, {
    headers: { 'X-API-Key': API_KEY, 'Content-Type': 'application/json' }
  });
  const result = await response.json();
  if (result.task_status === 'SUCCESS') {
    return result;
  } else if (result.task_status === 'FAILED') {
    throw new Error('Task failed');
  }
  await new Promise(res => setTimeout(res, 2000)); // Wait 2 seconds
  return pollTask(taskId); // Recursive call
}

Step 4: Complete Example Usage

async function createBusinessPlanPresentation() {
  try {
    // Generate the presentation
    const genTask = await generateBusinessPlanPresentation();
    console.log('Presentation generation started:', genTask);

    // Poll for completion
    const presResult = await pollTask(genTask.task_id);
    console.log('Presentation ready:', presResult.task_result.url);

    // Download the presentation
    await downloadPresentation(presResult.task_result.url, 'business-plan.pptx');
    console.log('Download started');
  } catch (err) {
    console.error('Error:', err);
  }
}

async function downloadPresentation(downloadUrl, filename = 'presentation.pptx') {
  const response = await fetch(downloadUrl);
  const blob = await response.blob();
  const url = window.URL.createObjectURL(blob);
  const a = document.createElement('a');
  a.href = url;
  a.download = filename;
  document.body.appendChild(a);
  a.click();
  a.remove();
  window.URL.revokeObjectURL(url);
}

Generated PowerPoint

Download Generated PowerPoint (slide-by-slide-generated-presentation.pptx)

Layout Combinations Explained

This example demonstrates how different layouts work together:

Comparison Layout: Perfect for showing market analysis with two contrasting viewpoints
Items Layout: Ideal for listing key success factors with clear bullet points
Big Number Layout: Great for highlighting important financial metrics
Timeline Layout: Excellent for showing project phases and milestones
SWOT Layout: Perfect for comprehensive risk and opportunity analysis

Best Practices

Layout Matching: Ensure your content matches the layout’s item requirements (e.g., SWOT needs exactly 4 items)
Flow Logic: Order slides to create a logical narrative flow
Content Length: Provide enough detail for each slide while keeping it concise
Template Consistency: Use branded templates for professional, on-brand presentations

Notes

All API requests require your X-API-Key header.
The process is asynchronous: always poll the task_id for status.
Each layout has specific item count requirements - check the Layouts documentation for details.
Use branded templates for consistent, professional styling across all slides.

For more details, see the API Reference and Layouts.