Create PowerPoint document in Azure Functions v4

13 Jun 20247 minutes to read

Syncfusion PowerPoint is a .NET PowerPoint library used to create, read, edit and convert PowerPoint documents programmatically without Microsoft PowerPoint or interop dependencies. Using this library, you can create a PowerPoint document in Azure Functions v4.

Steps to create a PowerPoint document in Azure Functions v4

Step 1: Create a new Azure Functions project.

Step 2: Create a project name and select the location.

Step 3: Select function worker as .NET 6.0 (Long Term Support).

Step 4: Install the Syncfusion.Presentation.Net.Core NuGet package as a reference to your project from NuGet.org.

NOTE

Starting with v16.2.0.x, if you reference Syncfusion assemblies from trial setup or from the NuGet feed, you also have to add “Syncfusion.Licensing” assembly reference and include a license key in your projects. Please refer to this link to know about registering Syncfusion license key in your application to use our components.

Step 4: Include the following namespaces in the Function1.cs file.

C#

using Syncfusion.Presentation;

Step 5: Add the following code snippet in Run method of Function1 class to perform create a PowerPoint document in Azure Functions and return the resultant PowerPoint document to client end.

C#

//Create a new instance of PowerPoint Presentation file.
using IPresentation pptxDoc = Presentation.Create();

//Add a new slide to file and apply background color.
ISlide slide = pptxDoc.Slides.Add(SlideLayoutType.TitleOnly);
//Specify the fill type and fill color for the slide background.
slide.Background.Fill.FillType = FillType.Solid;
slide.Background.Fill.SolidFill.Color = ColorObject.FromArgb(232, 241, 229);

//Add title content to the slide by accessing the title placeholder of the TitleOnly layout-slide.
IShape titleShape = slide.Shapes[0] as IShape;
titleShape.TextBody.AddParagraph("Company History").HorizontalAlignment = HorizontalAlignmentType.Center;

//Add description content to the slide by adding a new TextBox.
IShape descriptionShape = slide.AddTextBox(53.22, 141.73, 874.19, 77.70);
descriptionShape.TextBody.Text = "IMN Solutions PVT LTD is the software company, established in 1987, by George Milton. The company has been listed as the trusted partner for many high-profile organizations since 1988 and got awards for quality products from reputed organizations.";

//Add bullet points to the slide.
IShape bulletPointsShape = slide.AddTextBox(53.22, 270, 437.90, 116.32);
//Add a paragraph for a bullet point.
IParagraph firstPara = bulletPointsShape.TextBody.AddParagraph("The company acquired the MCY corporation for 20 billion dollars and became the top revenue maker for the year 2015.");
//Format how the bullets should be displayed.
firstPara.ListFormat.Type = ListType.Bulleted;
firstPara.LeftIndent = 35;
firstPara.FirstLineIndent = -35;
// Add another paragraph for the next bullet point.
IParagraph secondPara = bulletPointsShape.TextBody.AddParagraph("The company is participating in top open source projects in automation industry.");
//Format how the bullets should be displayed.
secondPara.ListFormat.Type = ListType.Bulleted;
secondPara.LeftIndent = 35;
secondPara.FirstLineIndent = -35;

//Get a picture as stream.
var assembly = Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly();
var pictureStream = assembly.GetManifestResourceStream("Create_PowerPoint_Presentation.Data.Image.jpg");  
//Add the picture to a slide by specifying its size and position.
slide.Shapes.AddPicture(pictureStream, 499.79, 238.59, 364.54, 192.16);

//Add an auto-shape to the slide.
IShape stampShape = slide.Shapes.AddShape(AutoShapeType.Explosion1, 48.93, 430.71, 104.13, 80.54);
//Format the auto-shape color by setting the fill type and text.
stampShape.Fill.FillType = FillType.None;
stampShape.TextBody.AddParagraph("IMN").HorizontalAlignment = HorizontalAlignmentType.Center;

MemoryStream memoryStream = new MemoryStream();
//Saves the PowerPoint document file.
pptxDoc.Save(memoryStream);
//Create the response to return.
HttpResponseMessage response = new HttpResponseMessage(HttpStatusCode.OK);
//Set the PowerPoint document saved stream as content of response.
response.Content = new ByteArrayContent(memoryStream.ToArray());
//Set the contentDisposition as attachment.
response.Content.Headers.ContentDisposition = new ContentDispositionHeaderValue("attachment")
{
    FileName = "Result.pptx"
};
//Set the content type as PowerPoint document mime type.
response.Content.Headers.ContentType = new System.Net.Http.Headers.MediaTypeHeaderValue("application/pptx");
//Return the response with output PowerPoint document stream.
return response;

Step 6: Right click the project and select Publish. Then, create a new profile in the Publish Window.

Step 7: Select the target as Azure and click Next button.

Step 8: Select the Create new button.

Step 9: Click Create button.

Step 10: After creating app service then click Finish button.

Step 11: Click the Publish button.

Step 12: Publish has been succeed.

Step 13: Now, go to Azure portal and select the App Services. After running the service, click Get function URL by copying it. Then, paste it in the below client sample (which will request the Azure Functions, to perform create a PowerPoint document using the template PowerPoint document). You will get the output PowerPoint document as follows.

Steps to post the request to Azure Functions

Step 1: Create a console application to request the Azure Functions API.

Step 2: Add the following code snippet into Main method to post the request to Azure Functions with template PowerPoint document and get the resultant PowerPoint document.

C#

//Reads the template PowerPoint file.
FileStream fs = new FileStream(@"../../Data/Template.pptx", FileMode.Open, FileAccess.ReadWrite, FileShare.ReadWrite);
fs.Position = 0;
//Saves the PowerPoint file in memory stream.
MemoryStream inputStream = new MemoryStream();
fs.CopyTo(inputStream);
inputStream.Position = 0;
try
{
    Console.WriteLine("Please enter your Azure Functions URL :");
    string functionURL = Console.ReadLine();

    //Create HttpWebRequest with hosted azure functions URL.    
    HttpWebRequest req = (HttpWebRequest)WebRequest.Create(functionURL);
    //Set request method as POST
    req.Method = "POST";
    //Get the request stream to save the PowerPoint file stream
    Stream stream = req.GetRequestStream();
    //Write the PowerPoint file stream into request stream
    stream.Write(inputStream.ToArray(), 0, inputStream.ToArray().Length);

    //Gets the responce from the Azure Functions.
    HttpWebResponse res = (HttpWebResponse)req.GetResponse();

    //Saves the PowerPoint file stream.
    FileStream fileStream = File.Create("Result.pptx");
    res.GetResponseStream().CopyTo(fileStream);
    //Dispose the streams.
    inputStream.Dispose();
    fileStream.Dispose();
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
    throw;
}

From GitHub, you can download the console application and Azure Functions v4.

Click here to explore the rich set of Syncfusion PowerPoint Library (Presentation) features.

An online sample link to create a PowerPoint Presentation in ASP.NET Core.